South Africa Rugby Team signs Kenyan-born Daniel Adongo

The Kenyan-born man the Bulls signed ahead of next year’s somewhat experimental Super Rugby competition, is one of the more intimidating figures on the rugby scene, or so his new teammates learnt in their first training session.

To clarify, the size and strength of a modern professional rugby player is best contextualised when some of his fellow giants say things like: “This guy has muscles in places where I didn’t even know you could have muscles”.

Or, perhaps slightly more tongue in cheek, “Some of the guys were forced to put their shirts back on after he took his off at training the other day.”

Coming off a very impressive first season of top-flight rugby with the Sharks, the muscular man now has his sights set on cementing a place in his new team’s starting line-up and perhaps, at a later stage, representing the country he calls home.

“It is every player’s long-term goal to one-day play for the Springboks, so I feel the same.

“All I can do now is to learn from the many Springboks who are in this squad and take it from there.”

Judging by the renewed intensity with which the Bulls approached their pre-season programme – the Pretoria squad broke tradition by not conducting their yearly sweat session in George – the 22 year old finds himself in the best possible situation to unlock his true potential.

All he needs to do now is to adapt to his new surroundings.

“I want to take my game forward and I expect to do so here. The culture here will ensure that happens as everyone is in it to win.”

Admittedly Adongo prefers being deployed at the side of the scrum (at flank). He understands that the step up from Currie Cup to Super Rugby won’t be a walk in the park, in spite of his 1,97m and 112kg frame.