Imposting lock Lubabalo “Giant” Mtyanda could be one of the players earmarked by SA Rugby bosses to add extra grunt to the Southern Kings pack in Super Rugby next year.
The 29-year-old former Cowan High School pupil may be one of the players targeted as a loan player as SA Rugby bid to achieve their target of 50% black players in the Kings squad.
Mtyanda, who stands 1.99m tall in his socks, is in a provisional Sharks Super Rugby training squad, but he could be one of the fringe players that Saru will try to contract for the Kings.
A well-placed source said Mtyanda fitted the profile of players Saru were seeking to get on board.
It is believed that SA Rugby want to announce the squad today if their complex contracting operation has gone to plan.
Time is not on the Saru’s side because the Kings play their opening match against the Sharks at Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium on February 27.
“I believe we are putting together a more than competent squad that will not only be representative of the region but coincidentally meets the targets of our Strategic Transformation Plan four years ahead of schedule,” Saru chief executive Jurie Roux said.
Mtyanda started his career coming through the youth ranks at the Mighty Elephants (now EP Kings) and made his debut for them in the 2006 Vodacom Cup competition against Western Province.
He joined the Golden Lions later in the same year, where he represented their U21 team. He made four appearances for them in the 2007 Vodacom Cup and also represented UJ in the 2008 Varsity Cup, but failed to break into the first team.
He joined the SWD Eagles in 2009, where he quickly established himself as a regular, making over 50 appearances for the George-based union.
In 2013, he joined the Pumas prior to the 2013 Currie Cup First Division season. He was also included in a South Africa President’s XV team that played in the 2013 IRB Tbilisi Cup[.
He is currently on loan to the Sharks for the 2015 Super Rugby season, but SA Rugby may be keen for him to make a move to Port Elizabeth.
It has been decided that of the planned 42-player squad, half are expected to come from the existing EP Kings squad and the rest will be a mix of loan players, sevens players and promising juniors.
There is speculation that the Kings players who have been offered contracts are: Schalk Ferreira (prop), Tom Botha (prop), Edgar Marutlulle (hooker), Steven Sykes (lock), Cornell Hess (lock), Stefan Willemse (flank), Thembelani Bholi (flank), CJ Velleman (flank), Luke Watson (flank), Aidon Davis (No 8), Kevin Luiters (scrumhalf), Elgar Watts (flyhalf), Louis Fouche (flyhalf), Shane Gates (centre), Stefan Watermeyer (centre), JP du Plessis (centre), Siyanda Grey (wing).
Saru are reportedly also ready to also offer Super Rugby contracts to three of the EP’s best U19 players – James Hall (scrumhalf), Jeremy Ward (centre and captain), Junior Pokomela (No 8).
Apart from some of the EP junior players, former Kings players like Tim Agaba and Siviwe “Shakes” Soyizwapi could find themselves back in the mix for Super.
Last month Agaba and Soyizwapi became the latest Sevens recruits when they agreed to terms with Saru to play the shortened version of the game for the next two years.
Depending on their Sevens schedule, Saru could decide to loan the pair to the Kings.
Mtyanda may join Kings
The 29-year-old former Cowan High School pupil may be one of the players targeted as a loan player as SA Rugby bid to achieve their target of 50% black players in the Kings squad.
Mtyanda, who stands 1.99m tall in his socks, is in a provisional Sharks Super Rugby training squad, but he could be one of the fringe players that Saru will try to contract for the Kings.
A well-placed source said Mtyanda fitted the profile of players Saru were seeking to get on board.
It is believed that SA Rugby want to announce the squad today if their complex contracting operation has gone to plan.
Time is not on the Saru’s side because the Kings play their opening match against the Sharks at Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium on February 27.
“I believe we are putting together a more than competent squad that will not only be representative of the region but coincidentally meets the targets of our Strategic Transformation Plan four years ahead of schedule,” Saru chief executive Jurie Roux said.
Mtyanda started his career coming through the youth ranks at the Mighty Elephants (now EP Kings) and made his debut for them in the 2006 Vodacom Cup competition against Western Province.
He joined the Golden Lions later in the same year, where he represented their U21 team. He made four appearances for them in the 2007 Vodacom Cup and also represented UJ in the 2008 Varsity Cup, but failed to break into the first team.
He joined the SWD Eagles in 2009, where he quickly established himself as a regular, making over 50 appearances for the George-based union.
In 2013, he joined the Pumas prior to the 2013 Currie Cup First Division season. He was also included in a South Africa President’s XV team that played in the 2013 IRB Tbilisi Cup[.
He is currently on loan to the Sharks for the 2015 Super Rugby season, but SA Rugby may be keen for him to make a move to Port Elizabeth.
It has been decided that of the planned 42-player squad, half are expected to come from the existing EP Kings squad and the rest will be a mix of loan players, sevens players and promising juniors.
There is speculation that the Kings players who have been offered contracts are: Schalk Ferreira (prop), Tom Botha (prop), Edgar Marutlulle (hooker), Steven Sykes (lock), Cornell Hess (lock), Stefan Willemse (flank), Thembelani Bholi (flank), CJ Velleman (flank), Luke Watson (flank), Aidon Davis (No 8), Kevin Luiters (scrumhalf), Elgar Watts (flyhalf), Louis Fouche (flyhalf), Shane Gates (centre), Stefan Watermeyer (centre), JP du Plessis (centre), Siyanda Grey (wing).
Saru are reportedly also ready to also offer Super Rugby contracts to three of the EP’s best U19 players – James Hall (scrumhalf), Jeremy Ward (centre and captain), Junior Pokomela (No 8).
Apart from some of the EP junior players, former Kings players like Tim Agaba and Siviwe “Shakes” Soyizwapi could find themselves back in the mix for Super.
Last month Agaba and Soyizwapi became the latest Sevens recruits when they agreed to terms with Saru to play the shortened version of the game for the next two years.
Depending on their Sevens schedule, Saru could decide to loan the pair to the Kings.
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