It is with great pleasure to confirm and congratulate the Southern Kings quartet of captain Lionel Cronje, Andisa Ntsila, Chris Cloete and Makazole Mapimpi who have been invited to be among an extended group of players to the third Springbok training camp, from 21-23 May 2017.
Following a good run in the Vodacom Super Rugby competition, which has seen the Eastern Cape side earn three back-to-back victories in their last three matches, it is a morale-boosting achievement for the side and just reward for the players who have worked exceptionally hard to ensure that the Southern Kings grow from strength to strength.
An excited Southern Kings Chief Operations Officer, Charl Crous, congratulated the four players who will be joining Bok coach Allister Coetzee on Sunday after the side takes on the Brumbies in a Vodacom Super Rugby match at the Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium on Saturday.
“Lionel Cronje, Andisa Ntsila, Chris Cloete and Makazole Mapimpi have done well in what has been an impressive team effort by all involved in ensuring that the Southern Kings enjoy the good results we have had this season,” Crous said.
“This call up for the players is reflective of the hard work that has been put in by the head coach, Deon Davids, his coaching staff, the rest of the Southern Kings players and staff since the pre-season build-up.
“We wish our players, and the rest of the Springbok extended squad the very best for the camp.”
See: Springbok Squad announcement for Castle Lager Incoming Series on 23 May for the full Springbok training squad.
A proud head coach, Davids, is pleased with the recognition his side and players have received this season, particularly the national call up of the quartet.
“These players have worked really hard, together with the rest of the squad, to earn the recognition that they have received,” Davids said.
“Given the fact that all four of these players are born and bred in the Eastern Cape, it is a reflection of the continued amount of talent that is at our disposal in the region. It is indicative of the fact that the province continues to manufacture quality players who can add value to South African rugby.
“The entire Southern Kings family celebrates with these players for what they have achieved so far, while we remain focused on the hard work that still needs to be done to ensure we continue on an upward curve in our Vodacom Super Rugby campaign.”
Cronje, Cloete, Mapimpi and Ntsila are the first Southern Kings players to receive call-ups to a national camp since former flyhalf Demetri Catrakilis, who featured for the Southern Kings in 2013 and was called up to a training camp under former Bok coach Heyneke Meyer.
The inclusion of the four players comes on the back of the selection of winger, Yaw Penxe, to the SA Under-20 squad, that will travel to Tbilisi, Georgia, to take part in the World Rugby Under-20 Championship.
Alan Straton
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