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Hilton College captain Robert Burman lit up the scoreboard and inspired his team to back-to-back victories on Thursday, the first day of the two-day Switch Schools SA20 Volume Two KwaZulu-Natal regional final in Pietermaritzburg. His heroics included a stunning unbeaten century in a key clash against Westville Boys’ High.

Westville’s skipper, Kyle McGough, like Burman, was the leading light for his team, helping them to a win over St Charles College in the morning before they were stopped by Hilton in the afternoon.

Northwood, the defending champion, fell to Westville, but won against Saints.

St Charles College vs Westville Boys’ High

In a clash between the Dolphins‘ and Tuskers‘ Switch Schools SA20 Volume Two champions, Westville Boys’ High and St Charles College, on the Pietermaritzburg Oval on Thursday morning, the Griffins powered their way to an emphatic eight-wicket win with four overs to spare.

A decision to bowl first worked out well for Westville, who quickly got stuck into the Saints‘ batting order, reducing the locals to 35/5 after 8.5 overs, only seven balls shy of midway through their innings.

Captain Kyle McGough, who took the new ball, led from the front, capturing the first three wickets to go down with only 10 runs on the board, and that included his opposite number, the dangerous Thandolwethu Zama.

A 21-run stand between Keegan Vermaak and Connor Simpson stopped the rot for four overs before left-arm spinner Ewan du Toit bowled Vermaak for 24 from 36 balls.

Simpson went on to make 22 from 31 – neither of the highest scorers hit a boundary – and was the ninth man out with two balls remaining in the innings, with St Charles going on to finish on 97/9.

Kyle McGough paced the Westville attack, knocking over 3/17 in four overs, while Ewan du Toit snared 2/15 in three.

McGough and Aidan Baudach, then, set their team on track for victory with a sound opening partnership of 38 before McGough was run out by a combination of Kaiyuran Naidoo and Keegan Vermaak for 23 from 25 deliveries.

Baudach and Tristin Delvin took that setback in their stride and kept the run rate ticking along, adding 41 from 43 balls before Kaiyuran Naidoo bowled Delvin for 16. By then, Westville was on 79/2 after 14 overs and almost home.

Two overs later, they were there, with Baudach unbeaten after a composed 44 not out from 43 balls, which included two fours and a six.

Kaiyuran Naidoo, with a tidy 1/11 from three overs, was the only Saints’ bowler to pick up a wicket, while Ryan Clarke bowled tidily to concede only 17 runs from his four overs.

Hilton College vs Northwood

In the 2025 Schools SA20 regional final, Hilton College twice suffered narrow defeats to Northwood, one in pool play and the other in the final. On Thursday morning, though, Hilton scored an impressive win over the Knights.

Sent in to bat by Northwood, Hilton got off to a decent start, with Barack Munawa and captain Robert Burman combining for 34 runs at just under a run a ball before Munawa fell for 20.

Northwood removed two more batsmen cheaply, but Burman and Obakeng Motsepa added 37 for the fourth wicket to take the total to 86.

The Hilton captain eventually fell, caught by Thabiso Mlambo off the bowling of Josh Mills for 54 from 52 deliveries. His knock didn’t contain any fours, but he blasted four sixes along the way.

After Burman exited on 110 in the 18^th over, Hilton added another 15 runs in nine balls to finish on 125/6.

Ryan van Zyl and Max Nicholson set the standard for the Knights’ attack, returning similar figures of 2/20 from four overs each.

In reply, the Durban side made a stuttering start, losing Ross McGlashan and Thomas Oosthuizen cheaply to Sange Qangule. Then, their run chase was further impacted by the run out of David de Bruyn. Ten runs later, Sean Burman bowled Luc Boyall, and Northwood was staring down the barrel on 25/4 in the seventh over.

Captain Jamie Wimble and Josh Mills added 20 runs for the fifth wicket, but, unfortunately for the Knights, that was as good as it got for them. Qangule added a third wicket, and Sechaba Gude’s superb start to the season continued as he added two to his growing tally.

When Wimble fell to Okakeng Motsepa, Northwood fell into a deeper crisis on 45/5 from 12.1 overs. Josh Mills, though, stuck around to record the innings’ highest score of 24, but any hopes the Knights had of victory disintegrated within the space of six balls, with three wickets going down, including that of Mills, which left them on 76/9 with 2.5 overs to go.

They finished on 92/9, leaving Hilton College the convincing winners by 33 runs.

Qangule snapped up 3/15 in his four overs, while Gude finished with 2/22 from his four. Sean Burman, the first change bowler, kept Northwood under heavy pressure, claiming 1/15 from four.

Hilton College vs Westville Boys’ High

After producing a fine innings to lead Hilton College to an emphatic win over Northwood in the morning, Hilton captain Robert Burman laid into Westville Boys’ High in the afternoon, in a showdown between the morning’s winning teams, blasting an unbeaten 101 to propel his team to a challenging 176/2 from their 20 overs.

Burman dominated the innings, sharing a 117-run first-wicket partnership with Barack Munawa before Munawa was run out by Ashton Kidgell for 34. He had faced 32 balls and struck three fours.

Hilton suffered a double blow when Obakeng Motsepa followed the next ball, but that was the last wicket Westville claimed. Burman and Ben Wilson contributed an unbroken 59 runs for the fourth wicket to set the Griffins a tough run chase.

At the end of Hilton’s 20 overs, Burman had taken only 63 balls for his 101 runs, cracking five fours and five sixes in an outstanding knock. Wilson chipped in with 23 from 24 balls.

Westville’s bowling figures didn’t make for happy reading, but Liam de Villiers, the only bowler to take a wicket, nabbed 1/10 in two overs.

The Dolphins’ title holders faced a massive challenge, needing to bat at almost nine runs per over, and they didn’t hold back, going hard at the Hilton bowling. Aidan Baudach and Kyle McGough gave them the kind of start they needed to challenge Hilton’s big total, rocketing to 69 from 41 balls before Sean Burman accounted for Baudach for 20.

Four runs later, Luke Wilson picked up the big stick of the hard-hitting McGough, caught for a fiery 47 from 26 balls, which featured two fours and four sixes.

Tristin Delvin and Luca Roddan partnered for 33 runs from 32 balls, but McGough’s departure had swung the pendulum Hilton’s way. When Delvin exited with the total on 106 in the thirteenth over, matters went south for the Griffins. Including Delvin’s wicket, they lost six for 25 runs in five overs.

Roddan went on to tally 31 from 27 before Aarin Rasmussen and Ewan du Toit provided a late spark, adding an unbroken 21 from 13 balls, but the damage had already been done, and Westville finished on 152/9, 24 runs short of Hilton’s healthy total.

Cameron Hargroves grabbed 2/6 in one over, while Benoit Rey snared 2/25 from four for Hilton, who fought back well after their frontline bowlers came in for some early stick.

St Charles College vs Northwood

After having the toss go their way for a second time on the day, Northwood opted to bat first in their afternoon match against St Charles. A solid effort brought them 136/3 from their 20 overs, with opener, David de Bruyn, playing the key innings.

He top-scored with 55 from 59 deliveries, hitting three fours and one six, while Jamie Wimble (25), Luc Boyall (18), and Ross McGlashan (14) helped to keep the scoreboard moving.

Ryan Clarke, with 1/20 from four, and Jayden Saville, with 1/15 from three, were the pick of the St Charles bowlers.

The Saints’ reply was undone mostly by three run outs, which accounted for three of the top five batsmen – Christiaan Prinsloo, Ryan Clarke, and Keegan Vermaak. Three wickets, too, from Trevor van Volenstee, at a cost of only six runs, ruined the St Charles’ run chase.

Saints started their reply well enough, losing their first wicket to the last ball of the 10th over, when Prinsloo fell for 18. The problem was that two more wickets followed on the same total of 48, including Thandolwethu Zama, who was out for the innings’ highest score of 24.

Ryan Clarke weighed in with 19, but Saints suffered a big collapse, sliding from 48 without loss to 66/7 after 14.2 overs. They were unable to mount a strong challenge from there, with their innings finishing on 97/8 after a late cameo from Lebo Mokoena, who was 17 not out at the end.

Northwood, though, won comfortably by 39 runs.

With two defeats on the opening day, St Charles is out of the running for a place in Friday’s final.

Summarised scorecards

St Charles College 97/9 (Keegan Vermaak 24, Connor Simpson 22; Kyle McGough 3/17, Ewan du Toit 2/15); Westville Boys’ High 98/2 (Aidan Baudach 44*, Kyle McGough 23; Kaiyuran Naidoo 1/11). Westville won by eight wickets.

Hilton College 125/6 (Robert Burman 54, Barack Munawa 20; Ryan van Zyl 2/20, Max Nicholson 2/20; Northwood 92/9 (Josh Mills 24; Sange Qangule 3/15, Sechaba Gude 2/22). Hilton College won by 33 runs.

Hilton College 176/2 (Robert Burman 101*, Barack Munawa 34, Ben Wilson 23*; Liam de Villiers 1/10); Westville Boys’ High 152/9 (Kyle McGough 47, Luca Roddan 31, Aidan Baudach 20; Benoit Rey 2/25). Hilton College won by 24 runs.

Northwood 136/3 (David de Bruyn 55, Jamie Wimble 25; Kaiyuran Naidoo 1/12); St Charles College 97/8 (Thandolwethu Zama 24; Trevor van Volenstee 3/6). Northwood won by 39 runs.

Goolam Ahmed produced a sensational display of death bowling to help Jeppe High School for Boys secure a hard-fought and crucial seven-run win over King Edward VII (KES) in their Switch Schools SA20 Volume Two Phase Two match on the La Valla Oval at St David’s Marist Inanda on Thursday afternoon.

Jeppe and KES, who secured the top two places in the Johannesburg leg of the first phase of the competition, are competing against Hoërskool Nelspruit and Middelburg Hoërskool for a spot in the national finals.

When the toss went Troy Gordon’s way, the KES captain chose to bowl first. Jeppe huffed and puffed and scrambled their way to 89 all out in 19.4 overs. With not many runs to defend, Jeppe’s bowlers then pulled together and restricted KES to 82/7 from their 20 overs.

Jeppe’s success with the ball hinged on Goolam Ahmed’s ability to deny Wade McQuinn (15*) and Tyler Cloete (1*) nine runs from the final over. McQuinn is one of the most explosive batsmen in the region, and the task of tying him down was a big ask. However, Ahmed kept a cool head and darted in unplayable yorkers to the KES pair to concede a mere two runs.

Ahmed finished with a vital 1/6 from two overs, while Keegan Cockburn removed two batsmen for 22 runs from his four overs. Phemelo Sekopane also performed superbly, snagging 1/4 from three overs.

The KES batsmen struggled to find traction, with only three of them reaching double figures, led by Urav Mukhija‘s modest 16 from 37 balls. McQuinn was next best, with 15 from 33 deliveries, followed by Gordon, with 10 off six.

KES found the going at the crease tough, but so, too, did Jeppe, who had only one batsman make it to twenty. Three others made it into double figures, but only just. Aiden Reyneke top-scored with 21 from 24 deliveries, while Sekopane (11), Lincoln Casais (10), and Shreshth Kumar (10) added a combined 31 runs.

Jeppe’s victory over KES was their second of the day. In the morning, they cruised to a massive 117-run win over Nelspruit on the Temba Bavuma Oval. Ryan Young struck a brilliant 60 from 39 deliveries, and Vegas Scott weighed in with a wonderful 47 off 43 balls to catapult Jeppe to 177/5.

Zizi Mkhize then captured an eye-opening three wickets without conceding a run as Jeppe bundled out Nelspruit for only 60 runs in 17 overs. Cockburn and Reza Ayob played their part, too, bagging a brace each.

KES and Middelburg, who each recorded a win, still have a shot at qualifying for the final. KES defeated Middelburg by nine runs when the sides crossed swords in the morning, with Troy Gordon and company putting 139 runs on the board before restricting Middelburg to 130/8 in reply.

Middelburg bounced back from that loss with a 37-run win over Nelspruit in the afternoon. Najin Swart scored a match-winning 65 from only 47 balls to lift Middelburg to 167/9. Reyno Botha put up a good fight for Nellies, contributing 43 from 34 balls, but Nelspruit came up short, finishing on 130/6 from their 20 overs.

On Friday morning, Middies will aim to carry the momentum of that win into their clash with Jeppe. KES will be hoping to overrun Nelspruit to secure a place in the title game.

Summarised Scorecards

Jeppe 89/10 (Adam Reyneke 21, Phemelo Sekopane 11; Tyler Cloete 3/13, Steele Grooteman 2/22). KES 82/7 (Urav Mukhija 16, Wade McQuinn 15*; Keegan Cockburn 2/22, Phemelo Sekopane 1/4). Jeppe won by seven runs.

Middelburg 167/9 (Nijan Swart 65, Hendré Nel 31; Samuel Day 4/18, Hanru van der Merwe 3/38). Nelspruit 130/6 (Reyno Botha 43, Gherdu van Eeden 21; Herman Potgieter 3/27, Ricardo Ras 1/11). Middleburg won by 37 overs.

Jeppe 177/5 (Ryan Young 60, Vegas Scott 47; Safwaan Miller 2/28, Enrico Joubert 2/38). Nelspruit 60/10 (Reyno Botha 18, Samuel Day 14; Zizi Mkhize 3/0, Reza Ayob 2/9). Jeppe won by 117 runs.

KES 139/10 (Urav Mukhiv 30, Troy Gordon 25; Herman Potgieter 3/21, Eduan Strydom 2/27). Middelburg 130/8 (Nijan Swart 39, Hendré Nel 29; Wade McQuinn 2/10, Luke Clark 2/21). KES won by nine runs.

DURBAN: The South Africa Under-19 Women have enjoyed a perfect start to the ongoing Youth T20 Tri-Series against Zimbabwe Under-19 Women and the Cricket South Africa (CSA) Youth XI, currently taking place in Durban.

Among the next wave of future stars preparing for next year’s ICC U19 Women’s T20 World Cup in Bangladesh and Nepal is 13-year-old KwaZulu-Natal Coastal batter Nobubelebesisa Zwane.

Competing alongside and against players aged between 16 and 20, the youngster earned her maiden SA U19 call-up following impressive performances at the recent CSA Under-13 Girls Week, held in Johannesburg last month.

Zwane registered 206 runs in five T20 matches, including back-to-back half-centuries as captain of the KwaZulu-Natal Under-13 side, finishing the tournament as the leading run-scorer. During the Tri-Series in Durban, the right-hander was selected for the opening match against Zimbabwe and came to the crease late in the innings, scoring an unbeaten seven.

Despite her young age, Zwane recalls her early introduction to the game. Born on 16 April 2012, she grew up in a family of six in Richards Bay, where her cricket journey began.

“I started playing cricket when I was seven, but then it became a priority when I was 11, when I made my first KZN team. I also think I continued cricket because people saw potential in me. I didn’t at first, but when I continued, it was going well,” Zwane commented.

Known as “Nobe” among friends and family, Zwane is a former pupil of Grantleigh Primary School, where she represented the school in cricket, netball, hockey, football and swimming. She earned district and provincial honours in all these sports except swimming, in which she competes in galas at club level. Zwane credits both her family and her school environment for supporting her development as both an athlete and a student.

“I would say my mother and sister because they helped a lot in every single thing I do, like other sports, school, etc. I really appreciate them. Since I go to school at Grantleigh, I think it has been quite helpful with my education and my sports,” she added.

While Proteas Women captain Laura Wolvaardt is her favourite cricketer of all time, admired for her batting ability and leadership, Zwane also looks up to SA U19 teammates Ashleigh van Wyk and Karabo Meso, hoping to learn from their experience and temperament.

Reflecting on her first experience touring with the junior national side and her aspirations moving forward, Zwane highlighted the importance of humility and continuous learning.

“I just look forward to meeting professional cricket players and just learning a lot from them and hearing about their experiences and about how they went through with it all. During my first tour with the under-19s, ⁠I’ve learnt that the only way to be a great cricketer is to be humble and disciplined.

“So, my goals for 2026 are to train harder, gym more, and speak up more when spoken to,” she concluded.

SA U19 Women Squad

Ashley Barnard (Mpumalanga), Chris-Mari Bezuidenhout (Mpumalanga), Jae-Leigh Filander (Western Province), Miya Lalor (Western Province), Karabo Meso (Central Gauteng Lions), Anelisa Mhlongo (KZN Coastal), Ziya Mohanlall (KZN Coastal), Shelfa Mukhari (Limpopo), Shreeya Subbiah (KZN Coastal), Melissa van der Merwe (Boland), Mieke van Voorst (Eastern Storm), Ashleigh van Wyk (Eastern Storm), Cayleigh Wanckel (Eastern Province), Nobubelebesisa Zwane (KZN Coastal)

 

SA U19 Women’s Youth T20 Tri-Series against Zimbabwe U19 Women and CSA Youth XI

 

1st T20 – SA U19 won by 31 runs

SA U19: 135/4 after 20 overs; M. van Voorst 35, K. Meso 29; B. Maposa 1/32, S. Maseka 1/30

Zimbabwe U19: 104/8 after 20 overs; R. Mpofu 15, L. Pemhiwa 14; M. Lalor 2/13, Z. Mohanlall 2/18

 

2nd T20 – SA U19 won by 11 runs

SA U19: 78/6 after 10 overs; K. Meso 36, M. van Voorst 23; N. Nini 4/15, J. Campher 1/7

CSA Youth XI: 67/3 after 10 overs; J. Botha 24, C. Venter 18; C. Wanckel 1/17, S. Mukhari 1/3

 

3rd T20 – SA U19 won by 20 runs

SA U19: 152/5 after 20 overs; M. van Voorst 56, M. Lalor 45; N. Nini 2/31, B. Goosen 1/33

CSA Youth XI: 132/7 after 20 overs; C. Venter 45, D. van Rensburg 24; C. Wanckel 1/22, M. Lalor 1/23

 

4th T20 – CSA Youth XI won by 18 runs

CSA Youth XI: 134/7 after 20 overs; J. Campher 37, G. Sequira 22, T. Garutsa 2/14, C. Mutasa 1/24

Zimbabwe U19: 116/8 after 20 overs; M. Zinyama 41, N. Makanhiwa 24; J. Camphor 3/15, P. Sekhuthe 2/18

 

5th T20 – SA U19 won by 5 wickets

Zimbabwe U19: 95 all out after 20 overs; M. Zinyama 23, C. Mutasa 12; Z. Mohanlall 3/12, M. van der Merwe 3/12

SA U19: 96/5 after 14.2 overs; M. van Voorst 45, M. Lalor 16; S. Museka 3/22, B Maposa 1/11

 

Friday, 16 January  – 6th Youth T20 at 13h00 – CSA Youth XI vs Zimbabwe U19 (Chatsworth Oval, Durban)

 

Sunday, 18 January – Youth T20 Tri-Series Final at 13h00 – TBC (Chatsworth Oval, Durban)

Issued by: Cricket South Africa – Corporate Communications

DURBAN: The South Africa under-19 Women maintained their perfect record in the Youth T20 Tri-Series, securing their fourth consecutive victory with a five-wicket win over Zimbabwe under-19 Women in the fifth match at the Chatsworth Oval in Durban on Thursday.

Melissa van der Merwe and Ziya Mohanlall led a dominant bowling performance with returns of three for 12 as the home side bowled out the tourists for 95 in the allotted 20 overs before Mieke van Voorst top-scored with a 40-ball 45 (6 fours) to help the SA U19s complete the chase with 34 balls to spare.

After winning the toss and electing to bat first, Zimbabwe lost opener Nicollette Nyika (0) with just one run on the board. Christina Mutasa (12) and Nokutenda Makanhiwa (12) steadied the ship with a 30-run stand before Mohanlall picked up her first wicket of the day, removing Mutasa.

The second wicket quickly brought the third and fourth for South Africa, as van der Merwe cleaned out Makanhiwa and Lorraine Pemhiwa (1) in the seventh over to leave Zimbabwe 35/4.

A 27-run partnership between Tadiwa Garutsa (9) and Makanaka Zinyama (23) propelled the Zimbabweans to 62/4 in the 13th over before the South African bowlers took control of the innings, picking up wickets at regular intervals.

Wickets from Ashleigh van Wyk (1/10), Mohanlall, Van der Merwe and Miya Lalor (1/10), along with a run-out, ensured Zimbabwe were bowled out for 95 at the end of their 20 overs.

In their chase, the SA U19 Women got off to a positive start at the crease. The opening pair of van Voorst and Lalor raced to 33/0 in the fourth over before their stand was brought to an end by Buhlebenkosi Maposa (1/11) when she dismissed Lalor.

That scalp was quickly followed by two wickets in one over from Salem Maseka (3/22), getting the better of Shreeya Subbiah and Chris-Mari Bezuidenhout before both batters got off the mark, to see South Africa reduced to 41/3 within the powerplay.

With Zimbabwe’s tails up in the field, the SA U19s had the experienced duo of van Voorst and Karabo Meso (14*) to thank for calming the hosts’ nerves as they teamed up for a 39-run stand to take their side to 80/3 in the 12th over.

Although Museka eventually removed Van Voorst, five runs short of her second half-century of the series, and Vanessa Mayedza (1/15) dismissed Jae-Leigh Filander (3), the SA U19 Women calmly crossed the line to seal the win and preserve their unbeaten run.

The final round-robin match of the Youth T20 Tri-Series will take place on Friday, 16 January, when the Cricket South Africa Youth XI face Zimbabwe Under-19 Women at Chatsworth Oval from 13h00. The match will be streamed live on Cricket South Africa’s YouTube channel.

SA U19 Women Squad

Ashley Barnard (Mpumalanga), Chris-Mari Bezuidenhout (Mpumalanga), Jae-Leigh Filander (Western Province), Miya Lalor (Western Province), Karabo Meso (Central Gauteng Lions), Anelisa Mhlongo (KZN Coastal), Ziya Mohanlall (KZN Coastal), Shelfa Mukhari (Limpopo), Shreeya Subbiah (KZN Coastal), Melissa van der Merwe (Boland), Mieke van Voorst (Eastern Storm), Ashleigh van Wyk (Eastern Storm), Cayleigh Wanckel (Eastern Province), Nobubelebesisa Zwane (KZN Coastal)

SA U19 Women’s Youth T20 Tri-Series against Zimbabwe U19 Women and CSA Youth XI

1st T20 – SA U19 won by 31 runs

SA U19: 135/4 after 20 overs; M. van Voorst 35, K. Meso 29; B. Maposa 1/32, S. Maseka 1/30

Zimbabwe U19: 104/8 after 20 overs; R. Mpofu 15, L. Pemhiwa 14; M. Lalor 2/13, Z. Mohanlall 2/18

 

2nd T20 – SA U19 won by 11 runs

SA U19: 78/6 after 10 overs; K. Meso 36, M. van Voorst 23; N. Nini 4/15, J. Campher 1/7

CSA Youth XI: 67/3 after 10 overs; J. Botha 24, C. Venter 18; C. Wanckel 1/17, S. Mukhari 1/3

 

3rd T20 – SA U19 won by 20 runs

SA U19: 152/5 after 20 overs; M. van Voorst 56, M. Lalor 45; N. Nini 2/31, B. Goosen 1/33

CSA Youth XI: 132/7 after 20 overs; C. Venter 45, D. van Rensburg 24; C. Wanckel 1/22, M. Lalor 1/23

 

4th T20 – CSA Youth XI won by 18 runs

CSA Youth XI: 134/7 after 20 overs; J. Campher 37, G. Sequira 22, T. Garutsa 2/14, C. Mutasa 1/24

Zimbabwe U19: 116/8 after 20 overs; M. Zinyama 41, N. Makanhiwa 24; J. Camphor 3/15, P. Sekhuthe 2/18

 

5th T20 – SA U19 won by 5 wickets

Zimbabwe U19: 95 all out after 20 overs; M. Zinyama 23, C. Mutasa 12; Z. Mohanlall 3/12, M. van der Merwe 3/12

SA U19: 96/5 after 14.2 overs; M. van Voorst 45, M. Lalor 16; S. Museka 3/22, B Maposa 1/11

 

Friday, 16 January  – 6th Youth T20 at 13h00 – CSA Youth XI vs Zimbabwe U19 (Chatsworth Oval, Durban)

 

Sunday, 18 January – Youth T20 Tri-Series Final at 13h00 – TBC (Chatsworth Oval, Durban)

Issued by: Cricket South Africa – Corporate Communications

The dates, pools and match schedule have been confirmed for the expanded 16-team tournament that will be known as the World Rugby Junior World Championship from 2026.

• Tournament expands to 16 teams and debuts under its new name: the World Rugby Junior World Championship
• Match schedule unveiled with new format featuring four pools of four
• Tbilisi and Kutaisi set to host thrilling action across five weekends from 27 June to 18 July
• JWC 2026 final to be played on 18 July at the Mikheil Meskhi Stadium in Tbilisi
• First international competition to feature the new trial lowering the tackle height

World Rugby has confirmed the sport’s pinnacle annual men’s U20 competition will be rebranded from 2026 as the World Rugby Junior World Championship, an expanded 16-team tournament that builds on the proud legacy of U20 international rugby.

The competition, previously known as the World Rugby U20 Championship, will take place in Georgia from 27 June to 18 July, with five rounds of action across Tbilisi and Kutaisi.

Georgia will host the prestigious tournament for the second time, following a memorable edition in 2017 when New Zealand defeated England 64-17 in the final, a match that featured future All Blacks stars Will Jordan and Caleb Clarke.

For the first time since 2009, the tournament returns to a 16-team format, welcoming Fiji, USA, Japan and Uruguay as the highest ranked sides since the last time the U20 Trophy was played in 2024 alongside the teams that contested the 2025 edition in Italy.

• Pool A: South Africa, Wales, Georgia, Uruguay
• Pool B: New Zealand, Italy, Scotland, Japan
• Pool C: Argentina, England, Ireland, USA
• Pool D: France, Australia, Spain, Fiji

The four pool winners will progress to the semi-finals, while second-placed teams will compete for fifth to eighth place. Third and fourth-placed teams will contest rankings from ninth to 12th and 13th to 16th, respectively, with seeding based on pool-stage competition points.

Kutaisi steps up as a major host, staging two pools and welcoming former champions New Zealand and France to the AIA Arena. Avchala Stadium in Tbilisi will host Pools A and C, featuring defending champions South Africa, former winners England and hosts Georgia.

Finally, the knockout stages will be played across two days per round, culminating in the third-place play-off and final at Mikheil Meskhi Stadium in Tbilisi on 18 July.

World Rugby Chair Brett Robinson said: “We are thrilled to unveil the Junior World Championship, a bold new identity for one of our most important competitions. Expanding to 16 teams underlines our ambition to grow the game globally and provide more opportunities for emerging talent to experience world-class rugby.

“Georgia has proven to be an outstanding host in the past, and we look forward to working closely with them again to deliver a truly world-class tournament that celebrates the future of our sport and unearth the next generation of international stars.”

Georgian Rugby Union President Davit Kacharava said: “We are proud and excited to welcome the World Rugby Junior World Championship back to Georgia in its bold new format. Hosting this prestigious competition across Tbilisi and Kutaisi, two vibrant cities, and three fantastic venues, is a privilege for our proud rugby nation. We are ready to showcase the very best young rugby talent and deliver thrilling matches that fans will remember for years to come.”

Innovation in player welfare

The Junior World Championship 2026 will also mark a significant step forward in player welfare, becoming the first international competition to feature a trial of lowering the tackle height. This initiative, designed to enhance safety and reduce head contact, builds on successful trials at community and domestic levels.

Issued by World Rugby

Northwood has an opportunity to repeat as the KZN Switch Schools SA20 champion when they take on Westville Boys’ High, St Charles College, and Hilton College for the right to represent KwaZulu-Natal at the National Final.

The Knights, who have a very experienced line-up, won the Dolphins‘ title in the 2024/25 season, but it’s Westville who won the title in the 2025/26 season, beating Northwood by 50 runs in the final behind a captain’s knock from Kyle McGough on their home field, Bowden’s, in November to claim the silverware.

The format of the competition, however, includes both the winner and runner-up in the regional final.

Both sides will head to Pietermaritzburg to face St Charles College, the Tuskers‘ winner and Hilton College, the runner-up, on Goldstone’s, at Maritzburg College, and at the Pietermaritzburg Oval in the four-team playoff on Thursday and Friday.

Saints succeeded Hilton, beaten in the KZN regional final last year by Northwood, as the Tuskers’ champion by romping to an eight-wicket victory following a strong showing in the field.

Northwood

Northwood boasts an experienced opening batting pair, David de Bruyn and Ross McGlashan, who have proven their ability to lay winning foundations, taking it to the opposition and rapidly accumulating runs.

They’re led by Northwood Head Boy, Jamie Wimble, whose hard-hitting can quickly change the course of an innings. Others, including Thomas Oosthuizen, Josh Mills, and Luc Boyall, have all produced innings of substance previously and help to provide the Knights’ with a line-up that bats deep down the order.

Ryan van Zyl, who turned out for the CSA Invitational XI at the Khaya Majola Week, Keagan Reeves, and Josh Mills provide a sharp 1-2-3 punch with their seam, while Hamza Amla is a challenging prospect with his leg spin.

Westville Boys’ High

Like Northwood, Westville, too, is loaded with players who have built up plenty of 1st XI experience.

They’re well balanced, with a good number of players offering all-round skills, including the skipper, Kyle McGough and Aarin Rasmussen, who starred in the win over Northwood in the Dolphins’ final.

Tristin Delvin and Ewan du Toit offer a tantalising combination of left-arm spin and strong batting, while Misbah Nair has developed a very useful habit of nabbing important wickets, and he, too, brings a dangerous bat to the crease.

Beyond the traditional all-rounders, Aidan Baudach is a multi-skilled wicketkeeper/batsman.

It’s their multi-skilled players and depth that make the Griffins a title threat.

St Charles College

St Charles, the Tuskers’ title-holder, is led by hard-hitting SA Colts‘ opening batsman, Thandolwethu Zama. Especially in the shorter format of the game, his powerful ball striking is a big strength for Saints.

It’s a familiar refrain, but the Pietermaritzburg school also possesses enviable experience, with players who have performed well for the 1^st XI. The challenge for St Charles will be to have those players performing in concert. If they find that consistency, they’ll be hard to stop in familiar conditions.

Their bowling attack boasts variety, including strong pace from Connor Vogt, leg spin from Keegan Vermaak, off spin from Kaiyuran Naidoo, and accurate medium pace from Ryan Clarke, also an accomplished batsman, who bagged 6/24, including a hat-trick, against Michaelhouse at the beginning of 2025, thanks to his ability to hit the stumps.

Jayden Saville, too, has had his moments, while Caleb Sharp offers not only a good bowling option but is one of the side’s most consistent batsmen. He was special at the Fasken Time Cricket Festival at St David’s Marist Inanda at the end of last year, and he’ll be aiming for similar batting form in 2026.

Connor Simpson is another player on whom to keep an eye. He showed, in a hard-charging counterattack against a very good Waterkloof team at the Peninsula Festival, his ability with the bat, cracking five sixes and seven fours in a rapid 88 from only 80 balls.

Hilton College

The last of the four finalists, Hilton College, is an interesting team because, early in the season, they have shown greater stability in their batting than they showed in 2025.

Last year, that was Hilton’s Achilles heel. Early in 2026, the opening pair of Barack Munawa and Ben Wilson is one of their strengths. Against strong opposition at the Peninsula Festival, they played well.

Munawa was the more aggressive of the duo, but he still played with good discipline. Wilson clearly cherishes his wicket. He carried his bat against Bishops in a limited overs match and the very next day batted all the way through Hilton’s overs to top score in a thrilling one-run win over SACS in a T20.

Captain Robert Burman can get the scoreboard ticking, along with Luke Wilson and Cameron Hargroves, but Hilton doesn’t possess the match-winning potential of SA Schools‘ star, Ben Hockly, any longer.

With Sechaba Gude leading their attack, though, they might not need to score that many runs. He twice captured five-fors at the Peninsula Festival – 5/37 against Wynberg Boys’ High and 5/41 against Potchefstroom Gimnasium.

Another top bowling performer for the KZN Midlands’ school was Benoit Rey, who claimed a good number of wickets at a tidy economy rate.

Sange Qangule, Obakeng Motsepa, and Sean Burman all had their moments, too, in Cape Town, so Hilton goes into the two-day finals with options.

The biggest question mark, though, lies with the weather, with rain predicted throughout Thursday and into Friday. How might that affect matters?

The defending champions, St Andrew’s School, of Bloemfontein, will join three familiar contenders to contest the 2026 Switch Schools SA20 Volume Two Central Region final, which brings together the leading schools from the Free State, Northern Cape, and North West.

The tournament returns to Potchefstroom, with matches being played at three venues. The JB Marks Oval, the North-West University Main Oval, and the NWU Ibbies Oval, the university’s second field, adjacent to the main ground, will host the three days of fiery T20 action.

St Andrews lifted the Free State title for a second successive year in 2025, ensuring that no other school in the province has claimed a Schools SA20 crown since the competition’s inception in 2024.

Their dominance over their traditional Bloemfontein rivals Grey College also saw them secure the Central Region title in January 2025. A strong core of that championship-winning squad returns to defend the title.

Among those expected to lead the charge are explosive batsmen FG Botha and Jonathan Hickley, both of whom starred in last year’s final, while the experienced leg-spin of Nikhil Sukraj adds further balance to a formidable Saints‘ line-up. They’ll be aiming to open up another opportunity to take a crack at the national title when phase three of the competition takes place at the University of Pretoria later in the season.

Saints will begin their title defence against the two-time Northern Cape champions, Hoërskool Kalahari. The Kuruman outfit surprised many by reaching the semi-finals last year in Potch, and they arrive with renewed confidence after a third-place finish at the recent Kovsie Smash in Bloemfontein.

That tournament showcased the strong form of bowlers, Janko Noeth and Liam Lang, while Louhan Noeth demonstrated his batting credentials with a combined 188 runs. With that trio leading the way, Kalahari is a dangerous opponent.

The third returning side, Potchefstroom Gimnasium, will enter as North West champions after dethroning Hoërskool Rustenburg in their provincial final. The Gimmies boast a well-balanced squad capable of challenging the strongest line-ups.

Their aggressive top-order spearhead Christivan Coetzer, who is viewed as their premier T20 batsman, will look to make full use of familiar home conditions, while the composed Ulrich Botha provides stability and class at the other end. Lukas Kotze showed up well against top opposition in the recent Peninsula Cricket Festival, too.

They begin their campaign against Hoërskool Trio, of Kroonstad, who showed flashes of their potential at the Kovsie Smash. The batting form of Myburgh Jacobs and the emerging threat of Iwan du Plessis with the ball make them a dark horse, particularly on the larger Potchefstroom fields.

Completing the quartet of returning teams is Hoërskool Rustenburg. They arrive with redemption in mind after an underwhelming 2025 campaign despite entering the regional final as the North West champions.

The Rusties remain a dangerous proposition, especially if their bowling spearhead, the rapid Callie Fryer, finds his rhythm early. Fryer’s raw pace, combined with his proven batting ability, which was highlighted by a monumental 149 during the provincial leg last season, gives Rustenburg genuine match-winning firepower. He will be complemented by the spin of Hendri Kemp, whose control could be pivotal in tandem with Fryer’s aggression.

The opening day will be headlined by a heavyweight clash between St Andrew’s and Hoërskool Rustenburg at the JB Marks Oval on Friday afternoon, setting the tone for another fiercely contested edition of the Switch Schools SA20 Central Region final.

St Patrick’s Christian Brothers College, from Kimberley, completes the line-up.

Fixtures 

Friday – 16 January – 09:30

St Andrew’s School vs Hoërskool Kalahari – JB Marks Oval
Potchefstroom Gimnasium vs Trio – NWU Oval
Hoërskool Rustenburg vs St Patrick’s Christian Brothers College – Ibbies Oval (NWU 2)

Friday – 14:00 

Hoërskool Rustenburg vs St Andrew’s School – JB Marks Oval
St Patrick’s Christian Brothers College vs Potchefstroom Gimnasium – NWU Oval
Hoërskool Rustenburg vs Trio – Ibbies Oval (NWU 2)

Saturday – 17 January – 09:30 

Trio vs St Patrick’s Christian Brothers College – JB Marks Oval
Hoërskool Kalahari vs Hoërskool Rustenburg – NWU Oval
St Andrew’s School vs Potchefstroom Gimnasium – Ibbies Oval (NWU 2)

WINDHOEK: South Africa u19 Men‘s head coach, Malibongwe Maketa, has expressed unwavering belief in his squad as they prepare to take on the world at the ICC u19 Men’s Cricket World Cup, in Namibia and Zimbabwe.

South Africa, drawn in Group D alongside Afghanistan, Tanzania, and the West Indies, will be based in Windhoek, Namibia, for all group stage matches, with the later knockout rounds set to take place in Zimbabwe.

Maketa emphasised that the squad was meticulously selected following extensive observation and performance tracking across national programmes.

“This group of Junior Proteas has been preparing for this moment for the last two years, identified through Cricket South Africa‘s (CSA) pathway structures and further developed through multiple camps and Youth Series,” Maketa explained.

He highlighted the players’ ability to balance academic commitments and cricket, noting that JJ Basson, Michael Kruiskamp, and Jason Rowles will be starting matric in 2026.

Maketa also noted that the squad reflects the strength and reach of CSA’s national pathways system, which continues to discover and develop talent from across the country, including township schools and under-resourced communities.

“Having worked with these players for an extended period, we’ve been able to monitor their progress through camps and assess their performances at Khaya Majola and Cubs Week. Through this, we believe we’ve identified the right characters to perform under the pressures of a World Cup.

“This team is a testament to the effectiveness of our pathway. All of these players have developed through a structured system where they were identified early and given opportunities, benefiting from excellent facilities and coaching through the Talent Acceleration Programme (TAP) monitoring the provinces.

Maketa said that age is no barrier to belief or ambition: “Our players may be young in years, but their maturity, discipline, and commitment to each other stand beyond their age. We don’t see them as just juniors; we see them as competitors ready to carry the hopes of a nation.”

Looking ahead to the tournament, Maketa urged South Africans to rally behind a team that embodies both the present and future of the sport.

“I’d like South Africans to understand that this team represents the future of our game. These players, though young, are committed, disciplined, and deeply proud to represent their country. They’ve earned their place through hard work and sacrifice, and they will compete with courage and humility,” Maketa concluded.

South Africa u19 Squad: ICC u19 Men’s Cricket World Cup 2026

JJ Basson(Lions), Daniel Bosman (Western Province), Corne Botha (Lions), Muhammad Bulbulia (KZN Inland), Paul James (Western Province), Enathi Khitshini (SWD), Michael Kruiskamp (Western Province), Adnaan Lagadien (Western Province), Bayanda Majola (Dolphins), Armaan Manack (Lions), Bandile Mbatha (Dolphins), Lethabo Phahlamohlaka (Titans), Jason Rowles (Lions), Ntandoyenkosi Soni (Eastern Province), Jorich van Schalkwyk (Titans).

SA u19 Men Fixtures:  ICC u19 Men’s Cricket World Cup 2026 (15 January – 6 February – all matches start at 09:30)

Friday, 16 January, Afghanistan v South Africa, HP Oval, Windhoek

Monday, 19 January, South Africa v Tanzania, HP Oval, Windhoek

Thursday, 22 January, West Indies v South Africa, HP Oval, Windhoek

Tuesday, 3 February, First semi-final, Queens Sports Club, Bulawayo

Wednesday, 4 February, Second semi-final, Harare Sports Club, Harare

Friday, 0 February, Final, Harare Sports Club, Harare

Saturday will mark a historic moment in the Finsbury League as Hoërskool Kempton Park turns out in the A Section for the first time in 25 years.

The Kempies earned a return to the league’s top tier in February 2025 with a six-wicket victory over Hoërskool Nelspruit in Mbombela. That win sealed their promotion to the elite section, which consists of seven leagues featuring schools from across the Noordvaal region.

In the A Section, each side plays five round-robin matches, with the top two advancing to the final, scheduled for 21 February, at the home ground of the highest-ranked qualifier.

Kempton Park’s first test back among the elite will come on Saturday, 17 January, when they visit Pretoria’s Hoërskool Menlopark. The Parkies will be well prepared after a productive showing at the recent Grey Festival in Gqeberha, where they recorded a notable victory over Glenwood and also accounted for the St Charles College Colts XI.

Menlopark boasts a balanced squad of proven campaigners and emerging talent. One of the new faces, Johan Bosch, has already made a strong impression. The all-rounder produced a Man of the Match performance against Glenwood, contributing an unbeaten 38 and outstanding bowling figures of 5/37.

Among the experienced core are Jan-Willem Pienaar, Monré Koekemoer, and the tall off-spinner Murray Hofmeyr. Pienaar, in particular, has impressed over the past three seasons with his flowing batsmanship, while Koekemoer’s batting consistency adds a further threat.

For the Kempies, much of the focus will fall on Sheldon Kruger, the linchpin of their batting order. He enjoyed a remarkable 2025 season, highlighted by the only double century in the Noordvaal and outstanding performances at the CSA u17 Regional Week in December. Those efforts, and an injury to Xavier Coetzee, opened up his selection for the Northern Champions at the recent Cubs Week in Stellenbosch, where the side went unbeaten and claimed the title.

Kruger will also enjoy the support of the experienced Hanroux Siemens and Stian van Breda, who return for their final year at Kempton Park. They’ll be a crucial part of the middle order as they were when the Kempies dethroned Hans Moore as Easterns’ League champions. An intriguing battle between bat and ball awaits in the season opener.

Elsewhere in the Finbury League, the clash between Potchefstroom Volkskool and Hoërskool Rustenburg, originally scheduled for Saturday, has been postponed to 25 January due to the Rusties‘ involvement in the Switch Schools SA20 Central Region Play-offs in Potchefstroom. Meanwhile, Hoërskool Eldoraigne and Hoërskool Waterkloof meet on 21 January.

Johannesburg, Gauteng, 14 January 2026 – SuperSport Schools is proud to announce the launch of its brand-new cricket magazine show, Cricket on 216, premiering on Thursday, 15 January 2026 at 19:00 on DStv Channel 216 and then On-Demand on the SuperSport Schools YouTube Channel.

Designed to bring fans closer to the heartbeat of school and youth cricket across South Africa, Cricket on 216 will deliver weekly highlights, expert insights, player features, and deep-dive analysis from the country’s most competitive young cricket platforms.

The show will shine a spotlight on the Switch Schools SA20 Volume 2 competition, giving viewers unparalleled access to rising stars shaping the future of the sport. It will also cover the prestigious Khaya Majola Cricket Week, along with a range of provincial tournaments that continue to showcase some of South Africa’s most exciting emerging talent.

Further coverage will include big school derbies, stand-alone fixtures, and key matchups that ignite passion within school cricket communities nationwide. With the annual Men’s U19 ODI Cricket World Cup taking place again, Cricket on 216 will also track South Africa’s rising Proteas as they take on the world stage.

Hosted by SuperSport Schools favourites, Olwethu Zondo, Johan “Spoed” Smith, Kuhle “Kooks” Sonkosi, and Mpendulo Magubane, the show brings together a dynamic blend of insight, energy, and personality. Joining the team for the first time is Thando Dlamini, who will lead coverage on the girls’ and women’s game, bringing much-needed visibility and analysis to one of the fastest-growing sectors in youth cricket.

Dlamini is a dynamic young presenter with a digital-first storytelling style and a strong passion for cricket. She has covered a range of major school and youth cricket events, such as the TuksSport Fly@UP and CSA Domestic Season Launch. Her fresh energy and deep understanding of the women’s and girls’ game, and her relatable on-screen presence, align perfectly with SuperSport’s Here for Her ambition.

“Cricket on 216 is an important milestone for us,” said Thando Bakumeni, General Manager of SuperSport Schools. “South Africa’s school and youth cricket system is rich with talent, passion, and unforgettable stories. This show gives the next generation of Proteas a powerful platform to be seen, celebrated, and supported. We are also excited to expand our coverage of the girls’ and women’s game, a space where growth and potential are limitless.”

Cricket on 216 promises to be the definitive destination for fans, schools, players, and families wanting to stay connected to the pulse of youth cricket in South Africa.

Don’t miss the premiere on Thursday, 15 January at 19:00, only on SuperSport Schools DStv Channel 216 and then rewatch it on the SuperSport Schools YouTube Channel.