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Three new signings for Kings

Port Elizabeth - The EP Kings on Tuesday announced three new player signings as their preparations for re-entry into the Currie Cup Premier Division step up a gear.

EP Rugby CEO Charl Crous confirmed the signings of tighthead prop Tom Botha, scrumhalf Tobias “Tobie” Botes and Australian lock Steve Cummins. All three have been signed until the end of the 2014 season.

“We are very excited to announce these new signings, with Tom and Steve who bring some additional cover to the forward pack, while Tobie is an experienced scrumhalf with international experience,” said Crous

Both Botes and Cummins both joined the team Monday, while Botha will be arriving on Monday next week.

Botes, 30, was born in Worcester, Western Cape and played for Griquas between 2006 and 2008, before making his Super Rugby debut for the Cheetahs in 2008. He played three games for them before moving to Italy where he signed with Benetton Treviso.

Botes normally plays as a scrumhalf but has also proven adept at flyhalf. In January 2012 he was called up to the Italian squad as cover for the 2012 Six Nations Championship and he has subsequently been selected to play for Italy 22 times.

Cummins, 22, has been described as an exciting young tight forward with great potential. He captained the Australian Academy Under-19 side in 2011 and went on to represent Australia in the Under-20 IRB World Championship the following year.

Botha, 23, joins the Kings after having spent two seasons in France at Montpellier.

Botha represented the Boland Cavaliers at several youth tournaments before joining the Blue Bulls in 2010 before moving to Western Province the following season. He made his first team debut for Western Province in the 2011 Vodacom Cup against the Falcons. He played several Vodacom Cup games for WP before appearing off the bench in the 2012 Currie Cup Premier Division game against the Sharks.

The EP Kings will play an international friendly against Wales next Tuesday (June 10) - their first pre-season hit out.

The game kicks off at 19:00.

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