Stormers flyhalf on trial with EP
[caption id="attachment_36074" align="alignright" width="405"] GARY VAN ASWEGEN[/caption]
WESTERN Province and Stormers flyhalf Gary van Aswegen has joined the EP Kings on a one-month trial and could become a pivotal figure when the Currie Cup Premier Division kicks off in August.
Kings chief executive Charl Crous confirmed that the 24-year-old Van Aswegen would start training in Port Elizabeth today and could be considered for upcoming friendlies.
"We are quite excited that Gary is coming to the Kings for a trial," Crous said. "Our head coach, Carlos Spencer, will be able to have a good look at him and see if he can slot in with our team."
Van Aswegen, who has made 15 appearances for the Stormers, was in action at the weekend when he played for a Western Province XV against the Namibian Weltwitchias in Windhoek. The flyhalf has scored 124 points in 20 matches for Western Province and he will be hoping to bring that form to Port Elizabeth.
The arrival of Van Aswegen will mean there will be keen competition for the flyhalf starting berth between the WP man and George Whitehead, who filled the position against Wales.
Other players who could also come into the reckoning are Ntabeni Dukisa, who turned in several impressive showings during the Vodacom Cup, and Hansie Graaff.
Though Graaff played at fullback against Wales, he has said he also enjoys playing at flyhalf.
Several new faces could feature when the Southern Kings face a Bulls XV in a Super Rugby friendly at the Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium on Friday (kick-off 7pm).
Spencer will want his men to get on the winning track after they slipped to a 34-12 defeat against Wales last Tuesday.
The Kings will name their team to face the Bulls today and there is speculation that Luke Watson could return to lead the team after a long layoff because of injury.
Watson had been keen to make his return in the international friendly against Wales last week, but Spencer decided to delay his return until he felt the loose forward was 100% fit. Much interest will also centre on the lock combination to face the Bulls after it was announced that Steven Sykes had been ruled out of action for three months after suffering an ankle injury during training.
The loss has been offset with news from Pretoria that former Southern Kings lock David Bulbring is returning to Port Elizabeth after a spell at the Bulls.
Bulbring led the Bulls Vodacom Cup team this year, but did not get a chance to play Super Rugby.
"Unfortunately, we will be without Steven for three months. It is a big loss but we do have young players coming through," Spencer said.
"We can only focus on the guys we do have and I am sure we will be fine, but when you lose someone of that experience they are hard to replace." - George Byron
