Bok boost for Kings front row
The EP Kings have confirmed that Springbok prop CJ van der Linde and hooker Edgar Maratlulle have signed with them ahead of their re-entry into the Currie Cup.
EP Rugby CEO, Charl Crous confirmed that the EP Kings have signed the experienced Van der Linde till the end of the 2014 season, as well as signing Marutlulle until the end of 2015.
"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," he said.
"It is also great to have a calibre 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," said Crous.
Van der Linde represented the Free State Cheetahs at Craven Week in 1998, earning him a call-up to the South African Schools side in the same year. As he progressed through the youth ranks at the Cheetahs, he continued playing for national youth sides, representing the U19s in 1999 and the U21s in 2000 and 2001.
He made his debut for the Springboks as a 20-year-old in November 2002 in a match against Scotland at Murrayfield, which South Africa lost 21-6 and has gone on to represent South Africa 75 times since then.
He was involved in the senior setup at the Cheetahs from 2001, when he was named in their squad for the 2001 Currie Cup competition. He remained with the Free State Cheetahs until 2008, making 45 domestic appearances in the Vodacom Cup and Currie Cup competitions during his spell there as well as representing them 38 times in Super Rugby.
Van der Linde signed a three-year contract with Leinster in late 2008. He represented them in the Pro12 and European Cup competitions between 2008 and 2010. He returned to his former side the Free State Cheetahs following his release from Leinster and made four appearances for them during the 2010 Currie Cup.
He joined the Cape Town-based Stormers for 2011, making 11 appearances for them during the Super Rugby season. He then left the Stormers to join the Golden Lions, where he played during the 2012 and 2013 seasons, as well as making seven appearances for the Lions in the 2013 Super Rugby season.
In December 2013, it was announced that he had signed with London Irish until the end of the 2013/14 season in the Premiership and he has now joined the Eastern Province Kings.
