Sport24.co.za today reported that 3 of our Springbok Sevens stars who recently clinched the IRB’s Sevens World Series in Scotland will form part of an assembled squad to play as the Southern Kings. Captain Mzwandile Stick will be joined by playmakers Rayno Benjamin and Mpho Mbiyozo.
From their website:
Southern Kings convenor of selectors Francois Davids on Monday announced the names of a 27-man squad ahead of their June 16 match against the British & Irish Lions at the newly built Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium in Port Elizabeth.
Southern Kings coach Alan Solomons
Former Springboks De Wet Barry, Jaco van der Westhuyzen, Solly Tyibilika and Bevin Fortuin have all been drafted into the squad which also includes Springbok Sevens captain Mzwandile Stick, Rayno Benjamin and Mpho Mbiyozo, who were all instrumental to South Africa winning its first IRB World Sevens Series Championship this season.
Derick Kuün, Jaco Engels and Francois Hougaard, who were part of the successful Bulls side that were recently crowned Super 14 champions for 2009, have also been included in the squad.
“We’ve tried to select a squad that will hopefully be competitive against the British & Irish Lions team,” said Davids.
“We are constantly looking at the future of rugby in the Eastern Cape and we’ve tried to select a good blend of experience and youth in our side. Our Bok Sevens stars such as Mzwandile Stick, Mpho Mbiyozo and Rayno Benjamin, have also all been added to our squad.
Mpho (middle) and Stick (right) are joined by Vuyo Zangqa… with Rayno Benjamin (above right)
“There’re probably going to be lots of questions regarding the selection of players such as De Wet Barry and Bevin Fortuin’s inclusion in the squad, but we selected them to ensure that we match the Lions physically too.”
The Southern Kings squad, that will be coached by Alan Solomons and Robbie Kempson (assistant coach), will gather in Port Elizabeth on Monday afternoon and will have their first training session on Tuesday. The team to play the British & Irish Lions will be announced later this week.
Southern Kings Squad (in alphabetical order):
De Wet Barry, Rayno Benjamin, Kevin Buys, Michael Coetzee, Jaco Engels, Bevin Fortuin, Josh Fowles, Henry Grimes, Francois Hougaard, Wylie Human, Sivuyile Kobokana, Derick Kuün, Tiger Mangweni, Mpho Mbiyozo, Darron Nel, Lungile Payi, Ross Skeate, Mzwandile Stick, Heinrich Stride, Solly Tyibilika, Jaco van der Westhuyzen, Michael Vermaak, Ruan Vermeulen, Elgar Watts, Frikkie Welsh, Marco Wentzel, Simon Westraadt
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