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Louis Botha van Bloemfontein is as die eerste kampioen van die Dihlabeng Sewes-toernooi wat deur Hoërskool Voortrekker in Bethlehem aangebied is gekroon. Die span van die Rosestad het Hentie Cilliers van Virginia 26-24 in ‘n opwindende naelbytstryd in die eindstryd verslaan om met die titel weg te stap. Die twee skole het verlede jaar ook sake in die Bloemfonteinse been van die @lantic Sewesreeks gebots met Henties wat die kroon gedra het.

Dié twee spanne het ook saam ses spelers tot die span van die toernooi bygedra wat later vanjaar op die Dubai Sewes in aksie sal wees. Die Suid-Afrikaanse Skole-vleuel van verlede jaar, Jinxi Molapo van Ben Vorster in Tzaneen het ook die span gehaal. Hy was vroeër vanjaar ook deel van die Suid-Afrikaanse skole sewesspan wat die goue medalje op die Australiese Jeug Olimpiese-fees (AJOF) in Sydney verower het.

Refiloe Rampeta, Olwethu Ndakisa, Luke Cyster en Dale Koopman van Louis Botha het die span van Dubai gehaal, terwyl Henties se Ethan “Yster” Williams en Jonathan April ook die span gemaak het. Voortrekker het self twee spelers, Johan Vermaak en Wian van der Watt wat die span gehaal het. Dit is jammer dat die Trekkers se Sechaba Matsoele na twee wedstryde beseer is. Hy sou indien hy in al sy span se wedstryde gespeel het heel moontlik ook die span gehaal het. Die span is deur die voormalige Blitsbok, Neil Powell gekies.

Die Trekkers het in sy kwarteindstryd teen Hoërskool Middelburg van Mpumalanga 12-elk gelykop gespeel. Nie een van die twee spanne kon na bykomende speeltyd daarin slaag om punte aan te teken nie. Die gasheer het na die halfeindstryd deurgedring op die feit dat hy eerste in die wedstryd punte aangeteken het.

Die Trekkers het met slegs twee punte 15-17 teen die uiteindelike kampioen in die halfeindstryd die knie gebuig. Louis Botha het in sy drie groepwedstryde vir Sarel Cilliers van Glencoe (26-10), Witteberg (33-5) en Middelburg (29-5) verslaan. Die kampioen het in die kwarteindstryd vir Brandwag van Benoni 17-7 geklop.

Menlopark was ook een van die sterk spanne op die toernooi. Hulle is egter in die halfeindstryd deur Hentie Cilliers 17-10 uitgeskakel. Die span van Pretoria kon egter vroeër sy Moses teëgekom het toe hy Wilgerivier in ‘n harde kwarteindstryd 19-14 uitoorlê het. Wilgerivier het die meeste van die speelwerk in die tweede helfte gedoen. Indien die span van Frankfort kort voor rustyd sy aanval op Menlopark se doellyn kon afrond kon sake dalk ander gestaan het.

Span na Dubai Sewes wat na afloop van die Dihlabeng Sewes in Bethlehem gekies is:

Jinxi Molapo, Floyd Ntimane (albei Ben Vorster), Refiloe Rampeta, Olwethu Ndakisa, Luke Cyster, Dale Koopman (almal Louis Botha), Johan Vermaak, Wian van der Watt (albei Voortrekker), Jonathan April, Ethan Williams (albei Hentie Cilliers), Ruan de Beer and Arnold Gerber (albei  Menlopark).

Al die uitslae:

Groep A: Voortrekker 32 Eldoriagne 7; Brandwag (Benoni) 34 Kestell 0; Voortrekker 14 Brandwag (Benoni) 7; Eldoraigne 36 Kestell 0; Voortrekker 51 Kestell 5; Brandwag (Benoni) 31 Eldoraigne 0.

Groep B: Hoërskool Middelburg 14 Witteberg 0; Louis Botha 26 Sarel Cilliers 10; Middelburg 31 Sarel Cilliers 0; Louis Botha 33 Witteberg 5; Witteberg 17 Sarel Cilliers 15; Louis Botha 29 Middelburg 5.

Groep C: Hentie Cilliers 26 Hoërskool Kroonstad 0; Menlopark 43 Vrede 0; Hentie Cilliers 12 Menlopark 12; Hoërskool Kroonstad 36 Vrede 5; Hentie Cilliers 61 Vrede 0; Menlopark 48 Hoërskool Kroonstad 0.

Groep D: Wilgerivier 29 Landboudal 7; Ben Vorster 31 Sentraal 24; Ben Vorster 19 Wilgerivier 7; Sentraal 36 Landboudal 12; Ben Vorster 41 Landboudal 0; Wilgerivier 19 Sentraal 7.

Kwarteindstryde: Bowl – Sarel Cilliers 12 Eldoraigne 5; Witteberg 40 Kestell 7; Landboudal 31 Hoërskool Kroonstad 17; Sentraal 47 Vrede 21. Beker – Voortrekker 12 Middelburg 12 (Voortrekker wen na hulle eerste drie in kragmeting gedruk het); Louis Botha 17 Brandwag 7; Menlopark 19 Wilgerivier 14; Hentie Cilliers 19 Ben Vorster 12. 

Halfeindstryde: Skild – Eldoraigne 34 Kestell 5; Hoërskool Kroonstad 28 Vrede 5. Bowl – Witteberg 28 Sarel Cilliers 7; Landboudal 26 Sentraal 19. Plaat – Brandwag 24 Hoërskool Middelburg 0; Ben Vorster 21 Wilgerivier 7. Beker – Louis Botha 17 Voortrekker 15; Hentie Cilliers 17 Menlopark 10.

Eindstryde: Skild – Eldoraigne 34 Hoërskool Kroonstad 7. Bowl – Witteberg 34 Landboudal 0. Plaat – Brandwag 24 Ben Vorster 17. Beker – Louis Botha 26 Hentie Cilliers 24. 

Deur Hannes Nienaber

Sentraal of Bloemfontein started their 2013 season with an unspectacular 14-8 victory over Landboudal from Jacobsdal. The match was the main curtain raiser for the FNB Varsity Shield match between the Ixias and Fort Hare at the CUT Stadium in Bloemfontein.

Tralies already lead 7-3 at the break after a try by their flyhalf, DP de Lange. He represented the Free State u16-side at the Grant Khomo Week last year and also made the South African High Performance Group. De Lange and inside centre, Michiel Venter was the star performers in the backline.

The handling of the winning team was however not on par with a lot of passes being knocked on. The most impressive part of Tralies’ performance was in the scrums. They were without a doubt on top in this aspect of the game. For Landboudal their backline came to light late in the second half with Eric Reynecke and Morris Rossouw providing the spark.

The teams:

Sentraal: 15 Addington Mondo, 14 DJ Hefer, 13 Tumi Khukhele, 12 Michiel Venter, 11 Wian Koekemoer, 10 DP de Lange, 9 Brendan Bruwer, 8 Stefan Kruger (captain), 7 Franco Tack, 6 Hanno Prinsloo, 5 Fanie du Randt, 4 SJ Wessels, 3 Lafras Becker, 2 Ryno Gerber, 1 Stephan Prinsloo.

Landboudal: 15 Dirk Heyman, 14 Petri Fourie, 13 Kat Mabaleng, 12 Morris Rossouw, 11 JD Mans, 10 Guillaume Strydom, 9 Conrad du Toit, 8 Zach Janse van Rensburg, 7 Danie du Toit, 6 Henroux Benadé, 5 Adriaan Britz, 4 Francois Jacobs, 3 Hanno van der Merwe, 2 Christo Bothma, 1 FC Swart. 

Scorers:

Sentraal 14 (7) – Tries: DP de Lange, Wian Koekemoer. Conversions: De Lange (2).Landboudal 8 (3) – Try: Erik Reynecke. Penalty: Morris Rossouw.

 

New scrum Laws to make amateur rugby safer will come into effect at club and schools level as the season gets underway this month, following an initiative introduced by the South African Rugby Union (SARU). A new scrum engagement sequence has been devised for amateur rugby to minimise the risks of serious injury suffered in this facet of play.

“We identified the engagement sequence as an area that could be improved in our amateur game, mainly the hit when the two packs come together, as well as when scrums collapse,” said Jurie Roux, CEO of SARU.

“That is why we decided to bring in certain Law amendments for the scrum in the amateur game, which could have an immediate safety impact on this aspect. The scientific literature strongly supports this being the way to go.”

The new engagement sequence was developed after extensive research into the matter. Rugby experts such as former French prop and current Springbok scrum consultant Pieter de Villiers, former Springbok World Cup winning prop Balie Swart, SA U20 coach and former Springbok prop Dawie Theron and SARU General Manager: High Performance Rassie Erasmus were all involved. Meetings were also held with the French Rugby Federation, who also operate amateur scrum law modifications, and the IRB Scrum Research group in Bath, England, regarding their scrum biomechanics research.

The South African modifications were approved by the SARU General Council in December.

From now on, scrum engagements at amateur level will be divided into three categories:

1. First category (Under-9 and younger): The scrum engagement will be passive engagement with no contest.

2. Second category (U11s to U16s, including provincial school age-group rugby): Engagement will also be passive, meaning there is no hit, but full scrum contest will be allowed until the scrum has moved 1.5 metres.

3. Third category (U18, including provincial school age-group rugby, to the second highest tier club rugby): Props will pre-bind with a reduced hit on engagement. At schools level, the 1.5m rule applies, but above that, the scrum will be fully contestable.

At these levels, teams feeding the scrum will not concede possession if the scrum passes through 45 degrees (schools) or 90 degrees (adults). In this instance, the scrum will be reset, unless the wheel was intentional, where the referee will penalise the offending team. Binding post-engagement between the two front rows has to be such that the elbows are not lower than the shoulder line.

The engagement call for these three categories will be “crouch, bind, scrum” and the distance between the packs pre-setting will be reduced to where the heads of the two front rows are aligned ear-to-ear and in the opposite channel.

The regular “crouch, touch, set” sequence and IRB scrum laws will apply in all other rugby from the level of super league club rugby (the highest tier of club rugby in each province) and up, including provincial adult representative age-group rugby (U19 and U21) and all professional rugby.

The modifications at amateur level have been introduced because studies have shown that more than a third (37%) of all serious and catastrophic head, neck and spine injuries in rugby, emanate from scrums. Most of these injuries in South Africa occur in amateur rugby, where technical ability, strength, fitness and conditioning levels are not as advanced as in the professional game.

Evidence has shown that targeted interventions on scrum-related injuries are effective in reducing spinal cord injuries.

Roux said: “There are relatively few of these kinds of injuries in the game when taking into account the number of hours spent playing rugby on any given day in SA. Nonetheless, by reducing the impact on engagement, and limiting the risk of scrum collapse with these Law modifications, this should considerably lower the risk of sustaining such an injury in the scrums.

“We also believe that, in the long-term, these modifications should also lead to stronger scrummagers, who are technically more efficient at contesting and scrumming for the ball, while keeping these players safer during this part of the game.

Dawie Theron, said that scrum safety is paramount for everyone involved in the game: “I am of the opinion that the scrum engagement modifications will have positive consequences, in that it will make the scrum safer, there will be fewer scrum collapses and fewer penalties in the scrum, it will be easier for the referees to manage and control scrums and the ball will be in play for longer, as a result of less penalties and less resets.”

Andre Watson, SARU General Manager: Referees, said the new engagement sequence that will be used at amateur level, will also lead to better consistency in decision-making by referees.

“The gradual progression towards a full scale ‘hit’ at engagement at elite level is logical and should equip front row players better,” said Watson. “The emphasis will revert back to scrumming after the ball is fed in as opposed to ‘hitting’ in on the opponent.”

Issued by SARU Corporate Affairs

DIE Hoërskool Voortrekker op Bethlehem help dié naweek dat sewesrugby op skolevlak in die sentrale streek lewendig bly.

Die Trekkers bied Vrydag en Saterdag ’n toernooi in samewerking met die Dihlabeng-munisipaliteit op Bethlehem aan. Die hoogtepunt van die toernooi is die feit dat daar ná afloop van die toernooi ’n span gekies sal word wat later vanjaar aan die Doebai-sewes sal deelneem.

Die toernooi word in dieselfde formaat as die voormalige @lantic-reeks gespeel. Dié reeks sal eers later vanjaar aangebied word, wat beteken dat die jaarlikse toernooie in Bloemfontein en Kimberley, wat gewoonlik in Februarie plaasvind, eers later vanjaar beslis sal word.

Veral die toernooi in Bloemfontein, wat sedert die ontstaan van die nasionale reeks in 2007 deur Jim Fouché aangebied is, was die grootste voedingsbron vir die Blitsbokke.

Die Trekkers se eie Hofmann Maritz was in 2007 op dié toernooi in aksie, terwyl spelers soos Raymond Rhule, Cecil Afrika en Branco du Preez ook op die Bloemfonteinse been van die reeks vir hulself naam gemaak het.

Die Trekkers is jaarliks een van die voorste spanne op dié toernooi en het ook in 2007 ’n been van die nasionale reeks aangebied.

Die naweek se toernooi behoort dus weer ’n paar sterre op die voorgrond te plaas, asook die skolerugby-seisoen van 2013 aan die gang te kry.

Vrydag se wedstryde sal van 16:00 tot 17:00 gespeel word, waarna die Suid-Afrikaanse Rugbyunie (SARU) se Akademie se sewes-afrigter, Neil Powell, ’n afrigtingsessie met die onderskeie spanne se breiers sal lei.

Saterdag se wedstryde sal om 08:00 afskop, met die eindstryd om die Beker-afdeling wat om 16:20 sal begin.

Benewens die Trekkers het spanne soos die Hoërskole Middelburg, Hentie Cilliers, Louis Botha, Sentraal, Brandwag van Benoni en Ben Vorster ingeskryf.

Hulle is van die voorste spanne jaarliks in die nasionale reeks.

Die spanne wat die naweek aan die Dihlabeng-Sewes by die Hoërskool Voortrekker op Bethlehem deelneem, is: Middelburg (Mpumalanga), Menlopark (Pretoria), Wilgerivier (Frankfort), Sarel Cilliers (Glencoe), Vrede, Brandwag (Benoni), Kestell, Voortrekker II, Ben Vorster (Tzaneen), Eldoraigne (Pretoria), Hentie Cilliers (Virginia), Sentraal (Bloemfontein), Witteberg (Bethlehem), Hoërskool Kroonstad, Louis Botha (Bloemfontein) en Voortrekker.

DIE Hoërskool Wilgerivier van Frankfort het sy rugbyseisoen afgeskop op dieselfde wyse waarop hy  hom verlede jaar afgesluit het.

Die kampioen van verlede jaar se Kovsiestreekkompetisie se Irawa-liga (vir kleinskole) het Saterdag koning gekraai in ’n sewestoernooi wat vanjaar vir die eerste keer deur hulle aangebied is.

Agt spanne het aan die toernooi deelgeneem en slegs Wilgerivier het die dag onoorwonne afgesluit.
Die gasheer het boonop slegs een drie in sy sewe wedstryde afgestaan. Hy het dié drie in sy oorwinning van 40-7 oor HTS Sasolburg (Brand-span) afgestaan. Die kampioen het ook Witteberg (24-0), Drie Riviere (47-0), HTS Sasolburg (38-0, Steyn-span), Afrikaans Hoër Sasolburg (28-0) en sy naasbestes (33-0) op pad na die titel uit die pad gevee.

Die gasheer het dus 210 punte aangeteken en slegs sewe afgestaan. Hy het 32 drieë in sy sewe wedstryde gedruk.

AHS Sasolburg het die tweede plek verdien deur slegs teen Wilgerivier die knie te buig. Witteberg van Bethlehem het derde geëindig ná nederlae teen Wilgerivier en AHS Sasolburg.

Die volledige uitslae:

Wilgerivier 38 HTS Sasolburg (Steyn) 0; HTS Sasolburg (Brand) 19 HTS Sasolburg (Steyn) 7; AHS Sasolburg 19 HTS Sasolburg (Brand) 7; Wilgerivier 28 AHS Sasolburg 0; Witteberg 26 Drie Riviere 0; AHS Sasolburg 14 Wilgerivier II 7; Wilgerivier II 15 Drie Riviere 0; Witteberg 33 HTS Sasolburg (Brand) 10; HTS Sasolburg (Brand) 15 Drie Riviere 0; AHS Sasolburg 36 HTS Sasolburg (Steyn) 0; Wilgerivier II 35 HTS Sasolburg 5; Witteberg 59 HTS Sasolburg (Steyn) 0; Wilgerivier 33 Wilgerivier II 0; AHS Sasolburg 21 Witteberg 14; Wilgerivier 47 Drie Riviere 0; Wilgerivier 40 HTS Sasolburg (Brand) 7; Wilgerivier 24 Witteberg 0; Drie Riviere 14 HTS Sasolburg (Steyn) 7; AHS Sasolburg 43 Drie Riviere 5; Wilgerivier II 38 HTS Sasolburg (Brand) 7; Witteberg 36 Wilgerivier II 0.

The Kearsney Easter Rugby Festival has grown from strength to strength and the quality of participating schools this year is testimony to the fact it has become the country’s premier schools rugby event.

Some of South Africa’s best Under 19 talent will be participating this year, which bodes well for highly entertaining and exciting rugby over the three play days.

The line-up of participating teams includes nine schools which were in the top 20 of respected Rugby 365 rankings during the 2012 season.

Participating teams are Grey College from Bloemfontein; Paarl Gymnasium and newcomer Boland Landbou from Paarl, Paul Roos from Stellenbosch and Outeniqua High from George; Framesby High from Port Elizabeth, Nico Malan from Humansdorp and East London’s Selborne College; EG Jansen from Boksburg; with Glenwood, Westville and Kearsney College from host province KZN.

Many gifted players have been discovered by talent scouts at the previous five Kearsney College festivals and now play for SA Sevens and Sharks teams.

Hans Scriba, head of the Sharks Academy, said the festival played an important role in exposing the quality of available young talent.

“From the Sharks Academy’s perspective, we are delighted with the quality of talented players who have joined us after school, having come through the festival at Kearsney.  Many of these players are already achieving wonderful results at the Sharks,” he said.

Scriba said that talent scouts from The Sharks and Sharks Academy would be on the lookout during the three play days, scheduled over the Easter weekend for Thursday 28 March, Saturday 30 and Monday 1 April.

The Academy will offer three full bursaries to selected players for 2014.  Backed by The Sharks, arguably the most professional rugby union in SA, the bursaries will include a contract with the Sharks Academy, accommodation and tuition bursary with one of its reputable education partners.

Kearsney headmaster Elwyn van den Aardweg said he was delighted to welcome Standard Bank as the festival’s headline sponsor.   It would partner with Kearsney in a multi-year deal and their commitment was testimony to the stature and prestige of the festival. 

“Standard Bank’s involvement adds tremendous value to the festival and, together with the continued support of Illovo Sugar (South Africa) Ltd and the Sharks Academy, will ensure that the Kearsney Easter Rugby Festival continues to grow from strength to strength in the years ahead, consolidating the position of this Easter rugby festival as the premier schoolboy rugby festival in the country.”

He said the event had emerged as a highlight on the sporting calendars of all lovers of top class schoolboy rugby.

“Thousands of supporters from KZN and further afield flock to Kearsney over the Easter weekend to savour the spectacle of running rugby, to enjoy the special family atmosphere on our beautiful campus and to experience the fun and excitement of the festival,” he said.

Funeka Montjane, CEO of Personal and Business Banking at Standard Bank South Africa, said they were thrilled to be involved with the Kearsney festival for the first time.  It followed their successful sponsorship last year of the three Gauteng Easter rugby festivals, held at St John’s College, St Stithians and King Edward VII (KES).
 
She said whilst the partnership would enable Standard Bank to grow its market, it would enable young people and their families from all social groups to interact positively through the medium of sport.

Darrell de Wet, marketing and communications manager at Illovo Sugar, said the company’s support and involvement in the festival was testament to its belief that investing in the youth of South Africa, to develop leadership, discipline and talent, was fundamental to building a better future for the country.

“The festival has proven not only to be a forum for rugby, but also to be an environment for learners to interact with business and explore possible career paths in the future,” De Wet said.

Festival organiser Taff Green said he was delighted with the strength and quality of teams taking part this year, ensuring that the festival continued as an important event for supporters of top-class schoolboy rugby, whilst also providing the obvious benefits to the game in the province.

“We have another incredible line-up of talent participating in this year’s festival – and supporters will definitely not be disappointed.  This is schoolboy rugby at its very best,” he said.

Kicking off play each day will be a match between primary school teams, invited to showcase their skills and to enjoy the opportunity of playing in front of large crowds.  Participating sides are Highbury Preparatory, Westville Senior Primary, Glenwood Preparatory and the KZN u13 Provincial Development team.

PARTICIPATING SCHOOLS

Final FNB Rugby Rankings according to Rugby 365, as at the end of the 2012 season:
Paarl Gymnasium, Paarl   3
Grey College, Bloemfontein  4
Outeniqua Hoer Skool, George  5
Paul Roos, Stellenbosch   8
Boland Landbou, Paarl   13
Hoerskool Dr EG Jansen, Boksburg 18
Kearsney College, Botha’s Hill  19
Hoerskool Framesby, Port Elizabeth 20
Glenwood High School, Durban  In top 20 during the season 
Nico Malan High, Humansdorp
Selborne College, East London    
Westville Boys’ High, Durban   
KZN Primary Schools
Glenwood Preparatory
Highbury Preparatory
Westville Senior Primary
KZN u13 Provincial Development Team