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EP Kings prop to work with Springboks in Cape Town

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EP Kings loosehead prop Lizo Gqoboka, who is 24 years old, will join the Springbok squad for the day on Wednesday. He has impressed in his first season of Absa Currie Cup Premier Division rugby.

Gqoboka will join Nizaam Carr and Seabelo Senatla all of whom have been invited to join the Springboks squad for on and off-field sessions in Cape Town in the next three days.

Lizo Gqoboka
EP Kings Prop Lizo Gqoboka

The Springboks started their preparations for the final two matches in the Castle Lager Rugby Championship in Cape Town this morning.

“They are three promising young players we’ve identified and we’d like to expose them to the Springbok ethos while also having a look at what they can do in training,” said Springbok coach Heyneke Meyer.

“Lizo has never played Vodacom Super Rugby and Seabelo has limited exposure to rugby at that level after making a massive impact for the Springbok Sevens team.

“In the last three years we’ve often had young players train with us. Four members of the Young Guns squad in 2012 have gone on to play Test rugby in Frans Malherbe, Siya Kolisi, Arno Botha and Piet van Zyl, while we’ve also invited Jesse Kriel and Tera Mtembu to training sessions earlier this season.

“Although these players are not formally part of the Springbok squad, they get to experience what it takes at the top level and we get to work with them, even if it’s only for one or two sessions.”

The 21-year-old Springbok Sevens star Senatla, who has been a revelation since making his Absa Currie Cup debut for DHL Western Province this season but is currently returning from an injury, will spend the next three days in the Springbok camp but will not take part in any field sessions.

Carr, 23, whose versatility as a loose forward has seen him become a fixture for the DHL Stormers and Western Province this season, will train with the Springboks this afternoon.

“We know the provinces are in the middle of a rigorous Absa Currie Cup campaign and we appreciate their assistance in granting Nizaam, Seabelo and Lizo the opportunity to work with us. We are planning to do the same in Johannesburg next week,” said Meyer.

Lizo Gqoboka’s high school in Tabankulu did not play rugby and he only started playing the sport aged 19 Queensburgh Club in 2009 before joining Durban Collegians Sports Club. He started off playing as a No 8, but eventually moved to prop. He played for the Eastern Province Kings in the 2011 Under-21 Currie Cup and earned a call-up to their 2012 Vodacom Cup squad.

Gqoboka made his first team debut against Border Bulldogs on 16 March 2012, coming on as a late substitute. He earned his first start against Free State Cheetahs a fortnight later. His strong attack and scrumming are something to watch.

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Alan Straton

Chief Cook, Bottle Washer and Broom Mechanic at MyPE
Passionate about Port Elizabeth and definitely NOT packing for Perth. Alan's ethos is epitomised in the words of Nelson Mandela; "I have fought against white domination and I have fought against black domination. I have cherished the idea of a democratic and free society. If need be, it is an ideal for which I am prepared to die." See more articles by Alan.