Ikeys star set to turn out for Kings in Currie Cup

[caption id="attachment_37683" align="alignright" width="312"] SHAUN MCDONALD[/caption]

ROBUST Ikeys lock Shaun McDonald was a surprise new face in the EP Kings squad when they trained against Scotland at NMMU Stadium yesterday.

McDonald, who won the "Forward that Rocks" award after last year's Varsity Cup, was in the thick of the action as Kings head coach Carlos Spencer put his team through their paces.

The Scots were having their first training session on South African soil after their narrow 21-19 win over Argentina in Corboda at the weekend.

There is a chance that McDonald could be included in the Kings team to face a Sharks 15 in a Super Rugby friendly at Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium next Friday.

Though there was no official comment from the Kings on McDonald's arrival, it is believed he will be here for the duration of the Currie Cup season before returning to the Ikeys.

The arrival of McDonald follows hot on the heels of the signing of Australian lock Steven Cummins who has impressed in his opening two matches against Wales and a Bulls 15.

Earlier the Kings had suffered two major setbacks in the lock position when Steven Sykes and Izak van der Westhuizen were ruled out of action for various reasons.

Sykes has been ruled out for three months after suffering an ankle injury during training.

Van der Westhuizen failed his medical test after suffering three concussions since the beginning of the year.

He was advised by a specialist not to play any rugby for the next six months to a year.

The Kings looked sharp in training and the back division earned a round of applause from Spencer after they moved the ball smartly down the backline. - George Byron