Kings' new signing a real boost
GIFTED young Blue Bulls flyhalf Tony Jantjies has been unveiled as the first big signing for the EP Kings as they prepare for the new season.
The arrival of Jantjies, the younger brother of Springbok Elton Jantjies, will be a boost for the Kings, who lacked consistency at flyhalf when they lost nine consecutive matches in the Currie Cup Premier Division.
Jantjies proved to be a thorn in the Kings' side when he kicked two penalties and two conversions at Loftus last season when the Bulls beat EP 30-25 in the Currie Cup.
"We are extremely excited to have signed Tony, whose family hails from the Graaff-Reinet area. This is in line with our goal to bring talented players from this region back to the Eastern Cape," EP Rugby president Cheeky Watson said.
Watson said he was positive Jantjies would be a great addition to the Kings family when he joined the team in January.
"I have spoken to coach Carlos Spencer, who worked closely with Tony's brother Elton, and he is very keen to begin working with Tony," he said.
"Carlos had a major impact on Elton when he was playing at the Lions and I am positive he will bring the absolute best out of Tony," he said.
Spencer said the 22-year-old had the ability and talent to become a world class player.
"He is a young, exciting player, able to take the ball to the line and great on attack and defence.
"He has a lot of physicality and comes from a similar mould to his brother Elton, so I'm looking forward to working with him."
The Kings have adopted an expansive, attacking brand of rugby and this is likely to have played a role in Jantjies deciding to make the switch from Pretoria to Port Elizabeth.
With Spencer, a legendary former All Black flyhalf, guiding him, Jantjies will be hoping the move marks an upward spiral in his impressive career.
Jantjies made his junior debut for the Golden Lions in 2008 at the U16 Grant Khomo competition, which led to his inclusion in the U16 elite squad. In 2009 and 2010 he represented the Blue Bulls in the U18 Craven week competition and earned a spot in the SA Schools side in 2009.
Jantjies then progressed to representing the Blue Bulls in the U19 and U21 Absa Currie competitions between 2010 and last year.
In 2012 he was included in the U20 Junior Springbok side, playing in the IRB Junior World Championship.
Jantjies made his first-class debut for the Blue Bulls in the 2012 Vodacom Cup competition, coming on as a second-half substitute against Griquas and made his Currie Cup debut for the Blue Bulls the following year, starting against Western Province in the first match of the season.
The tranfer market has been busy and it has already been announced that Kings prop BG Uys, wing Sergeal Petersen and loose forward Devin Oosthuizen will be relocating to Bloemfontein to link up with the Cheetahs.
Flyhalf Ntabeni Dukisa is off to Kimberley to play for Griquas, while lanky lock Steven Cummins will be returning home to Australia, where he will be joining the Melbourne Rebels. - George Byron
