Alandre van Rooyen has become the latest Kings player to leave the franchise after Griquas officially announced the signing of the hooker.

The 24-year-old has followed a host of players who have exited the Kings for short-term moves, following the franchise’s fall into liquidation last month.

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He joins former teammate and loose forward CJ Velleman – who moved to Griquas in September – at the Northern Cape-based franchise.

The Sharks on Tuesday confirmed the signings of duo Yaw Penxe and Thembelani Bholi on short-term deals for the domestic season.

Van Rooyen, who grew up in Port Elizabeth, joined the Kings on an initial loan from the Vodacom Bulls in 2017 and made the move back home permanent in 2018.

SA Rugby announced last month that the insolvent Southern Kings company had been placed in voluntary liquidation to secure the longer-term financial future of rugby in Eastern Province – it was the Kings’ second liquidation in less than five years.

The shareholders – the Eastern Province Rugby Union (EPRU) and SA Rugby – were stated to have taken the decision in the face of an accumulated deficit of R55 million, and with zero income in prospect for the remainder of 2020.

This came after the Kings pulled out of South Africa’s upcoming domestic competitions for financial reasons.

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