Catrakilis joins Kings
20 Sep 2012
WP flyhalf Demetri Catrakilis has signed a two-year deal with the Southern Kings.
Catrakilis has featured for Province during the Currie Cup over the last two seasons, but failed to make the match-day squad for the Stormers during this period. The lack of opportunities in Super Rugby is believed to be the main reason behind his decision to join the Eastern Cape franchise.
Cartrakilis will compete with George Whitehead and Wesley Dunlop, who have impressed in the Currie Cup First Division, for the No 10 jersey next season.
The 23-year-old follows Cheetahs centre Andries Strauss and Sharks lock Steven Sykes as the Kings’ new recruitments. Director of rugby Alan Solomons is happy with the quality of players his team has signed so far.
‘Demetri is the more experienced player among our flyhalves,’ Solomon told keo.co.za. ‘He’s shown great form during the Currie Cup Premier Division over the last two seasons for WP. His kicking at goal and out of hand has been excellent. I’m surprised he hasn’t played Super Rugby for the Stormers.
‘Steven Sykes and Andries Strauss also add plenty of value,’ he continued. ‘Steven has had a stint with Leinster in Europe and did very well for the Sharks during Super Rugby and the Currie Cup. He’s also a EP local boy, having gone to school at Marlow.
‘Andries will offer us plenty of experience and leadership. He’s shown his quality for the Sharks and Cheetahs in Super Rugby and travelled with the Springboks to Europe in 2010.’
Solomons added that the Kings have a recruitment plan in place to ensure they will be competitive in 2013. They only have a one-year guarantee in Super Rugby, and will have to feature in a promotion-relegation play-off against the Lions should they finish last in the South African conference next year.
‘We have a good recruitment plan in place, which will help strengthen our squad. Things have been going really well since it was confirmed that we will play Super Rugby in August. I’m confident we will have a team that can do the job next season.’
Meanwhile, Solomons confirmed that flank Luke Watson will be the first-choice captain going into Super Rugby. Watson leads the EP Kings in the Currie Cup First Division.
The player missed the opening rounds of the domestic competition due to a shoulder operation and a following quad strain. But he has shown great form in his four appearances, scoring eight tries which include two hat-tricks.
‘Luke is a player that will score plenty of tries for your team,’ said Solomons. ‘But it’s his general play that has been very impressive. He’s been in great form since coming back from injury.’
Watson’s form could be a boon for the Springboks, considering Heyneke Meyer’s team has struggled with injuries in the loose forward department. Meyer confirmed during his first interview as head coach that all South African players, including those playing in the Currie Cup First Division, will be in contention for national selection.
Solomons believes that Watson can add value to the Boks.
‘Luke has proven he is a quality player and he can make an impact at higher levels. But it’s up to Heyneke Meyer to decide on who he wants to use in his team.’
By Gareth Duncan
408 Comments
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20 Sep 2012, 10:22 am
I wonder if these players that sign for the Kings all become part of the Keo/HSM Management stable…
So we can look forward to some articles in the coming months and next year like:
“Strauss hard edge could benefit the Boks”
or
“Sykes has inside edge at Bok 4″
or
“The Golden Greek is better than Goosen”
The Kings may shape up to be nothing more than the biggest scam in rugby
- I reckon watch that 40 mill like a hawk
- I would be interested in the Keo or maybe HSM connection with management of the PE Stadium…
- I would also be interested in the HSM Player management connection with the Kings… Wonder which other players are in their Stable now along with Luke “the Boon for the Boks”…
Meanwhile the blind deaf and dumb sheep just ba a a ahhh the sh.it that they get fed…
20 Sep 2012, 10:22 am
I take it he is finished with his studies at UCT then? Because if he isn’t this could be a baaaaaaad choice.
20 Sep 2012, 10:23 am
The only thing that Luke has in common with the Boks is that a boks is also called a doos.
20 Sep 2012, 10:24 am
so the kzn club champs gave the ec club champs an absolute HIDING!
in fact it was disgustingly one sided.
rovers in the final for the 5 time in about 7 years?
so much for rugby not being popular in kzn.
20 Sep 2012, 10:25 am
@rangerman-48:
Time will tell if you are correct or not. Or is it wishful thinking on your part? Can you foresee things? Just honestly asking.
20 Sep 2012, 10:27 am
@Peter Mkata-55: i said “i doubt”
comprehension not a strong point peter?
why so hot under the collar?
20 Sep 2012, 10:34 am
@rangerman-54: Rovers play Pretoria Police in the final…
Robert Du Preez the coach… They have won a phenomenal 78 out of 82 games or something like that….
Actually it might have been a better plan for SARU to make Rovers the 6th Super Rugby franchise…
Heck there more Zulus than Xhosas anyway and if ever this “transformation” thing actually materialises other than being a funny word, KZN with a black population descendant from exploits at Isandlwana and Rourkes Drift, and actually with a psyche more suited to rugby than those of the EC could have been the better long term bet all along….
Ja, I reckon even Rovers would fckadilly these Kings a new one, despite the Kings being led by “Boon for the Boks Watson”…
20 Sep 2012, 10:36 am
@rangerman-56:
Why the “doubt”? What if he has a great season ala the 2008 beer fetching season? Enlighten me please. Ranger my point is we are all prejudiced as people, just admit it stop being defensive man.
20 Sep 2012, 10:39 am
@Heavens Game-57: hahahaha, thats sure to get the ec revolutionaries sharpening their…shanks?
@Peter Mkata-58:
i am now being defensive because i stated my opinion?
you seem like you are looking for a fight about watson peter? why?
i doubt morne steyn will play for the boks much longer too but i am guessing you will have no need to call me on that one
20 Sep 2012, 10:43 am
@Peter Mkata-58: ok, i will explain because you asked nicely, ok?
i think lukes time has past.
in youngsters like marcel and kolisi, vermeulen and kanko and alberts and brussow we have plenty of depth.
these guys are not only younger, but bigger taller and faster.
so i doubt luke will play for the boks again.
but you arent really interested in a logical discussion are you peter?
20 Sep 2012, 10:44 am
@Heavens Game-57:
Nkosi yam!! Later day anthropologist. Gee, I am impressed at your knowledge of the tribes. LOL.
On a serious note I watched some of the club championship games from last Saturday. Must say your Rovers look good. Missed yesterday semis against the young stars from East London. The police were massive against Impala.
Should be a great final.
20 Sep 2012, 10:45 am
@rangerman-59: “luke will probably never play boks again”
20 Sep 2012, 10:45 am
luke is no blindsider so he wont be replacing alberts or even marcel anytime soon.
he will battle to outplay brussow or kolisi imo.
and duanne and kanko at 8 are the future imo.
so peter, get over your prejuidice ok?
20 Sep 2012, 10:48 am
@Transformation-62:
oops.
was too lazy to go back a page haha.
sentiment remains the same and i think i have explained my thinking for peter.
what do you reckon transie?
20 Sep 2012, 10:49 am
@Peter Mkata-61: he doesn’t only know the Zulus and Xhosas, he ran away from the Shonas & Ndebeles up north of the Limpopo when they got restless
he escaped Tongogara’s regiment with the quickness.
20 Sep 2012, 10:54 am
@Peter Mkata-61: Cool… Good man
20 Sep 2012, 10:55 am
There are too many quality young loosies on the scene at the moment for Luke to even have half a sniff at Bok honours (or in his case, dishonours). The next generation already has its foot in the door, so in addition to outplaying the likes of Alberts, Vermeulen, Kankowski, Brussow, Daniel and, shortly, Burger and Smith, he also has to contend with Coetzee, Kolisi and Arno Botha. That puts him, in my book, outside the top 10 loose forwards in the country.
Oh, forgot about Ashley Johnson. Make that the top 11.
20 Sep 2012, 10:59 am
@katman-67: thats what i was getting at.
but it seems there is a bit more to the questioning than pure rugby reasoning
20 Sep 2012, 11:00 am
because peter doesnt seem to want to engage on the issue.
20 Sep 2012, 11:01 am
@rangerman-63:
How do you know that? WISHFUL THINKING MAN!!!!
20 Sep 2012, 11:02 am
@Transformation-65: Lol… General Josiah met his end in a car crash just as Chimurenga was ending… A charismatic character similar to Chris Hani – he was a credible future candidate as leader of his country….
Funny that… Amazing how many of the “Big Men” of Zimbabwe seem to die in car crashes to this very day…
A warrior… Definitely not an EC “King”…
20 Sep 2012, 11:04 am
@rangerman-68: But this is the South African era of racial hypersensitivity, where every comment that concerns a black person has two meanings: the intended meaning and the “see, you’re a racist” meaning. Luke, as an honourary Xhosa, is entitled to full benefits under this system.
20 Sep 2012, 11:04 am
@Peter Mkata-70:
i am not wishing anything for luke, positive or negative, simply explaining my reasoning.
you are wishing him into the boks peter.
stop projecting ok?
20 Sep 2012, 11:05 am
@rangerman-60: Alberts is no youngster.Basically the same age as Luke.He will be 31 at the next world cup.The extraordinary lenghts people will go to just to justify their agendas,but then again, residents of KZN love playing around with numbers.
20 Sep 2012, 11:06 am
@rangerman-63: One word… No, actually 2 words banish the wishful Bok Boon straight to the history books…
Superior skill…
Superior ballas…
Courage personified…
The Christian Cullen of Loosies…
Keegan Daniel.
20 Sep 2012, 11:06 am
@katman-72: yes, i think we all can see peters angle.
even peter himself knows this.
its simply too difficult for him to fight.
he seems like a good bloke otherwise though.
20 Sep 2012, 11:07 am
@Heavens Game-71: and you think Chris Thembisile Hani was from where if not Cofimvaba?
20 Sep 2012, 11:07 am
@katman-67:
Dishonours? There you unwittingly show your true colours. Wishful thinking? Prejudiced as well? Time will tell!!
I am off.
20 Sep 2012, 11:07 am
@wnbb-74: so you are saying luke will play blindside or lock instead of alberts?
what was that again about the lengths people will go to?
poooooooooooeeeeeeeeeeeeeeesklaaaaaaaaaaapppp THWAACK!
20 Sep 2012, 11:09 am
@Heavens Game-75: keegs, whatta player, whatta captain, whatta shark!
@Peter Mkata-78: bye bye peter, have a nice day exposing prejuidice in mundane matters like the way the waiter puts your plate of food down.
20 Sep 2012, 11:10 am
Keegan Daniel is also twice the leader the Bok Boon could ever be…
Wonder if the Bok Boon actually can speak the vernacular of the EC, isiXhosa… Or is he another one of those Champagne “Liberators”…
20 Sep 2012, 11:12 am
@Heavens Game-81: ag luke had a blinder season in 2006 and was very good in 2008 but since then a whole new crop of loosies has emerged so he will probably never play for the boks again.
20 Sep 2012, 11:13 am
@Peter Mkata-78: Refer to my post 72. Think about it for a few weeks.
20 Sep 2012, 11:14 am
@Transformation-77: Ja, maybe, but he must have had a bit of Zulu in him from somewhere…
He was a fighter, not a fast runner, like many of the supposed talent pool for the HSM Kings…
20 Sep 2012, 11:14 am
Luke is a good player, but CC 1st division form?
**** boys you are stretching.
20 Sep 2012, 11:14 am
Meyer is a bitter rock spider,Solly,and will never select Luke.His rigid,regimental Calvinistic and Nationalist upbringing will never allow him to select LUKE.Let us be clear about that.
20 Sep 2012, 11:15 am
@rangerman-79: If he is white he is wrong on wnbb’s book.
20 Sep 2012, 11:15 am
@wnbb-74: funny thing is i knew one of you sensitive souls would challenge me on the age of alberts.
i left if there like a bit of cheese to see which rats i could attract.
and you were there first, nibbling the cheese oblivious to the swinging arm about to poooooooooooesklap you in the back of the head.
like all rats i expect you to struggle a bit so make sharp please, i am waiting
20 Sep 2012, 11:16 am
Watson is a doos and an overrated player! Should never ever see the g&g again, end of…..
20 Sep 2012, 11:18 am
@wnbb-86:
true to form, now give us a squeal.
@Skeppie-87: he is a WUM (wind up merchant).
fun to slap around for a bit but as with all wum’s he gets filthier as his intelligence fails him.
20 Sep 2012, 11:19 am
@rangerman-82: Luke might have been pretty good once… Especially when he actually just played rugby, like when he first broke through at the Black and White… Then he thought he became a “Freedom Fighter Martyr” whereas in actuality he became just a common garden variety d.oos… He then landed up in a Province more suited for his type…
But, alas, he became too big a d.oos even for there… and the rest is history…
20 Sep 2012, 11:20 am
@rangerman-88: bwaaah.you had quite a bit of time to think about it and to make that comeback.!!!very poor ranger.i know you can do better.
20 Sep 2012, 11:22 am
@wnbb-86: No… as much as Meyer seems to have a soutie aversion… he wont pick Luke because the Bok Boon is just not good enough…
There are many better options… I actually even reckon that the Griquas Blonde midget is better…
20 Sep 2012, 11:23 am
Luke who?
20 Sep 2012, 11:23 am
@wnbb-92: the rat doesnt know its been killed haha.
i left the bait out for a while longer hoping i would get a few more but sadly only you bit today.
i guess that puts you in the bottom 0.000001%
20 Sep 2012, 11:25 am
@rangerman-90: I hear you, wind ups are one thing but when he starts spouting his racist garbage it quickly turns stale.
20 Sep 2012, 11:26 am
@rangerman-90: Don’t become too precious now Rangerboy.Talking about wum’s,as you call them,you were the absolute original.Your play on G10 is still fresh in the minds of many.
20 Sep 2012, 11:26 am
@Skeppie-96: ja, he gets there pretty quick because you need wit to be witty.
20 Sep 2012, 11:27 am
@Heavens Game-57: Rovers are killing the club game in KZN. No point in having one side so dominant.
20 Sep 2012, 11:27 am
@wnbb-97:
which one are you referring to?
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