Captured and relocated to the Rhinos

MANCOSA Rhinos head coach Charles Mndaweni recruited four talented players from the Eastern Cape to boost his side for the 2017 season.

All four players have two goals in mind, namely to finish in the top six in the Castle Premier League and earn selection for the Sharks Wildebeest or Sharks Rural sides.

• Unathi Makasi is an exciting 22-year-old flyhalf who is equally adept at scrumhalf. He plays fast off the deck and has a mean boot that can collect points and relieve pressure.

The 82kg, 1.73m utility back played for the KZN U18 team (2011-2012), Crusaders U20 (2013), Sharks U19 (2013), Jaguars club side (2016) and KZN U18 Sevens (2011-2012).

He aims to contribute this season with his boot and look to create play for his team-mates at first five.

• Siphosethu Ngwalala, aka Seabelo Senatla, is the man packing jet shoes out on the wing.

The 24-year-old, who has played for the Eastern Province U18 Academy (2011) and Crusaders U21 club (2013) sides, brings agility, speed and slick handling to the table for the local outfit this season.

His debut Premier League game for the club only lasted a few minutes against Richards Bay last weekend after a late hit to the lower back sent him off nursing his wounds.

• Zubenathi Sixonxo, aka The Big Show, packed down for his Premier League debut against Richards Bay last weekend, and made an impression manhandling a few players in the scrum and rucks.

The 22-year-old prop forward, who weighs in at 130kg and towers 1.91m, made his move to Empangeni after plying his trade at Dispatch Rugby Club (U21) in 2015 and 2016.

He not only brings size to the table, but brute strength and scrummaging skills that will aid the Rhinos side against more professional outfits later on in the season.

• Lwando Kleinbooi is a talented loose-forward who carries ball well into contact situations, is explosive off the mark and lands a number of big tackles, which he proved against Richards Bay recently.

The 98kg, 1.75m beast has played for Eezze Development (2008-2009), Zwide Unitec (2010-2014) and Spring Rose Rugby Football Club (2015-2016), before landing on the Rhinos doorstep.

He looks to bring dominance at the breakdown areas and tight defense to the table this season.

They train three times a week in the gymnasium, do pool sessions twice a week, train with the club side twice a week and play matches on weekends.

When not putting in the hard yards, these four musketeers can be found chilling out and watching television.

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