Kings move: Nicolas Vergallo
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The Southern Kings have reportedly signed Argentina scrum-half Nicolas Vergallo, Lions hooker Bandise Maku and Blues full-back Hadleigh Parkes.
According to EWN Sport, Kings president Cheeky Watson confirmed the deals ahead of their debut term in Super Rugby, at the expense of the Lions.
"They bring wonderful experience. Bandise's played at the highest level and is coming back home," Watson said.
"Vergallo, we've seen him play for Argentina so I think he'll add tremendous value to the Kings.
"And Hadleigh Parkes has played for the Blues, which will also add much value to the Kings."
Comments
carpelone says...
martinmarais78
TIA
Posted 09:22 06th October 2012
sukkadoits says...
@martinmarais78 I agree, it always about money in the end. It is a travesty that the great, yet wounded Lions are not in Super rugby. I hope the Kings can prove their worth by being competitive as well as maintaining their development objective. I read that half their player roster is empty so time will tell.
I bet Daniel Adongo will get a contract. After a lazy start to the ITM, he has proved himself a prominent worker and a great athlete worthy of a Super contract.
Posted 22:09 04th October 2012
Scan says...
@rakavi187
Saili? No way, Derek Carpenter from the Taniwha is quality!
Posted 16:58 04th October 2012
passtheball says...
There are a few de-listed, ambitious and / or frustrated players in the world that a smart organisation could make use of - at the right price of course.
Posted 15:04 04th October 2012
martinmarais78 says...
Sukkadoits, Kings begged Saru to force them into Super competition and build their case around developing black rugby in an area where a lot of Xhosa's live.
Most Saffas do not have a problem with Black player development, but why not develop rugby in a natural way in the area to bring black players from poor communities through a decent system? (Thus get rid of c-ANC-er corruption in the area and pump money into rural schools and clubs)
Now they buy mostly white players from all around the world and force a union like the Lions where great black players like Habana were naturally developed out of the competition! The Kings cannot even compete in the first division of the Currie cup so why give them this artificial 1 year change by pushing out the Lions... The whole thing stinks if you ask me. I suspect the root of this is as usual $$$$$...
Posted 13:27 04th October 2012
Bones7 says...
@side_stepper - do you really think Bosch is going to leave Biarritz for a pay cut, to play for Super Rugby's most unpopular team and to lose every week?!
@DarkestHorse - Italy have been included for years and European clubs have a lot more Romanian and Italian players than the Southern Hemisphere heavyweights have Argentinians. A 29 year old scrum half securing a contract because he doesn't get much game time at Toulouse anymore is hardly a cavalry charge of foreign players. As you said yourself Argentina should have been included much earlier whilst Italy have been in the 6N for over a decade now. The failings of their own setup are their own responsibility, they get teams automatically qualifying for the H cup and have been added to the Pro12!
Posted 09:25 04th October 2012
sukkadoits says...
Hadleigh Parkes is the calming influence within a raw and underdeveloped, yet exciting Auckland backline. I don't know anything about the King's black player development program as suggested by @martinmarais78, but throw Parkes' among some raw athletes and i'm sure he will know how to get the best out of them.
Recruiting Vergallo is great for Super Rugby, and i'm sure more Argentinians will follow. It is also a great bit of business as the Kings will become the favourite team of many Argentinians.
Posted 07:14 04th October 2012
PREEST says...
Good to see an Argentine player in the Super Rugby Competition! Hopefully we will see some more follow suit so that the Pumas can be more familiarised with Southern Hemisphere rugby.
Posted 05:29 04th October 2012
rakavi187 says...
Hadleigh Parkes to the Kings.... that means a midfield spot is freed up for the Blues, hopefully it is given to Francis Saili.
Posted 23:10 03rd October 2012
DarkestHorse says...
Yet another nice boost for Argie rugby. Hopefully this will begin the slow process of integrating them into a world club competition. Hats off to the IRB and SANZAR for getting them this far. If only Romania, and later Italy, had been treated with more respect though you could argue that the Pumas should have been in much earlier. TV contracts put paid to that possibility. At least a potentially legendary rugby nation has not been lost to the world game. Vamos.
Posted 22:41 03rd October 2012
MarcosGGuti says...
Kudos to Vergallo! A great scrum-half with great defending skills!
Posted 21:59 03rd October 2012
side_stepper says...
Try Marcello Bosch as well, a class player
Posted 19:53 03rd October 2012
melkdave says...
Well nice to see an Argentine player being offered a S15 contract,hopefully more will follow in due time
Posted 19:48 03rd October 2012
martinmarais78 says...
Glad to see $Cheeky$ bringing players through and doing so much for black player development in the area...
Nicolas Vergallo and Hadleigh Parkes thanks for your contribution by having a race change. Personally I thought this would only be possible in 2050!
Posted 19:11 03rd October 2012
daibok says...
Well at least they now have 1 transformation player although it's a shame he has had to leave the Lions.
Posted 18:46 03rd October 2012