There was some good news for the struggling EP Kings rugby team when their powerful 24-year-old Mt Frere-born Lizo Gqoboka prop was called up to attend a Springbok training squad yesterday.
Despite having lost their opening seven matches in the Absa Currie Cup Premier Division, Gqoboka has still done enough to catch the eye of Springbok coach Heyneke Meyer.
Unfortunately Gqoboka injured his shoulder on Saturday when the Kings were beaten 37-22 by the Cheetahs at Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium on Saturday and will not be able to take part in any of the training sessions.
He will, however, travel to Cape Town where he will be part of the mix in the off-field as the Springboks prepare for their Rugby Championship match against Australia at Newlands on Saturday.
“Unfortunately Lizo injured himself against the Cheatahs but he will still be going to Cape Town. We are just waiting for the doctor to tell us what treatment he will need. The Springbok medical team will then continue with the treatment,” EP Kings chief executive Charl Crous said.
“This is brilliant for EP rugby and what we take out of it is that you don’t have to be playing Super Rugby to get a call-up. Lizo deserves the call-up and he has been playing some great rugby.
“Lizo has learnt all his rugby here. I think he is the first Kings player since the ‘Rise of the Kings’ era to be called up by the Boks. Last year Demetri Catrakilis got a call-up while playing for the Southern Kings, but he came from WP.
“Lizo deserves something like this because he is a quality player. He also scored a spectacular try against the Bulls and this was noticed by many.”
Gqoboka joins Nizaam Carr and Seabelo Senatla as young players called to the training camp. “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 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 Bok 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.”
Carr, 23, whose versatility as a loose-forward has seen him become a fixture for the Stormers and WP this season, will train with the Springboks this afternoon.
Gqoboka’s high school in Tabankulu did not play rugby and he only started playing the sport aged 19 when he joined Durban Collegians Sports Club. He started off playing as a number eight, but eventually moved to prop.
He played for the EP Kings in the 2011 U21 Provincial Championship and earned a call-up to their 2012 Vodacom Cup squad.
Gqoboka made his first team debut against Border Bulldogs in 2012, coming on as a late substitute. He earned his first start against Free State Cheetahs a fortnight later. He was initially named in the Kings squad for the 2013 Super Rugby season, but was later released to the 2013 Vodacom Cup squad.
His injury means Gqoboka will not be considered for the Kings’ Currie Cup match against the Sharks in Durban on Saturday.
Kings prop gets Bok call
Despite having lost their opening seven matches in the Absa Currie Cup Premier Division, Gqoboka has still done enough to catch the eye of Springbok coach Heyneke Meyer.
Unfortunately Gqoboka injured his shoulder on Saturday when the Kings were beaten 37-22 by the Cheetahs at Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium on Saturday and will not be able to take part in any of the training sessions.
He will, however, travel to Cape Town where he will be part of the mix in the off-field as the Springboks prepare for their Rugby Championship match against Australia at Newlands on Saturday.
“Unfortunately Lizo injured himself against the Cheatahs but he will still be going to Cape Town. We are just waiting for the doctor to tell us what treatment he will need. The Springbok medical team will then continue with the treatment,” EP Kings chief executive Charl Crous said.
“This is brilliant for EP rugby and what we take out of it is that you don’t have to be playing Super Rugby to get a call-up. Lizo deserves the call-up and he has been playing some great rugby.
“Lizo has learnt all his rugby here. I think he is the first Kings player since the ‘Rise of the Kings’ era to be called up by the Boks. Last year Demetri Catrakilis got a call-up while playing for the Southern Kings, but he came from WP.
“Lizo deserves something like this because he is a quality player. He also scored a spectacular try against the Bulls and this was noticed by many.”
Gqoboka joins Nizaam Carr and Seabelo Senatla as young players called to the training camp. “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 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 Bok 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.”
Carr, 23, whose versatility as a loose-forward has seen him become a fixture for the Stormers and WP this season, will train with the Springboks this afternoon.
Gqoboka’s high school in Tabankulu did not play rugby and he only started playing the sport aged 19 when he joined Durban Collegians Sports Club. He started off playing as a number eight, but eventually moved to prop.
He played for the EP Kings in the 2011 U21 Provincial Championship and earned a call-up to their 2012 Vodacom Cup squad.
Gqoboka made his first team debut against Border Bulldogs in 2012, coming on as a late substitute. He earned his first start against Free State Cheetahs a fortnight later. He was initially named in the Kings squad for the 2013 Super Rugby season, but was later released to the 2013 Vodacom Cup squad.
His injury means Gqoboka will not be considered for the Kings’ Currie Cup match against the Sharks in Durban on Saturday.
Would you like to comment on this article?
Register (it's quick and free) or sign in now.
Please read our Comment Policy before commenting.
Trending Now
Latest Videos