Southern Kings flyhalf, Demetri Catrakilis has been called up to the Springbok training squad, and will be joining the rest of the team on a training camp in Durban next week, after the Cheetah’s game.
Catrakilis became the first South African in seven years to exceed 100 points in his Super Rugby debut during the game against the Highlanders, and currently boasts 107 points, ranking as the ninth highest point scorer in the overall competition. He joins just three other fellow South Africans, Morné Steyn (163 points) Pat Lambie (139 points) and Joe Pietersen (125) in Club 100 for the 2013 Super Rugby season, so far.
Last year’s Vodacom Cup Player of the Year, follows in the footsteps of DHL Stormers’ Peter Grant who reached 100 points in his debut Super Rugby season in 2006, while Steyn did it in his debut playing for the Vodacom Bulls in 2005.
Six more South Africans have reached 100 points in their first season of Vodacom Super Rugby – four of them in 1996. They are Jannie Kruger (Northern Transvaal), Henry Honiball (Natal), Joel Stransky (WP), Gavin Lawless (Transvaal) and André Joubert. In 2001, Butch James scored 100 points for The Sharks in his first season.
Eastern Province Rugby President, Cheeky Watson, said Catrakilis’ call up was a testament to what was being accomplished by the new Southern Kings franchise.
“This is just another example of how players, who may previously not have been afforded the opportunity to play at Super Rugby level, have shown the world what they can do through the Southern Kings. These youngsters have stepped up to the challenge and have outperformed even our wildest expectations,” he said.
Southern Kings Director of Rugby, Alan Solomons said he was immensely proud of Catrakilis’ call up to the squad.
“Demetri has really played fantastic rugby this season and fully deserves getting the recognition for his contribution that he has made,” he said.
Solomons said Catrakilis’ call up would, however, not impact on any of the remaining games that the Southern Kings would be playing, and that Catrakilis was still part of the team for the Southern Kings match against the Cheetahs on Saturday.
Willie le Roux, Catrakilis cracks the nod for 2nd Bok training camp http://t.co/mX4b5OuYsG
about 3 hours ago via JanetterReplyRetweetFavorite
Congratulations to Demetri Catrakilis on getting a call up to the bok training squad, lovely to see. Goodluck @dcatrakilis! @ikeytigers
about 3 hours ago via Twitter for iPhoneReplyRetweetFavorite
Bok squad looks pretty damn sharp! Brussow and Van der Walt from Cheetahs perhaps unlucky, but good to see Herbst, Catrakilis and Le Roux in
about 3 hours ago via TweetDeckReplyRetweetFavorite
Brilliant to see Lappies, Willie le Roux, Nyakane, Wiehahn Herbst and Catrakilis added to the Bok training camp. Was only a matter of time
about 3 hours ago via Twitter for iPhoneReplyRetweetFavorite
Demetri Catrakilis called up to Bok training squad, well deserved son, make us proud @WP_RUGBY @wpclubrugby @THESTORMERS @dcatrakilis
about 3 hours ago via webReplyRetweetFavorite
Southern Kings delighted with call-up of Catrakilis to Springbok training camp http://t.co/LjSeMMw5V0
about 2 hours ago via FacebookReplyRetweetFavorite
Catrakilis in Bok squad on form! Well deserved! If he stayed at WP he would have been 3rd or 4th choice flyhalf. Credit 2 @SouthernKingsSA
about 2 hours ago via Twitter for BlackBerry®ReplyRetweetFavorite
Demetri Catrakilis invited to the Bok training camp. Good news. His form hasn’t gone unnoticed. 107points this season. #Pinpointaccuracy
about 2 hours ago via Twitter for BlackBerry®ReplyRetweetFavorite
Catrakilis…next springbok flyhalf for sure.
about 2 hours ago via Twitter for AndroidReplyRetweetFavorite
proud moment @SouthernKingsSA: http://t.co/Rp3mnSTV4X Catrakilis called up to the Springbok training squad http://t.co/M7YgBaBy3y #skings
about 2 hours ago via UberSocial for BlackBerryReplyRetweetFavorite
Now that Catrakilis is in the Springbok TRAINING squad everyone wants to see him in action on Saturday: http://t.co/Nwj1bmhi9r
about 1 hour ago via Tweet ButtonReplyRetweetFavorite
Southern Kings Demetri Catrakilis gets call up to South Africa Squad…well done make us proud.
about 1 hour ago via webReplyRetweetFavorite
Big S/O to Demetri Catrakilis for making the Bok training squad!Big step son
about 1 hour ago via Twitter for BlackBerry®ReplyRetweetFavorite
