Booi in to beef up Kings coaching staff

“We are pleased to be joined by Chumani Booi, who will be our new backline coach,” Southern Kings chief operations Charl Crous said.

“Booi’s appointment, who is joining us from the Border Bulldogs, further shows the quality of rugby personnel that the province of the Eastern Cape has. We look forward to his contribution.

“We are grateful to the Border Rugby Union for working with us in ensuring that Booi makes the transition to the Southern Kings despite their own preparations for the start of their Currie Cup First Division campaign.”

Kings coach Deon Davids also welcomed the new management recruit.

“Chumani Booi is one of the respected coaches in the country, who comes with good experience from having coached the Border Bulldogs and the South Africa ‘A’ side. We looked to bring in somebody who will take Southern Kings rugby forward,” said Davids.

Former Springbok flyhalf and current SA Rugby acting high performance manager, Louis Koen, will also be assisting the Southern Kings as a consultant.

Meanwhile, head coach Davids says the hastily assembled Southern Kings plan to hit the ground running when the Pro14 kicks off in 11 days.

Badly hit by the departure of the bulk of their Super Rugby squad in July, the Kings were left with little time to prepare for their opening match against champions Scarlets in Wales on September 2.

“We have put together a good squad that we are confident will be highly competitive,” said Davids.

“We are blessed with a squad that has a good mix of experience and exciting youth. The Kings have players who have good Super Rugby experience under their belts as well as recruits who have played in the Pro14 who know what we can expect. “This is a squad that excites me.” The Kings squad: Alandre van Rooyen, Alshaun Bock, Andisa Ntsila, Berton Klaasen, Bobby de Wee, CJ Velleman, Dries van Schalkwyk, Eital Bredenkamp, Freddy Ngoza, Godlen Masimla, Jacques Nel, Jarryd Sage, Jurie van Vuuren, Justin Forwood, Khaya Majola, Kurt Coleman, Lindokuhle Welemu, Lubabalo Mtyanda, Lusanda Badiyana, Luzuko Vulindlu, Martin Dreyer, Masixole Banda, Michael Makase, Njabulo Gumede, Ntabeni Dukisa, Oliver Zono, Pieter Scholtz , Pieter-Steyn de Wet, Rossouw de Klerk, Ruaan Lerm, Rudi van Rooyen, Sbusiso Sithole, Schalk Ferreira, Siyabulela Mdaka, Stephan Coetzee, Stephan Greeff, Tango Balekile, Tienie Burger, Victor Sekekete, Yaw Penxe.