Kimberley over Europe: Rising Griquas take immense joy from signing Rosko Specman

Griquas mentor Pieter Bergh believes their eye-catching recruitment of Rosko Specman is a major stamp of approval that the side is evolving towards becoming a bigger player on the domestic circuit.

The 33-year-old, one-cap Springbok - considered a Blitzboks legend for his exploits as sevens specialist between 2014 and 2019 - has signed a one-year contract with the Peacock Blues, notably sacrificing the opportunity of playing in the European Challenge Cup with the Cheetahs.

Not that the genial Bergh, who guided Griquas to last season's Currie Cup final, is preoccupying himself with motives.

In fact, he's just happy to have got one over their Free State neighbours, who've raided many of their quality players over the past two years like Victor Sekekete, Gideon van der Merwe, Siba Qoma, Dan Kasende and Munier Hartzenberg.

"To convince a player of Rosko's stature to join us, particularly after the Cheetahs were keen to keep him and to be honest really fought to do so, is a feather in our cap. It illustrates that he believes in what we're trying to do here," said Bergh.

"We don't play in a European series. Rosko could've easily decided to stay and participate against those opposing teams, but he really wanted to come to Kimberley. It's a credit to our setup that such an experience player believes he can join us and still improve and contribute as a player."

Pay to see

Crude as it sounds, Specman's involvement could also have significant commercial spinoffs for the union itself, even in something as basic as attendance at Griqua Park.

"Rosko is the type of player that people pay for to see play," said Bergh.

"When he runs out, people want to be present and witness what he's going to do. There's a reason he's nicknamed 'Specmagic'. He