Eastern Province Kings CEO, Charl Crous confirmed yesterday the signings of Springbok prop CJ van der Linde and Edgar Marutlulle.
A player like van der Linde comes with ample experience and an impressive rugby CV.
“A player such as CJ brings with him a wealth of experience that will help the younger players in the Kings setup as they step up to the next level of competition that is Currie Cup Premier Division,” said Crous.
Christoffel Johannes Van der Linde started his junior career at the Cheetahs, before making his senior debut in 2001 for the Currie Cup side. He played at the Cheetahs up until 2008, making 45 appearances for the Vodacom Cup and Currie Cup sides, and representing them 38 times in Super Rugby.
Van der Linde made his Springbok debut in 2002 as a 20 year old against Scotland at Murrayfield: he has played a total of 75 tests including 4 tries.
In 2008 he signed a deal with Leinster, where he represented them in the Magners League and Heineken Cup, before returning to the Cheetahs in 2010.
In 2011 he joined the Stormers, making 11 appearances during the Super Rugby season.
At the end of 2012 he moved to the Lions before signing with London Irish for the 2013-14 Aviva Premiership season.
Van der Linde has signed with the Kings until the end of the 2014 season.
Crous also said, “It is also great to have a high caliber player such as Edgar back with us. Edgar was part of our structures last year in our debut Super Rugby campaign and it is great to have him back.”
Edgar Marutlulle, who joined the Southern Kings in 2013 during their Super Rugby season, has re-signed with the Kings for their 2014-15 Currie Cup season.
The hooker made his Currie Cup debut for the Golden Lions in 2010 and was included in the Lions Super Rugby squad in 2011.
He joined the Leopards in 2012 before signing with the Southern Kings in 2013, where he made 4 appearances during their Super Rugby season, before moving back to the Leopards.
New player signings to date includes: CJ van der Linde, Edgar Marutlulle, Michael van Vuuren, Izak van de Westhuizen, Kevin Luiters, Hansie Graaff and Tim Whitehead.
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The Kings are building a nice team there, I would say they just need Demetri Catrakilis back there too, then they will do pretty well.
@Uli Boelie (Comment 1) : I’ve kind of lost track a little… who will their flyhalf be?
Oh wait, there was talk that they wanted to sign Jantjies? That would be a superb move for him. He looked his best when working with Carlos Spencer. No point having him and Boshoff fighting for the same spot.
Bench prop 🙄
@robdylan (Comment 2) : I agree, Jantjies would make a very good addition to them. Who is their locks right now? Sykes still playing?
@Uli Boelie (Comment 1) : not a bad idea 😉
@Uli Boelie (Comment 4) : yes Sykes still at Kings
@pierre_mackie (Comment 5) : Its sad though as Demetri is not that bad a player, yet he always struggles to make to WP team. I recon he made a bad move going back there.
Although he has never been the same after FS and Bissy took care of him in the CC final.
I still rate him highly, he has some serious skills for a flyhalf, and the only one I can think of who is able to drop goal with both feet in South Africa.
@Uli Boelie (Comment 7) : yes he did well last year, kept the Kings competitive in most games
1.CJ
2.Edgar
3.?(Mujati)maybe
4.Sykes(vc)
5.Izak vd Westhuizen
6.Watson(c)
7.Devon
8.Davis
9.Luiters
10.Hansie Graaf
11.Shakes
12.Whitehead
14.Petersen
15.Whitehead
@Chippa (Comment 9) : and you still have promising players in Scott v Breda and Shane Gates
@pierre_mackie(Comment10):Those are very good players and maybe Gates will take the 13 jersey,if they can compete it will be good for the Boks going forward
Kings are starting to look good ahead of the Currie Cup
@Chippa (Comment 9) : No offense but thats barely a starting 15 and most of those players are walking sick notes. They have done alright in Vodacom Cup but CC is a totally different comp. Griquas won Vodacom Cup comfortably and they were nowhere in CC.
@SheldonK (Comment 13) : maybe they had something to prove after last year’s playoffs?!?!?!
@Sheldonk(Comment13)Only Devon & Davis played a few games,most were from the under-21 team,we all thought Victor Matfield was over the hill 😆
Hell CJ did a bit of travelling the last couple of years only staying an year at a team!?!?!?!?
This could be a good trend of the Kings to bring near retirement heavy’s in, play one season and keep them in training and coaching roles afterwards
@Gerhardt (Comment 17) : if you get the right oldies they could give the youngsters some great guidance for the future.
@Chippa (Comment 15) : Eish u tredding a fine line comparing Matfield-world cup winner and match of the match in that final to those guys. But maybe they gel as a team…all im saying is that a lot of the big names like to get injured. @JD (Comment 14) : And yeh im sure they did. And in fairness they do belong in the top section of teams as they are capable just dont have the depth