This weekend, SACS will be hosting Paul Roos at the Brewery, for their third clash of the season – a match that will also determine who would be crowned the Nr. 1 ranked team this year, after the previous two clashes ended with a win each.
SACS won the last encounter at Maties, playing a fast and exciting brand of hockey, whilst PRG won the first encounter in the Hibbert Shield final with solid defense.
Both sides provided the core of the provincial sides for Western Province and Boland respectively. WP took home the Gold Medal at the recent IPT, with Boland having to settle for fourth.
It is in the different representative school sides, that SACS really showed their class, with Rogan Stirk, Michael Cowan, Josh Opperman, Liam Haupt, Ozair Pillay and Michael Roydon-Turner included in the SA Schools A-Side, and Dean Carrick representing SA Schools B.
Stirk (Goalkeeper of the Tournament), Cowan (Defender of the Tournament) and Roydon-Turner, also can in for individual accolades. Litha Kraai, who was included in the SA u/16 team, bagged Midfielder, Top Goal Scorer and Player of the Tournament at the u/16 IPTs, will also post a serious challenge to the PRG defense.
The PRG star-duo of SA Schools representatives, Reuben Sendzul and Zeke Hougaard, both had quieter than expected tournaments at IPT’s, will provide the biggest threat to SACS.
PRG will field Jake Downie (SA Schools B), Ryan Williams (SA u/17) and Josh Smith (SA u/17) on defense, to counter the attacking flair of SACS. Barend Geldenhuys (SA u/17) and Christo Swanepoel (SA u/16), complete the PRG national representatives.
The South African u18 team will face their age-group counterparts from France and England in Durbanville and Paarl near Cape Town when the annual u18 International Series kicks off next month.
An invitational Western Province u18 XV team will also be part of the action and will face the visitors from Europe on the final two match days. All three rounds – on 11, 15 and 19 August – will be hosted at school venues.
Stellenberg High School in Cape Town’s northern suburbs and Paarl Boys’ High School will host the SA U18s on double-header match days, while the venue for the opening match, between France and England, will be confirmed in due course.
SA Schools head coach Katleho Lynch has been re-appointed as SA u18 head coach and will again be assisted by James Winstanley, while the Junior Springbok coaches, Bafana Nhleko and Lumumba Currie, will also be involved.
Lynch said the experience of playing against international opposition is very valuable in the development of the players.
“Last year’s series was both testing and fun for the players and we could see the growth they experienced in the few weeks we were together,” said Lynch.
“These matches are also important in the Elite Player Development (EPD) pathway for our age-group players. In this regard, I have to commend Herman Masimla and Nico Serfontein from SA Rugby for the role they play.
“We are yet to finalise the SA U18 squad and will not only consider players who were at the u18 Craven Week in George, but we’ll cast the net a bit wider. Players in the SA u18 Sevens squad for the Commonwealth Youth Games may also come into consideration.”
The SA u18 squad for the series will be named early next month.
Johannesburg is set to witness one of the fiercest rivalries between two of the city’s most prominent boys’ schools, with Parktown Boys’ High School hosting a powerhouse Jeppe High School for Boys.
The first teams have met on 58 separate occasions where scores have been recorded, the last time hosts Parktown beat Jeppe was back in 2018, where the side won comfortably winning that match 38-24.
Between 2020 – 2021, no matches were played between the two schools due to the COVID pandemic, which wreaked havoc across the country. In 2022, Jeppe won the match in fashion crushing Parktown 38-7 at home on Collard Field.
Parktown have struggled this season to find a consistent winning formula and have tried using various players in different roles during the year to fill various gaps.
Captain Sandsiso Sitole has been impressive in both offensive and defensive play during the season and has shown his kicking ability, the side is without Lions Academy player Azola Peter.
Jeppe has had a solid 2023 season and have shown their grittiness when it comes to playing deep into the dying minutes of the match. This was evident when they nearly held off a rampant Affies for nearly the entire match, only to lose the match in the dying minutes of the game.
The side however found themselves on the other end of the stick where they were able to beat Pretoria Boys’ High School the following week in the last two minutes of the match, winning 22-16.
Two of Jeppe’s players represented the Lions at the Craven Week which included outside centre Khuthadzo Rasivhaga and McMillen Mongwana, who starts from the bench this week after picking up a niggle during training.
Five of the players represented the Lions u19 Academy side, which was excellently led by inside center Exauce Kevani.
Jeppe will be looking at scrumhalf Bryce Samuel to provide an injection of energy into the backline, the diminutive number nine had a successful u19 Academy Week where he was named player of the match against Western Province.
With such a long history between these two schools, one can expect to see a packed stand of Parktown supporters with the beating of drums going on in the background.
Can Parktown dance to the rhythm of their own beat and cause an upset against a dominant Jeppe team?
Ben Vorster will be looking to capitalise on home ground advantage whey they take on Secunda.
The action in the SDC Noordvaal Cup Shield division returns on Saturday the 22nd of July after the June-break. The Buffels have a big task on hand when they welcome Secunda in Tzaneen.
Secunda have been the team to beat thus far and will be returning injury free after most of their players partook in the different national weeks.
Captain, Hanre Hattingh, returns to the side of the scrum to lead his side. Hattingh has been the stalwart upfront, providing empathise to an already intimidating forward pack.
At the back, vice-captain, Tian Steyn (inside centre) and Tyron Moolman (outside centre) will look forward to linking up to wreak havoc among the Vossie-defenders and gain an early advantage it what seemed to be a wet and cold fixture.
The Buffels will have to make due without their busy loose-head prop, Meyer Jacobs, but have a more than capable replacement in Lethabo Sejake, who slots in at hooker and Christopher janse van Vuuren moving tight-head. Hattingh’s opposite number, Layton Nel, will also be a force to be reckoned with his burly ball carries and impressive defence. In the midfield Chadwin Storm (inside centre) also returns unscaved after impressing in the Academy week in June. It will undoubtedly be a battle between the two centre pairings as Tihandre Reyneke (outside centre) pairs up with Storm for the Buffels.
Oos-Moot will make the trip to Lichtenburg to face what might be their toughest challenge yet.
The Men from Pretoria are still unbeaten up to date and will want to get the second half of their campaign of to a flying start to keep their momentum going. Wade Williams returns to the side of the scrum to complete an imposing loose trio, with Charl van der Sluis taking up the mantel of general again in the ten-jumper.
Lichtenburg will certainly make things difficult as they too return injury free. Captain, Renier Rall, slots in at number eight, where he will be able to inject some emphasis with the ability to play more freely.
A titanic battle awaits upfront with both teams fielding their strongest packs.
It will indeed be another action-packed weekend in the Shield Division as the race for the title starts heating up towards the business end of the competition.
The teams:
Ben Vorster vs Secunda in Tzaneen at 12:30:
Ben Vorster: 15 Neo Sephuma, 14 Ruan Sutherland, 13 Tihandre Reyneke, 12 Chadwin Storm, 11 Damian Bye, 10 Divan Spangenberg, 9 Cilliers van Heerden, 8 Aza Mabe, 7 Laython Nel, 6 Mias Koen, 5 Aldo Blignaut, 4 Nkateko Phakula, 3 Christopher janse van Vuuren, 2 Lethabo Sejake, 1 Chris Snyman.
Secunda: 15 Tiaan Delary, 14 Ryan Erasmus, 13 Tyron Moolman, 12 Tian Steyn, 11 Luan Lottering, 10 Jean tu Toit, 9 Jarno Haarroff, 8 Mike Pretorius, 7 Hanre Hattingh, 6 Sibusiso Ngubane, 5 Armand Kwooitz, 4 Zak Loock, 3 Tumelo Mtshali, 2 Henrico Fourie, 1 Jayden Schnuir.
Lichtenburg vs Oos-Moot in Lichtenbureg at 13:30:
Lichtenburg: 15 Collen Peraira, 14 Johandre van der Walt, 13 Antonio Vasjel, 12 Benre Pollard, 11 Tiaan Crowther, 10 Albert Joubert, 9 Willem van Niekerk, 8 Renier Rall, 7 Tiaan Booysen, 6 DG Jacobs, 5 John Kleynhans, 4 GJ Malan, 3 Tommie Scott, 2 Eddie du Preez, 1 Ockie Lotriet.
Oos-Moot: 15 Jeandre de bruin, 14 Jaydon la Douce, 13 Stian Oosthuizen, 12 Ruwan Allen, 11 Tapiwa Rwafa, 10 Charl van der Sluis, 9 Jacques benade, 8 Gert Hendrik Grobler, 7 Wade Williams, 6 Nathan Kleynhans, 5 Jaydon Botha, 4 Zander Kuhn, 3 Christian Smith, 2 Deon Badenhorst, 1 Braam Bezuidenhoud.
The season is not quite over yet and for the schools still competing on the rugby field, they are looking to end things on a high note.
Both Glenwood and Northwood gave stellar performances in 2023, with the former being represented by Lithemba Mfupi on the SA Schools side and the latter being represented by Vuyo Gwiji on the SA Schools ‘A’ side.
Mfupi is making his school proud, holding the title of Captain, Deputy Head Boy and now representing Glenwood rugby on the international level.
Liam Terblanche, Glenwood’s Head Boy, took part in this years Craven Week. Jaco Williams, of Glenwood, will be joining the Sharks u19 squad after also taking part in the 2023 Craven Week. Bongani Dlamini, prop for Glenwood, formed part of this years Sharks u17 side and Bakhosibakhe Gamede represented Glenwood at the SA u18 Sevens training camp.
Northwood’s Siyanda Nkosi will be representing The Knights as part of the SA u18 Sevens Squad.
Northwood will be looking for their sixth win this Saturday, while Glenwood will be looking for their tenth victory of 2023.
This game will act as rematch, as The Knights and The Green Machine already battled it out on the rugby field mid-April this year. The Knights won that encounter 29-22, on Glenwood’s home soil; while Northwood will be hosting this time round.
Jacobsdal gaan hierdie naweek bedrywig wees met besoekers van Hoërskool Upington en Laerskool Futurum wat kom om Saterdag by die Landboudal/Jakkies Sportdag mee te ding.
In die hoofwedstryd van die dag hervat Landboudal en Hoërskool Upington hul jaarlikse stryd om spogregte.
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Die besoekers sal wil voortsit aan hul momentum van voor die skoolvakansie. Hoërskool Upington het reeds ‘n indrukwekkende 43-31 sege oor Diamantveld vroeër in die seisoen behaal, en het in hul laaste wedstryd voor die vakansie ook goed vertoon om 26-elk teen ‘n sterk Noord-Kaap span in Kimberley gelykop te speel.
Landboudal het vroeg in die seisoen juis teen daardie Noord-Kaap span met 26-5 verloor, maar kon in hul volgende wedstryd meer van hul potensiaal ten toon stel met ‘n 43-22 sege oor Sentraal.
Net voor die vakansie het hulle goed gedoen om ‘n baie sterk Fichardtpark tot die eindfluitjie te laat werk voor Landboudal uiteindelik die knie moes buig met 21-19 en in hul laaste wedstryd van die kwartaal het hulle met 27-12 teen Jim Fouché verloor.
Die interskole is ‘n geleentheid vir hulle om die kwartaal op ‘n positiewe noot te begin en ‘n stelling te maak.
Vujani Moore (losskakel), Jan Louis Nel (senter) en Bielie Davel (haker) het gedurende die vakansie by die VKB Rugbyweek in Reitz as deel van die Vrystaat Arende span uitgeblink en is aangewys as die beste spelers in hul onderskeie posisies by die toernooi.
Upington se groot stut, PA Karsten, is ‘n speler om dop te hou in hierdie wedstryd. As hy en sy pak voorrye die kontakpunte kan beheer soos hulle al in vorige wedstryde het kan hulle moeilikheid veroorsaak vir die tuisspan.
Noord-Kaap gaan kuier in Kuruman by Hoërskool Kalahari.
Die Northerns geniet ‘n sterk seisoen sover en spog met groot seges oor Sentraal (43-0), Landboudal (26-5), Milnerton (38-24) en in die groot Kimberley-derby teen Diamantveld (18-17).
Hul kaptein, Eldridge Jack, speel ‘n kernrol in hul sukses. Jack begin Saterdag op binnesenter terwyl Abdul Fischer met hom plekke ruil en op losskakel uitdraf.
Kalahari sal moet bontstaan om die besoekers se agterlyn in toom te hou hierdie naweek.
Met slegs ‘n paar wedstryde oor in die seisoen kan die kragmeting tussen Hopetown en Hartswater ‘n bepalende wedstryd wees waneer die liga-leiers, Hartswater, in Hopetown teen hul naaste meededingers te staan kom.
Hopetown is op die oomblik tweede in die liga, en sal hul tuisveldvoordeel wil benut om die voorlopers te pootjie.
Hul losskakel, Junaid Jood, is ‘n opwindende speler om dop te hou. Hul lynstane is ook ‘n gevaarpunt vir opponente en hul haker, Thomas Bisset, het al menigde drieë vir sy span aangeteken hierdie seisoen.
Die spanne is:
Landboudal t. Hoërskool Upington om 13:20:
Landboudal: 15 Marius Etzebeth, 14 Barry Pretorius, 13 Jan Louis Nel, 12 Franz Homsek, 11 Robin van der Walt, 10 Vuyani Moore, 9 Coenraad Pretorius, 8 Peru van der Merwe, 7 AJ Burger, 6 Juhan Swanepoel, 5 Dylan Janse van Rensburg, 4 Franke Fourie, 3 Stefan Opperman, 2 Bielie Davel, 1 Wianco Ludicke.
The rugby season resumes in Cape Town after the school holiday break during which some of the best players from the Western Province competed at the Craven Week, where WP went unbeaten after a triumphant final match against the Blue Bulls (29-5) in George.
Now everyone is back in their school colours and ready to pick up the season where it left off.
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Two old rivals face each other when Hoërskool Durbanville and SACS meet at 12:20 on Saturday.
In 2017 SACS demolished the Durbies 100-0, running 16 unanswered tries by them. Jordy Hop who now plays wing for the Netherlands was part of that SACS team.
Hop sent an application video to SACS from the Netherlands, wishing to play rugby in South Africa and went on to play a vital part in the team that also beat Paarl Gimnasium (22-19), Boland Landbou (22-18), St Andrew’s College (24-15) and Michaelhouse (28-0) that year.
Durbanville beat SACS 33-24 in 2019, but lost again last year, 13-6.
This might prove to be their year again, as they have been enjoying some incredible form this season, scoring more than 50 points against five of their opponents already this season, and managing a famous 26-25 victory against Paarl Boys’ High early in the season.
Their electric centre, James Nero, has recently been selected as part of the SA U18 Sevens squad that will be competing at the Commonwealth Youth Games in Trinidad and Tobago in August.
He is one of the backline players who can cause a lot of trouble for SACS if they allow the Durbies to control the speed of the game, along with the likes of Valrhino Olckers at fullback and their flyhalf, Monray Daars.
SACS’ standout player has been their captain, Ali Osman-Bosch (prop), but he is unavailable for this game due to injury. Tumelo Noah takes his place in the squad and centre, Daniel Dayaram, assumes the captain’s role.
His front-row partner, Ikhona Maxegwana (prop) represented their school at the Craven Week in George as part of the Western Province XV. Though they have had a difficult season, they have shown glimpses of their potential throughout and will know they have a proud record to defend.
Diocesan College, who have been the top dogs in the Southern Suburbs this season, begin their term with a game on Friday against Haileybury from the United Kingdom, and their second stringers play Rugby School on Saturday, a British independent school that has been around for 456 years.
The teams:
Hoërskool Durbanville vs SACS at 12:20:
Hoërskool Durbanville: 15 Valrhino Olckers, 14 Lian Jordaan, 13 James Nero, 12 Shadwill Engelbrecht, 11 Cayden Louw, 10 Shaun Klein, 9 Ruvan van der Westhuizen, 8 Evert Bouwer, 7 Liam Baird, 6 Divan Gravett, 5 Jacobus Botha, 4 Rikus Saaiman, 3 Anru van Rhyn, 2 Devon Strydom, 1 Wian Koen.
SACS: 15 Aya Machuli, 14 Jack Benade, 13 Daniel Dayaram, 12 Raashied Conrad, 11 Iltha Ntinini, 10 Rayaan Solomons, 9 Sean Grant, 8 Niche Koopman, 7 Ben van Coller, 6 Richard Skeeles, 5 Khwezi Ndlovu, 4 Zach Kennedy, 3 Ikhona Maxegwana, 2 Alex Pybius, 1 Tumelo Noah.
Stellenberg vs Rondebosch at 12:55:
Stellenberg: 15 Dehan Neethling, 14 Liam Smith, 13 Estian Steyn, 12 Tyron Labuschagne, 11 Ruben Thompson, 10 Stefan Roux, 9 Clyde Frieslaar, 8 Dale du Toit, 7 Marco Ferreira, 6 Alex Schoeman, 5 Corne Bruwer, 4 Zian Erasmus, 3 Ryk Groenewald, 2 Almero Keizer, 1 Niel de Beer.
Rondebosch: 15 Dylan Miller, 14 Juma Amissi, 13 Nicolas Molyneux, 12 Matthew Malherbe, 11 Ethan Gordon, 10 David Simon, 9 Cameron Whitson, 8 Ryan du Rand, 7 Collin Paul Kemp, 6 Alutha Wesi, 5 Tom Barnard, 4 Carl Geddie, 3 Zev Schapiro, 2 Justin Amos, 1 Nic Swier.
Wynberg Boys’ High vs Melkbosstrand at 12:30:
Wynberg Boys’ High: 15 Matthew Ould, 14 Matteo Pascoe, 13 Brandon Ashburner, 12 Xolela Hoyi, 11 Levi Brown, 10 Keenan Pretorius, 9 Sange Mbuto, 8 Torren February, 7 Euwyn Liberty, 6 Jarryd Jackson, 5 Michail Kasfikis, 4 Monty Loggenberg, 3 Leo Addinall, 1 Nicholas van Schalkwyk, 1 Aidan Reid.
Milnerton: 15 Keegan Wood, 14 Carl Moatshe, 13 Morgan Lodewyk, 12 Frank Hitimama, 11 Qhamani Mangele, 10 Seth Kleynhans, 9 Devon Damons, 8 Liberty Myashanu, 7 Cole Wegewarth, 6 Ethan Wilson, 5 Matthew Gabriel, 4 Keenan Tongi, 3 Khanyisa Tafeni, 2 Keagan Harding, 1 Liam Ross.
Strand: 15 Jodeci Davids, 14 Paul Schutte, 13 Jayden Cookson, 12 Grezano Plaatjies, 11 Heinrich April, 10 Tyron Nicholas, 9 Leighton Fisher, 8 Ayden Afrika, 7 Michael Meyer, 6 Hanro Bezuidenhout, 5 PJ van der Schyff, 4 Ludeke van Tonder, 3 Wikus Meyer, 2 Roeben Robinson, 1 Zane Fortuin.
Other fixtures:
Friday: 15:00 – Diocesan College vs Haileybury (UK).
Saturday: 11:00 – Diocesan College II vs Rugby School (UK); 11:55 – Tygerberg vs Hoërskool Bellville; 12:10 – Brackenfell vs Hermanus; 12:30 – DF Malan vs Jan van Riebeeck.
The Western Cape schools kick off their third term rugby action this weekend with some great matchups.
On Saturday, the Boland Landbou boys go to town to take on Paarl Boys’ High and Oakdale Landbou travel to Stellenbosch to face Paul Roos on the Markötter.
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Last year Paarl Boys’ High beat Boland Landbou convincingly 47-22 in their own backyard which was their 12th straight victory in this yearly fixture.
The last time Boland Landbou toppled Boishaai was in 2009 when Springbok prop, Frans Malherbe, was captain of Paarl Boys’.
They also beat Paarl Gimnasium 14-12 that year.
Bertie Visser was in that team for Boland, Visser went on to play winger for the Leopards where he held the record for the quickest try ever scored in the Currie Cup. Visser needed only nine seconds from the kickoff to dot down, his record stood from 2012 to 2016.
The Gimmies have been in exceptional form this year again.
JC Mars (fullback), Jameel de Jongh (winger) and Divan Fuller (flanker) have recently been selected as part of the SA Schools team that will be competing against England and France in August. Scott Nel (winger) has also been chosen for the SA A group.
Albie Bester (centre), Cilliers Viljoen (hooker) and Christoff Etzebeth (prop) from Boland Landbou were in action with those players from Boishaai at the Craven Week over the holiday in George, where the Western Province team ended the week unbeaten after seeing away with the Blue Bulls 29-5 in the final match.
Though they obviously combined well at the tournament, all new friendships will be put aside when they jog onto the field on Saturday for what has always been an entertaining and physical battle between these two proud schools.
Oakdale had a couple of tough losses before the holiday break, going down against Paarl Gimnasium (36-12), and drawing against Stellenberg (13-all), they have proven what they are capable of already this season though, with impressive victories over Paarl Boys’ High (20-17) and EG Jansen (18-5) and they will be looking to return to winning ways with a statement against one of the in form teams in the Western Cape, Paul Roos.
In contrast, Paul Roos has been excellent all season, apart from two losses against Paarl Gimnasium (24-19) and Monument (44-26) they have been faultless and have done away with some of their fiercest competitors like Paarl Boys’ High (35-17), Affies (31-25) and Grey High (38-24) already this season.
The home team’s centre, Samuel Badenhorst, has been named as part of the SA U18 Sevens squad travelling to Trinidad and Tobago in August for the Commonwealth Youth Games.
Their big flanker who is only in grade 11 this year, Riley Norton, was one of the standout players at the Craven Week and represents Paul Roos in the SA Schools team. His teammate, the tighthead prop, Ryan Jack, has also been honoured with his inclusion in the SA A team after his performance over the holiday.
Two other players to look out for on Saturday are their spritely scrumhalf, Zeke January, and their reliable eighth man, Reuben Kruger.
The Stellenboschers have looked like they’ve been getting better with every match, and if they can keep up the momentum they had before the break, they can cause a lot of problems for the boys from Riversdal.
The teams:
Paarl Boys’ High vs Boland Landbou at 12:45:
Paarl Boys’ High: 15 JC Mars, 14 Scott Nel, 13 Aidan Jacobs, 12 Bryan Burger, 11 Jameel de Jongh, 10 Ruan van Willing, 9 Juan Loots, 8 Douw Wessels, 7 Chris Nel, 6 Neels Louwrens, 5 Michael Versfeld, 4 Neil Hansen, 3 Alfie Holm, 2 HB Odendaal, 1 Michael Pretorius.
Boland Landbou: 15 Dewald de Villiers, 14 Wehan Lume, 13 Ruan Jongsma, 12 Albie Bester, 11 Enslin Claasen, 10 Retagan van Rooi, 9 Turlon Adams, 8 AJ van der Merwe, 7 Alru Gous, 6 Hans Verster, 5 Ruan Viviers, 4 Karst Smith, 3 Pieter de Jager, 2 Cilliers Viljoen, 1 Christoff Etzebeth.
Paul Roos Gimansium vs Oakdale Landbou at 14:15:
Paul Roos Gimnasium: 15 Declan Croy, 14 Keehan Etson, 13 Samuel Badenhorst, 12 Phillip Groenewald, 11 Keenan Stoffels, 10 Lee-Jay Pietersen, 9 Zeke January, 8 Reuben Kruger, 7 Jean-Luc Joubert, 6 Andreas Oosthuizen, 5 Riley Norton, 4 Truspe Schoeman, 3 Jeandre le Grange, 2 Christian de Villiers, 1 Oliver Reid.
Oakdale Landbou: 15 Therlow Prins, 14 Michael Fourie, 13 Louis Fourie, 12 Kurt Coetzee, 11 Rayleen Alberts, 10 Shaydon Fradie, 9 Waylon Kortjie, 8 Erick Steyn, 7 Gustav van der Merwe, 6 Hanno Louw, 5 Migail Barnard, 4 Hanre Jubelius, 3 Marco Steyn, 2 JC van Wyk, 1 Devon Windvogel.
Outeniqua looks to add another big victory to their record in their centenary year when they host Paarl Gimnasium in George on Saturday.
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This promises to be an excellent way to kickstart the term’s remaining fixtures, with two schools with such a competitive history facing each other while both seem to be in top form.
Over their last 10 encounters, Paarl Gimnasium have won five, including their previous meeting in 2019 when they walked away victorious after a gruelling battle which they won by 11-8.
The year before that Gimmies beat the Kwaggas comfortably, scoring 57 unanswered points, but judging on the quality of rugby both schools have showcased this season, Saturday’s encounter promises to be another nail-biter.
Of the other five matches, Outeniqua won four and in 2012 the match ended as a draw on 17-all. They played later that same year and Outeniqua won 30-22.
That 2012 group of Outeniquas included the likes of Warrick Gelant and Duhan van der Merwe, while a young Handré Pollard was captaining Paarl Gim.
The hosts have only lost twice this season, narrowly losing out to Grey College 19-17 on their home turf before also coming up second-best against Garsfontein at the Absa Wildeklawer Tournament in Kimberley.
Their playmaker fullback, JT Strydom, has recently been selected for the SA A team after excelling at the Craven Week which took place in George during the holidays.
Jeffwin Wesso, their agile flanker, has also been named as part of the SA u18 Sevens squad that will be representing the country at the Commonwealth Youth Games in Trinidad and Tobago in August.
Their opponents pose no easy challenge, however. Paarl Gimnasium are the in-form team in the Western Cape and apart from a 33-12 loss to Grey College earlier in the season, their record is without blemish this year.
Their star flyhalf, Kyle Smith, was part of the Western Province team that went unbeaten at the Craven Week after beating the Blue Bulls 29-5 in the final game. He has been selected as part of the SA Schools team that will play against France and England in August.
His big lock, Danio Botha, has also been a pillar for his team this season and represents Gimmies in the SA A team.
Paarl Gimnasium has long been one of the top rugby schools in South Africa, having produced 25 Springboks over the years with the latest being the exciting new addition to the Springboks’ scrumhalf options for the World Cup, Grant Williams.
Outeniqua has been a growing force on the schoolboy rugby scene, and they have shown some massive talent in their 100th year to secure their place among the top five this year. A win at home against the Paarl giants will be a great achievement for the Kwaggas to top off what has been a successful season already.
To say Kingswood has had a strong 2023 rugby season would be an understatement. They have been taking names game after game, defeating reputable contenders along the way.
Their performance record is excellent, having won 13 games so far. They succeeded against some giants, including earning a 21-12 win over Queen’s College and a 34-5 defeat over Marlow Landbou, who have had an impressive season of their own this year.
Some additional accolades they have racked up are the three players which represented Kingswood in the Eastern Province team during the 2023 Craven Week. These players were Tadiwe Chikutiro, Sine Brawin and Phiko Petse.
Nico Malan are entering the game with achievements of their own, earning seven wins this season; and, in addition to this, not only did Dominic Malgas form part of the Eastern Province Craven Week squad, but succeeded in making it onto the SA Schools ‘A’ side.
Selborne and Hudson Park will take the field together this Saturday. The number of Selborne players which were selected for the Border Craven Week squad is testament to the quality rugby they have played this year. Ten Selborne players took part in the 2023 Craven Week, those are Sandi Msengana, Jordan Luck, Zuko Poswa, Grant Day, Dewan du Preez, Josh Carr, Daniel Larkin Chad de Beyer, Amani Somana and Siya Sakhela. Poswa was also selected for the SA Schools ‘A’ side.
Hudson Park had four players selected for the Border Craven Week side, those are Nqaba Nkonyeni, Sibabalwe Mtshini, Siyamthanda Klass and Landile Gidi.
Marlow has been one of the standout squads in the Eastern Province this year, racking up nine wins so far including their massive 45-0 defeat over Hudson Park in their last game. Marlow also had six players take part in Craven Week on the Eastern Province squad, the six players being Francois van der Ryst, Burrie van Heerden, Dempers Meyer, Aiden de Villiers, Leon Booysen and MC Strydom.
This Saturday, they will host St Andrews College for what should be some top-notch rugby.
Some other games to look out for will be Grey High School vs Hoërskool Framesby and Queen’s College vs Grens High School. Two players from Grey High School, Imaani Pemba and Joshua Bands, took part in the 2023 Craven Week, with Pemba ultimately being selected for the SA Schools ‘A’ side.
Queen’s had seven players taking part in Craven Week, those players being Abulele Boltini, Sbongo Mfeya, Kyle Alwin, Turshaan Hare, Lwandele Gaba, Jed Stone and Thina Mfenako.
Selborne College: 15 Siya Sakhela, 14 Thomas Braun, 13 Cole Schonknecht, 12 Chad de Beyer, 11 Anjolauluwa Sogbanmu, 10 Daniel Larkin, 9 Amani Somana, 8 Gcina Puzi, 7 Dewan du Preez, 6 Grant Day, 5 Josh Carr, 4 Zuko Poswa, 3 Nathi Nthuli, 2 Jordan Luck, 1 Sandi Msengana.
St Andrew’s College: 15 Oliver Snart, 14 Jacques Cloete, 13 Joe Bennie, 12 Sintu Mjali, 11 Murray Wilson, 10 Daniel Hickey, 9 Luke Rowley, 8 Andrew Baisley, 7 Oliver Myatt-Taylor, 6 Sinjhun Cawse, 5 Connor Wells, 4 Charlie Beaton, 3 Ayamnkele Dongwana, 2 Joe Wostenholm, 1 Connor Brand.
This weekend, SACS will be hosting Paul Roos at the Brewery, for their third clash of the season – a match that will also determine who would be crowned the Nr. 1 ranked team this year, after the previous two clashes ended with a win each.
The South African u18 team will face their age-group counterparts from France and England in Durbanville and Paarl near Cape Town when the annual u18 International Series kicks off next month.
Ben Vorster will be looking to capitalise on home ground advantage whey they take on Secunda.
Jacobsdal gaan hierdie naweek bedrywig wees met besoekers van Hoërskool Upington en Laerskool Futurum wat kom om Saterdag by die Landboudal/Jakkies Sportdag mee te ding.
The rugby season resumes in Cape Town after the school holiday break during which some of the best players from the Western Province competed at the Craven Week, where WP went unbeaten after a triumphant final match against the Blue Bulls (29-5) in George.
To say Kingswood has had a strong 2023 rugby season would be an understatement. They have been taking names game after game, defeating reputable contenders along the way.