SSPN Test Site

Blog

  • Pollard named IRB Junior Player of the Year 2014

    Pollard named IRB Junior Player of the Year 2014

    NuusG PollardJunior Springbok captain Handré Pollard has been named the IRB Junior Player of the Year 2014 following his side’s 21-20 defeat to England in the IRB Junior World Championship final at Eden Park on Friday.

    Pollard is the second South African to win the Award after Jan Serfontein, his teammate when the Junior Springboks won the Junior World Championship title on home soil in 2012.

    The 20-year-old edged out England wing Nathan Earle, Ireland centre Garry Ringrose and New Zealand wing Tevita Li following a comprehensive voting system.

    IRB Chairman Bernard Lapasset said: “It is always a difficult task to select a winner, especially when all the candidates have performed so impressively during a spectacular Junior World Championship, but Handré Pollard is a deserved recipient of the prestigious IRB Junior Player of the Year award.”

    “His superb marshalling at fly half has been an eye-catching feature of the Junior Boks’ passage to the final and Pollard has performed throughout with great poise, control and adventure. I would like to extend my congratulations to him.”

    “While accolades are well deserved, it is the on and off-field character-building experiences that will pave the way for all the talented young players at this tournament to grow into great rugby players. I wish the class of 2014 all the best and thank them for the pleasure and inspiration that they have given to fans around the world.”

    Pollard dedicated his award to his team mates: “Absolutely, it is a big honour for me and all the credit goes to my teammates. I think you can’t do anything in rugby without your teammates and that’s the beauty of it, it’s such a team sport and these group of guys we were so amazing. We fought for the jersey and we fought for pride and that’s what rugby is about for me,” said Pollard.

    The fly half was outstanding throughout the tournament, leading South Africa’s challenge with a great maturity and inspired others to follow his example, setting up or scoring pivotal scores to turn a match in his side’s favour.

    Issued by SARU Corporate Affairs

     

  • Jong Bokkies struikel oor laaste hekkie

    Jong Bokkies struikel oor laaste hekkie

     

    NuusG EngelandDie Jong Bokkies het met ‘n enkele punt oor die laaste hekkie op die Junior Wêreldbeker-toernooi op Edenpark in Auckland teen Engeland gestruikel. Die Engelse o.20-span het met hulle sege van 21-20 in die senutergende eindstryd slegs die tweede span in die geskiedenis van die toernooi geword om sy titel suksesvol te verdedig.

    Daar is vooraf verwag dat die Suid-Afrikaners se plaasvervangersbank dalk vir die span die knoop sou deurhaak. Dit was egter die Engelse plaasvervanger kantman, Joel Conlon, wat na ‘n rolmaalbeweging van ‘n lynstaan af vir Engeland gaan druk het, wat van die plaasvervangersbank die grootste invloed op die wedstryd gehad het. Conlon se drie het die Engelse met agt punte laat voorloop na rustyd met die telling op 21-13.

    Die Jong Bokkies se plaasvervangers, die vleuel Duhan van der Merwe en stut Pierre Schoeman, het wel ‘n positiewe invloed gehad met hulle verskyning op die veld. Die Suid-Afrikaners se senter, Jesse Kriel, het twee puik drieë gedruk waarvan sy tweede sy span weer in die wedstryd gebring het.

    Kriel se eerste drie het gekom na ‘n perfekte steekskoppie deur sy kaptein en losskakel, Handré Pollard. Die kaptein het met sy taktiese skopwerk beïndruk in die eindstryd. Hy het met twee skepskop-pogings misluk, maar was ook een van sy span se staatmakers.

    Die Engelse gevaarman, Nathan Earle, het sy sesde drie van dié toernooi net voor rustyd gedruk nadat die senter Nick Thompkins vir Kriel en André Esterhuizen op die verdediging ontbloot het. Earle het tot voor en ná die drie die Suid-Afrikaners nie veel probleme besorg nie. Die kampioen het danksy dié drie met die omdraaislag ‘n voorsprong van 11-10 geniet.

    Die Engelse se heelagter, Aaron Morris, het kort voor Earle se drie die eerste sielkundige hou toegedien toe hy met ‘n reuse strafdoel van binne sy eie halfgebied geslaag het.

    Daar was niemand beter vir die Jong Bokkies as die slot, JD Schickerling, nie. Hy het in die eerste helfte drie keer die Engelse se balbesit by lynstane afgeneem. Sy rankwerk het ook waarskynlik die Engelse haker, Tom Woolstencroft, gedwing om ‘n paar van sy ingooie skeef te trek.

    Die Jong Bokkies sal wel as slegs die tweede span in die geskiedenis na Suid-Afrika terugkeer wat daarin kon slaag om ‘n Nieu-Seelandse nasionale rugbyspan twee keer agtereenvolgens op sy eie agterplaas te klop.

    Dié ander span, die Springbokke van Phillip Nel in 1937 word vandag steeds as die beste Springbok-toerspan wat Suid-Afrika ooit verlaat het beskou. Nel se span het die All Blacks met 17-6 en 13-6 in die eerste twee toetse in ‘n reeks van drie toetse verslaan.

    Puntemakers:

    Engeland 21 (11) – Drieë: Joel Conlon, Nathan Earle. Doelskop: Billy Burns. Strafdoele: Burns (3). Suid-Afrika 20 (10) – Drieë: Jesse Kriel (2). Doelskoppe: Handré Pollard (2). Strafdoele: Pollard (2).

     

  • Menlopark en Eldoraigne in belangrike Beeldtrofee-wedstryd

    Menlopark en Eldoraigne in belangrike Beeldtrofee-wedstryd

    Die kragmeting tussen Menlopark en Eldoraigne se eerste rugbyspanne more op eersgenoemde se tuisveld sal bepaal wie van die twee spanne se deelname om die Beeldtrofee vir Makro-skole kortgeknip sal word. Pennypinchers en Timbercity is medeborge van dié reeks.

    Dié wedstryd is ook die laaste ligawedstryd in die streek van die Blou Bulle. Indien Menlopark die wedstryd wen en meer as drie drieë druk en met drie of meer punte wen sal hy derde in die Ligbloues se liga eindig. Indien Eldoraigne wen sal hy derde in die liga klaarmaak.

    Centurion beklee tans die derde posisie met 14 punte op die puntelys. Eldoraigne en Menlopark het onderskeidelik tien en agt ligapunte tot dusver ingesamel. Spanne kry in die liga ’n punt vir deelname, vier punte vir ’n wen, ’n bonuspunt vir drie of meer drieë of ’n bonuspunt vir ’n nederlaag met sewe of minder punte.

    Menlopark het op die oomblik ’n negatiewe punteverskil van 40 punte, terwyl Centurion ’n negatiewe punteverskil van 42 punte het.

    Die Afrikaanse Hoër Seunskool van Pretoria se onttrekking teen Garsfontein en Menlopark sal waarskynlik Centurion die derde posisie op die puntelys kos. Centurion het sy twee ligapunte in sy naelskraapse nederlaag van 21-20 teen Affies weens die onttrekkings verbeur.

    Garsfontein en Waterkloof is reeds verseker van die eerste en tweede posisie in die liga. Die voorste vier spanne van die Bulle dring deur tot die Beeldtrofee.

    ) Die eindstryd van die Pumas se Makroskole vind op 26 Julie tussen HTS Middelburg en Hoërskool Nelspruit se Rhinos plaas.

    ) Die Leeus se eindstryd sou ook op 26 Julie tussen Monument en Florida plaasgevind het. Die twee skole het egter ooreengekom om die wedstryd af te las oor die Suid-Afrikaanse Skole-proewe wat ook op daardie dag in Kemptonpark sal plaasvind.

    Monnas sal as die Leeus se voorste span die Beeldtrofee betree, terwyl Florida die tweede span sal wees. Die span van Krugersdorp sal in die kwarteindronde van die kompetisie teen die wenner van die kwalifiserende wedstryd tussen die Pumas se naaswenners en die derde span van die Valke te staan kom.

    ) Die Valke se halfeindstryde vind more op Dr. Malan in Meyerton se velde plaas. EG Jansen sê om 10:50 vir Vereeniging Gimnasium die stryd aan. Die span van Boksburg het die twee spanne se ligawedstryd op ’n drafstap met 84-14 gewen. In die ander halfeindstryd om 14:50 sê Kemptonpark vir Jeugland die stryd aan.

    ) Die Luiperds en Limpopo het elk slegs een skool wat aan die Makro-afdeling deelneem en die twee skole, Hoërskool Rustenburg en HTS Tom Naudé, pak mekaar in ’n uitspeelwedstryd later vanjaar. Dié wenner sal die vierde gekeurde span van die Blou Bulle op 26 Julie in ’n uitspeelwedstryd pak.

  • Sake begin nou besigheid se kant toe staan in die Beeldtrofee

    Sake begin nou in die verskillende streke van die Beeldtrofee se Groot skole-ligas na ’n punt toe te kom.

    Al die streke se halfeindstryde, buiten dié van die Luiperds en Pumas, word more gespeel. Pennypinchers en Timbercity is medeborge van dié reeks.

    In die Limpopo-halfeindstryde by HTS Tom Naudé kom Frikkie Meyer om 14:00 teen Ben Vorster te staan. Laasgenoemde was verlede jaar die Beeldtrofee se mediumskole-kampioen.

    In die ander halfeindstryd sal Hoërskool Pietersburg en Piet Potgieter sake uitspook.

    In die afdeling vir mediumskole sal die wenner van die kragmeting tussen Ben Viljoen en Eric Louw tot die eindstryd van die streek deurdring.

    ) In die Leeus-streek pak die groot skole mekaar more in die halfeindstryde op Hoërskool Linden se veld. Die gasheer sê Bastion in die hoofwedstryd van die dag om 13:45 die stryd aan. Linden het die twee spanne se ligawedstryd met 38-24 gewen.

    Hoërskool Randburg het ’n tawwer taak wat op hom wag om die eindstryd te haal. Die span pak die gedugte Helpmekaar om 12:20 wat een van die vroeë gunstelinge is om die Beeldtrofee in te palm.

    ) In die Valke-streek vind die halfeindstryde van die Groot skole more op Dr. Malan in Meyerton se velde plaas. Transvalia en Driehoek speel in die eerste halfeindstryd om 12:15 teen mekaar, terwyl Hugenote van Benoni en Heidelberg Volkskool in die ander halfeindstryd om 13:30 slaags sal wees.

    Dié streek se Medium- en Middel-skole se halfeindstryde word op die Hoërskool Stoffberg in Brakpan beslis. In die Middel-skole veg Voortrekker van Boksburg en Parys sake om 09:55 vir ’n plek in die eindstryd uit. Die ander halfeindstryd word om 11:20 tussen Primrose en Belvedere beslis.

    In die hoofwedstryd van die dag om 14:10 sê die gasheer vir Hoërskool Sasolburg die stryd aan, terwyl Brandwag van Benoni en HTS Sasolburg in die ander halfeindstryd van die Medium-skole slaags is.

    Heilbron is deur tot die eindstryd van die Klein-skole na Noorderlig onttrek het.

    ) Die Blou Bulle se halfeindstryde van die Groot skole word ook more beslis. Die wedstryde word op Hoërskool Oos-Moot gespeel.

    Pretoria-Noord speel teen Hoërskool Tuine in die eerste halfeindstryd om 11:40: Pretoria-Noord het in die spannende liga-wedstryd tussen die twee spanne verlede week 23-17 as oorwinnaars van die veld gestap. In die ander halfeindstryd om 13:10 pak Oos-Moot en Overkruin mekaar.

    ) In die Puma-streek sal die kwarteindstryde van die Groot skole more in Ermelo beslis word.

    Op Ligbron se velde kom die gasheer om 13:20 teen Oosterland in die een kwarteindstryd te staan, terwyl Standerton om 12:00 ’n aanslag van Hoogenhout moet afweer om tot die halfeindstryde deur te dring.

    Op Hoërskool Ermelo se hoofveld behoort die wedstryd tussen die gasheer en Secunda om 13:20 ’n riller uitklopstryd te wees. Piet Retief en Volksrust speel om 12:00 in die ander kwarteindstryd op die veld.

    ) Hoërskool Vryburg speel in die eindstryd van die Luiperds se Medium skole teen Hoërskool Wesvalia more om 12:30 op sy tuisveld.

  • Junior Boks make one change for JWC final

    Dan Kriel will play on the right wing for the Junior Springboks in the IRB Junior World Championship final against England on Friday night at Eden Park in Auckland.

    His inclusion in place of Lloyd Greeff is the only tweak to the team that beat New Zealand in a dramatic semi-final last Sunday in North Harbour. The versatile Kriel, twin brother of outside centre Jesse Kriel, is preferred in the starting line-up because of his huge work rate on defence.

    Amongst the replacements, big flanker Jean Luc du Preez was declared fit after completing his rehabilitation programme following a blow to the head against New Zealand in Albany during a pools match. He replaces Abongile Nonkontwana.

    Junior Springbok skipper and pivot Handré Pollard is now playing in his third tournament so is under no illusion as to what will be key to more success at Eden Park.

    “I think at the end of the day it is going to be the side that wants it the most that is going to win it,” admitted Pollard, who is the leading point scorer at both JWC 2014 and also in the competition’s history.

    “Set piece is the biggest thing going into the final. I know how 2012 was won, we had 17 lineouts and we won all 17 of them. It is something you can’t go without in a final, the set piece. It is also the conversion rate you have, you have got to get down there and get points, whether it is three, five or seven – just get points whenever you go down to the opposition’s half.”

    Junior Bok coach Dawie Theron said England will be a formidable opponent. “They are a good side and have progressed to the final without losing a match. It’s going to be a titanic battle on Friday,” according to Theron.

    On Thursday evening SARU President Regan Hoskins visited the team at their Auckland hotel to wish them well for the final.

    Hosts New Zealand will play Ireland in the third place play-off before the final.

    The fifth place final between France and Australia will be the first contest of the day at Eden Park, and the other positional games will be played at QBE Stadium North Harbour

    The Junior Springbok team to face England in the JWC Final on Friday at Eden Park:

    15 Warrick Gelant, 14 Dan Kriel, 13 Jessie Kriel, 12 Andre Esterhuizen, 11 Sergeal Petersen, 10 Handré Pollard, (captain), 9 JP Smith, 8 Aidon Davis, 7 Cyle Brink, 6 Jacques Vermeulen, 5 Nico Janse van Rensburg, 4 JD Schickerling, 3 Dayan van der Westhuizen, 2 Corniel Els, 1 Thomas du Toit. Replacements: 16 Joseph Dweba, 17 Pierre Schoeman, 18 Wilco Louw, 19 Victor Sekekete, 20 Jean Luc du Preez, 21 Zee Mkhabela, 22 Jean-Luc du Preez,
    23 Duhan van der Merwe. 

    Kick-off: 19h35 (09h35 SA time)
    Live on SuperSport 1

    Issued by SARU Corporate Affairs

  • School of Rugby Rankings – 16 June 2014

     

    There were not a lot of school rugby matches around South Africa last weekend as the Southern provinces held their annual Bondedag in Oudtshoorn. The Free State also held their Bondedag in Bloemfontein at Grey College. The Free State school is the only unbeaten side left in School of Rugby’s Top 20.

    Paul Roos Gimnasium of Stellenbosch is still occupying the second position. Their only defeat came at home against Grey PE earlier in the season. Garsfontein is in the third spot and won’t play Grey College or Paul Roos this season.

     

    The Rankings: 

    Rank Team Avg
    1 Grey College 4.28
    2 Paul Roos 3.69
    3 Garsfontein 3.58
    4 Paarl Gimnasium 3.46
    5 Monument 3.29
    6 Oakdale Landbou 3.22
    7 Glenwood 3.21
    8 HJS Paarl 3.15
    9 HTS Middelburg 3.12
    10 EG Jansen 3.11
    11 Waterkloof 3.11
    12 Wynberg Boys’ High 3.00
    13 Selborne 3.00
    14 Maritzburg College 2.97
    15 Grey PE 2.97
    16 Outeniqua 2.90
    17 Michaelhouse 2.71
    18 Transvalia 2.64
    19 Westville BHS 2.59
    20 Louis Botha 2.58
    21 Bishops 2.56
    22 Menlopark 2.48
    23 Tygerberg 2.43
    24 Stellenberg 2.38
    25 Voortrekker (Bethlehem) 2.35
    26 Nelspruit 2.32
    27 Kemptonpark 2.32
    28 Dale College 2.29
    29 Affies 2.25
    30 King Edward VII 2.24
    31 Die Brandwag 2.21
    32 Kearsney 2.09
    33 Jeppe 2.08
    34 Jim Fouche 2.04
    35 Diamantveld 2.03
    36 Sentraal 1.93
    37 Helpmekaar 1.90
    38 St. Andrew’s College 1.87
    39 Marlow Landbou 1.86
    40 Hudson Park 1.86
    41 Framesby 1.82
    42 Boland Landbou 1.81
    43 Queens College 1.77
    44 Klerksdorp 1.73
    45 Nico Malan 1.70
    46 Eldoraigne 1.69
    47 Noord-Kaap 1.60
    48 Linden 1.50
    49 Hugenote (Well) 1.49
    50 Fichardtpark 1.48

  • Noordvaal Bondedag vanjaar op Sasolburg

    Die helfte van die spanne wat later vanjaar op die 51ste Cravenweek-rugbytoernooi vir hoërskole in Middelburg (Mpumalanga) van 14 tot 19 Julie te sien sal wees, sal op Saterdag 28 Junie op die jaarlikse Noordvaal Bondedag in aksie wees.

    Die Bondedag sal vir die eerste keer sedert 1992 weer in die DP de Villiers-stadion in Sasolburg aangebied word. Dié dag is die afgelope vyf jaar deur Impala-rugbyklub in Rustenburg aangebied. Die langdurige staking in die platinumsektor het heel waarskynlik ‘n aandeel gespeel dat die Bondedag verskuif is.

    Tien van die 20 spanne wat later vanjaar in Middelburg in aksie sal wees, sal dié dag as kleedrepetisie vir die toernooi gebruik. Die Vrystaat en die Blou Bulle speel in die vernaamste voorwedstryd vir die hoofwedstryd van die dag, maar dié stryd behoort die wedstryd op die dag te wees om nie mis te loop nie.

    Die gasheer, die Valke, en die Pumas pak mekaar in die hoofwedstryd van die dag. Die Vrystaatse breintrust van Dirkie Groenewald, Wessel du Plessis en Corné Erasmus behoort egter nie wedstryd tussen die Leeus en KwaZulu-Natal ook met belangstelling dop te hou. Die Leeus en Vrystaat se mekaar op die tweede dag van die Cravenweek mekaar die stryd aan. Die Ligbloues kom op dieselfde dag teen Oostelike Provinsie in sy eerste wedstryd van die toernooi te staan.

    Die wenners van die twee wedstryde sal mekaar heel waarskynlik op die vierde dag van die toernooi pak. Oostelike Provinsie het verlede week vir Westelike Provinsie (13-0) en Boland (47-0) op die Suidelike Bondedag verslaan.

    ‘n Bonus vir toeskouers sal wees dat hulle vier van die beste heelagters vanjaar op skolevlak op die dag in aksie sal kan sien. Die viertal is Eduan Keyter (Blou Bulle), Louwtjie Steenkamp (Vrystaat), Martin van Wyk (Valke) en Ezrick Alexander (Griffons).

    Die Noordvaal Bondedag se bepalings is:

    09:00: Luiperds t. Griekwaland-Wes; 10:20: Limpopo Blou Bulle t. Griffons; 11:40: Leeus t. KwaZulu-Natal; 13:00: Blou Bulle t. Vrystaat; 14:20: Valke t. Pumas.

  • Jonker lei Vrystaat op die 51ste Cravenweek

    Die Vrystaatse Cravenweek-rugbyspan sal vanjaar deur die agtsteman, Alex Jonker, aangevoer word. Jonker is ook Grey-kollege se kaptein vanjaar.

    Die Vrystaat kom op die tweede dag van die 51ste Cravenweek-toernooi vir hoërskole op Middelburg (Mpumalanga) in sy eerste wedstryd teen die Leeus te staan. Die Leeus mik daarna om vanjaar vir die vierde agtereenvolgende jaar in die hoofwedstryd van die week in aksie te wees.

    Ondanks die slegte nuus dat die senter, Niell Stannard, dalk weens ‘n besering nie vir die span oorweeg kan word nie, het die Vrystaters wel goeie nuus gekry dat die heelagter, Louwtjie Steenkamp, reeds dié week van sy armbesering sal herstel.

    Steenkamp sal reeds die naweek weer terug op sy pos teen die Griffons wees wanneer die twee spanne op Pagepark in Brandfort slaags is. Met Stannard dalk uit sal Julian Jordaan en Mike Andrade die middelveld beman. Jordaan het na ‘n blink vertoning Saterdag van die plaasvervangersbank af teen Griekwaland-Wes sy plek in die span bespreek. Hy is die neef van die Sharks-senter, Paul Jordaan.

    Die Vrystaters het vyf spelers in sy geledere die vleuel Dale Koopman, skrumskakel Shirwin Cupido, flanke De Wet Bezuidenhout en Victor Maruping en die stut Ruben Terblanche in sy span wat verlede jaar ook op dié toernooi in Polokwane in aksie was.

    Dit is die vyfde keer dat Mpumalanga die Cravenweek aanbied. Middelburg was in 1978 ook die gasheer. Die ander kere wat die toernooi in die voormalige Suidoos-Transvaal aangebied is, was in Witbank (1985), Secunda (1993) en Nelspruit (2004).

    Die span is:

    Louwtjie Steenkamp, Patrick Mbangi, Julian Jordaan, Mike Andrade, Dale Koopman, Dwayne Wessels, Shirwin Cupido, Alex Jonker, Victor Maruping, De Wet Bezuidenhout, Ruben Schoeman, Jurie Burger, Janu Botha, JC Janse van Vuuren, Ruben Terblanche. Plaasvervangers: Greydon Wenn, Gela Khayna, IG Prinsloo, Kian Skippers, Dian Badenhorst, Llewellyn Hein, Jeandré Christian.

     

  • Pollard nominated for IRB Junior Player of the Year Award

    Pollard nominated for IRB Junior Player of the Year Award

    Junior Springbok flyhalf and captain Handré Pollard was on Tuesday named as one of four nominations for the IRB Junior Player of the Year 2014 Award.

    The International Rugby Board has confirmed the shortlist of four nominees for the prestigious Award, with the winner set to be announced following the Junior World Championship final at Eden Park in Auckland on Friday.

    Finalists South Africa and England each have a player nominated in captain Pollard and wing Nathan Earle respectively, with Ireland centre Garry Ringrose and New Zealand wing Tevita Li completing the quartet of players.

    The management of the 12 teams involved in the #JWC2014 in New Zealand voted on their top three players after each round with votes tallied to provide the shortlist of nominees.

    The public now has the chance to vote on this shortlist on the official Facebook page www.facebook.com/irbjuniors. The results of the public poll will be considered, along with the original votes, when finalising the winner

    Handré Pollard (South Africa)

    A player who already has a Junior World Championship winners’ medal to his name from South Africa’s success on home soil in 2012, Pollard now holds the responsibility of captaincy in what is his third experience of the tournament. With a maturity beyond his years, the Vodacom Bulls fly half is a calming influence on his teammates but also a natural leader. In the semi-final he became both the leading point scorer at #JWC2014 and also in the competition’s history. Pollard’s performances in the tournament have led some to suggest him as a possible bolter for South Africa’s squad for RWC 2015.

    Nathan Earle (England)

    The wing announced himself on the Junior World Championship stage with a bang, scoring the first hat-trick of the tournament against Italy on day one, his pace and mazy running simply too much for the Azzurrini to handle. The 19-year-old followed that up with another brace against Australia in their next match and, while he hasn’t crossed the whitewash since, his breaks have led to other tries to help England retain the hope of defending their title.

    Garry Ringrose (Ireland)

    With Irish rugby fans asking the question who will fill the 13 jersey now that Brian O’Driscoll has retired, the answer could lie in 19-year-old Ringrose who has carried well and repeatedly got over the gain-line to help Ireland reach a first JWC semi-final. A lovely straight runner, Ringrose has scored three tries in the tournament, two in the decisive bonus point win over Wales and one in the semi-final loss to England. He is also an accomplished kicker as he proved with 11 points in the final pool victory over Fiji.

    Tevita Li (New Zealand)

    The New Zealand wing only linked up with the Under 20 squad on the eve of the tournament due to his Vodacom Super Rugby commitments with the Blues, but that experience has shone through in his performances. A wing blessed with pace and power, Li was one bright spark for New Zealand in their pool loss to South Africa with a hat-trick. The 19-year-old, who has scored five tries in the tournament, will hope to follow in the footsteps of former Under 20 wings Julian Savea and Charles Piutau by graduating to the All Blacks in the years ahead.

    IRB Chairman Bernard Lapasset said: “The IRB Junior World Championship is a finishing school for the future stars of world rugby and the character-building experiences learned on and off the field in New Zealand will serve the class of 2014 very well.”

    “Once again we have been treated to a wonderful tournament of great quality, excitement and competition and I am looking forward to seeing the young players who have proudly represented their countries step up and thrill fans watching future Rugby World Cups.”

    “It is always such a difficult task to select a shortlist from such talent, but the four players nominated for the prestigious IRB Junior Player of the Year thoroughly deserve their place, having been nominated by their peers and their opposition.”

    “We can now look forward to a mouth-watering climax to the IRB Junior World Championship and the crowning of the champions and our Player of the Year.”

    Previous winners

    2013 – IRB Junior Player of the Year: Sam Davies (Wales)
    2012 – IRB Junior Player of the Year: Jan Serfontein (South Africa)
    2011 – IRB Junior Player of the Year: George Ford (England)
    2010 – IRB Junior Player of the Year: Julian Savea (New Zealand)
    2009 – IRB Junior Player of the Year: Aaron Cruden (New Zealand)
    2008 – IRB Junior Player of the Year: Luke Braid (New Zealand)

    Issued by SARU Corporate Affairs

  • Linden – 2014

    Results 

    Linden 45,  Midstream College 0
    Linden 20,  St. Stithian’s College 13
    Linden 50,  President 0
    Linden 55,  Weston College 5
    Linden 55,  Tom Naudé THS 7
    Linden 14,  Maritzburg College 29
    Linden 15,  Wynberg Boys’ High 50
    Linden 29,  Riebeeckrand 19
    Linden 29,  Dinamika 0
    Linden 38,  Bastion 24
    Linden 36,  Jan Viljoen 7
    Linden 24,  Alberton 8
    Linden 19,  Randburg 17 

    Players: Kyle Lues, Brandon Lizamore,