{"id":79745,"date":"2025-08-08T09:47:06","date_gmt":"2025-08-08T07:47:06","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/ssschoolsplus.co.za\/?p=79745"},"modified":"2025-08-08T09:47:06","modified_gmt":"2025-08-08T07:47:06","slug":"sa-u18-teams-named-for-international-series-openers","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/test.ssschoolsplus.co.za\/?p=79745","title":{"rendered":"SA u18 teams named for International Series openers"},"content":{"rendered":"
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MARKUS MULLER, captain of South Africa u18. PHOTO: Shaun Roy\/Gallo Images<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

The Under-18 International Series kicks off on Friday at Ho\u00ebrskool Durbanville in Cape Town, with South Africa’s top young rugby talent taking on top-class international opponents from Europe.<\/p>\n

The SA u18 team will face a formidable France side at 15h30, while the SA U18 \u2018A\u2019 team will test their mettle against Ireland when they kick off the series at 11h30. England and Georgia will play in the 13h30 fixture. All matches will be broadcast live on the SuperSport Schools platform.<\/p>\n

In announcing the two SA U18 match-day squads, the coaches have confirmed that Markus Muller will lead the SA U18s against France, while the SA U18 \u2018A\u2019 side will be skippered by Jeandre Uithaler.<\/p>\n

Meanwhile, in the build-up to the U18 Series, the coaches have highlighted the importance of continuity and the valuable experience the young players will gain by playing against strong international competition.<\/p>\n

Lwazi Zangqa, head coach of the SA U18s, is excited about the opportunity for his team, which are the future Junior Bok generation.<\/p>\n

\u201cOur match day squad is a continuation from the SA Schools fixture last month in Middelburg,\u201d said Zangqa. \u201cWe are honoured to represent South Africa at U18 level, which is a step up to international level, and we have another fantastic opportunity to showcase our rugby skills.\u201d<\/p>\n

Zangqa noted that playing together previously has allowed the team to iron out any issues and the opportunity to develop as a combination: \u201cThe advantage of playing the SA Schools fixture and working with more or less the same group is that you have an opportunity to continue working with and developing the same group.\u201d<\/p>\n

The SA u18 coach highlighted the continuity in his team\u2019s selection, particularly the dynamic centre pairing of Markus Muller and Ethan Adams in the midfield.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe\u2019ve gone predominantly with the SA Schools side which played against the SA \u2018A\u2019 side, which shows continuity,\u201d Zangqa explained.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe have Markus and Ethan as a centre pairing again, although they have swapped around with Ethan at inside centre and Markus on the outside. Josh Neill is back from injury, and he is included in the loose trio, and we are fortunate to have a player who has played at u18 international level last year.\u201d<\/p>\n

Zangqa is also well aware of the challenge against the French: \u201cFrance won’t be an easy opponent, but it\u2019s a fantastic opportunity for the youngsters to test their skill set against a top-class international side.\u201d<\/p>\n

The SA u18 coach also revealed that the medium-term goal is to prepare players for future Junior Bok representation: \u201cWe want to get these boys as best prepared for the World Rugby U20 Championship for next two years. Everything in all our efforts is done in assisting Kevin Foote in preparing and selecting the Junior Boks for international participation.\u201d<\/p>\n

The two SA u18 teams have also benefited from the expertise of the Junior Bok coaching staff.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe insight they bring is immense and we are very fortunate that they have offered their time to come and assist us on this journey, and we feel well supported by SA Rugby. Now it time to deliver,\u201d Zangqa concluded.<\/p>\n

Meanwhile, Flash Malinga who is coach of the SA U18 \u2018A\u2019 team, is also looking forward to their opener against Ireland and said his team will be looking to stamp their authority on the match by playing to their strengths, which is the set piece, kicking game and bringing their speedy attackers into the game.<\/p>\n

Like Zangqa, Malinga values the continuity in his SA U18 \u2018A\u2019 squad: \u201cThis week was about finishing off preparation for the opening match and we are fortunate that we only have minimal changes to the side that played in the SA Schools match, so that continuity helped during our preparation.\u201d<\/p>\n

Malinga acknowledged the tough opponent but stressed the honour of playing for South Africa against Ireland: \u201cThey are a formidable opponent but the exciting thing for our squad is that it\u2019s an absolute honour to represent South African rugby on the international stage and we are looking forward to the tournament and Friday\u2019s occasion.\u201d<\/p>\n

In a couple of injury-related changes, Deon Botes (Bulls) and Sbabalwe Magwebu (Border) were called into the SA U18 \u2018A\u2019 squad following injuries to Luan van den Berg and Randall-John Davids. Matt van der Merwe was called up to the U18 squad in in Van den Berg\u2019s place.<\/p>\n

The teams are:<\/strong><\/p>\n

SA Under 18 \u2018A\u2019 team to take on Ireland (kick off at 11h30):<\/strong><\/p>\n

15 Reinhart Viljoen (South Western Districts),\u00a014 Jeneall Davids (Western Province),\u00a013 Nathan Aneke (Sharks),\u00a012 Lizwe Mthethwa (Sharks),\u00a011 Ncutu Kepe (Border),\u00a010 Jeandre Uithaler (captain, Lions),\u00a09 Zirk Meyer (Bulls),\u00a08 Quintin Potgieter (Western Province),\u00a07 Liam Lightly (South Western Districts),\u00a06 Andile Ndlovu (Sharks),\u00a05 Migael Turner (Western Province),\u00a04 Diaan Augustyn (South Western Districts),\u00a03 Bernhard du Toit (Western Province),\u00a02 Keenan Myners (South Western Districts),\u00a01 Jeffrey Singo (Bulls).\u00a0Replacements:\u00a0<\/strong>16 Tommy Muller (Western Province),\u00a017 Pieta Cilliers (Western Province),\u00a018 Deon Botes (Bulls),\u00a019 Juvan Burden (Western Province),\u00a020 Briint Davids (Western Province),\u00a021 Mickyle Booise (Western Province),\u00a022 Ethan van Biljon (Western Province),\u00a023 Sbabalwe Magwebu (Border),\u00a024 Junaide Passensie (Bulls),\u00a025 Erin Nelson (Eastern Province),\u00a026 Lian Terblanche (Sharks).<\/p>\n

SA U18 team to take on France (kick off at 15h30):<\/strong><\/p>\n

15 Zekhethelo Siyaya (Sharks),\u00a014 Thabiso Simelane (Bulls), 13 Markus Muller (captain, Western Province),\u00a012 Ethan Adams (Free State),\u00a011 Jadriaan Afrikaner (Sharks),\u00a010 Liyema Nela (Sharks),\u00a09 Morne Noble (Western Province),\u00a08 Gert Kemp (Western Province),\u00a07 Josh Neill (Western Province),\u00a06 Chinedu Amadi (Lions),\u00a05 AJ Meyer (Free State),\u00a04 Lwandile Mlaba (Sharks),\u00a03 JG Badernhorst (Free State),\u00a02 Altus Rabie (Western Province),\u00a01 Kai Pratt (South Western Districts).\u00a0Replacements:\u00a0<\/strong>16 Clinton Agu (Lions),\u00a017 Jordan Jooste (Western Province),\u00a018 Matthew van der Merwe (Western Province),\u00a019 Jayden Joubert (Western Province),\u00a020 Wasi Vyambwera (Sharks),\u00a021 Jacobus de Villiers (SWD),\u00a022 Jayden Brits (Western Province),\u00a023 Ruben Groenewald (Bulls),\u00a024 Christian Vorster (South Western Districts),\u00a025 Junaide Stuart (Bulls),\u00a026 Lamla Mgedezi (Free State).<\/p>\n

Issued by SA Rugby Communications<\/strong><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

The Under-18 International Series kicks off on Friday at Ho\u00ebrskool Durbanville in Cape Town, with South Africa’s top young rugby talent taking on top-class international opponents from Europe. The SA u18 team will face a formidable France side at 15h30, while the SA U18 \u2018A\u2019 team will test their mettle against Ireland when they kick […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3,"featured_media":79748,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-79745","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-uncategorized"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/test.ssschoolsplus.co.za\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/79745","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/test.ssschoolsplus.co.za\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/test.ssschoolsplus.co.za\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/test.ssschoolsplus.co.za\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/3"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/test.ssschoolsplus.co.za\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=79745"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/test.ssschoolsplus.co.za\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/79745\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/test.ssschoolsplus.co.za\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/79748"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/test.ssschoolsplus.co.za\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=79745"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/test.ssschoolsplus.co.za\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=79745"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/test.ssschoolsplus.co.za\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=79745"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}