Ex-Bay man Whitehead may join list to play for EP Kings

DASHING Sharks centre Tim Whitehead could be coming home to Nelson Mandela Bay to join Stade Francais hooker Michael van Vuuren in a red and black-hooped EP Kings jersey this season.

The 25-year-old Whitehead fits the profile of the type of players the Kings are head-hunting and he could be an able replacement after Andries Strauss decided to relocate to Edinburgh.

Though EP officials are tight- lipped about revealing their "shopping-list", Whitehead's name has been mentioned by insiders as one of the new band of recruits heading to the Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium.

There has been frantic movement in the transfer market over the past couple of days, with Edinburgh lock Izak van der Westhuizen signing for the Kings and then Van Vuuren also being linked to EP.

The Kings have a policy of "bring them home, keep them home" and Whitehead has strong Port Elizabeth links despite playing for the Stormers and Sharks.

Whitehead was born in Port Elizabeth and, like Van Vuuren, attended Grey High before studying at the University of Cape Town and then playing Super Rugby for the Stormers and Sharks.

While at Grey, Whitehead partnered explosive Springbok and Bulls star JJ Engelbrecht at centre.

Whitehead, however, was overlooked when the Sharks Super Rugby squad was named and this is likely to result in him looking for new pastures.

The inventive centre broke his arm last season and this had a major effect on his season as he spent a frustrating time on the sidelines.

Sharks coach Jake White has also hinted that Springbok Sevens star Sibusiso Sithole would be used more often, which would result in less game time for Whitehead in Durban this season.

The Kings will kick off their Currie Cup campaign against Western Province on August 9.

The eight teams will be divided into two sections: Section X (Western Province, Golden Lions, Blue Bulls, EP Kings) and Section Y (Sharks, Free State, Pumas, qualifier).

The teams will play home and away within their sections followed by a single cross-conference round before the semifinals and final.

The Kings' Premier Division fixtures:

Aug 9: EP Kings vs Western Province, Port Elizabeth

Aug 16: Lions vs EP Kings, Ellis Park, Johannesburg

Aug 23: Blue Bulls vs EP Kings, Loftus Versfeld, Pretoria

Aug 30: EP Kings vs Lions, Port Elizabeth

Sept 6: Western Province vs EP Kings, DHL Newlands, Cape Town

Sept 13: EP Kings vs Blue Bulls, Port Elizabeth

Sept 20: EP Kings vs Free State, Port Elizabeth

Sept 27: Sharks vs EP Kings, Growthpoint Kings Park, Durban

Oct 4: Absa Qualifier vs EP Kings, TBC

Oct 11: EP Kings vs Pumas, Port Elizabeth

Oct 17: Semi-finals

Oct 25: Final

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