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‘n TERUGVEGPOGING in die laaste agt minute wat aan die eindstryd van vanjaar se Varsitybeker-rugbyreeks se eindstryd tussen die Pukke en Ikeys herhinner, deur EG Jansen het aan hom ‘n sege van 25-21 oor Grey Boys’ High School van Port Elizabeth besorg. Die wedstryd is op die eerste dag van die Wildeklawer-toernooi op Hoërskool Diamantveld in Kimberley beslis.

Die span van die Baai het met 21-6 voorgeloop met nog agt minute oor in die kragmeting. EG Jansen se slot Hendré Stassen, heelagter Martin van Wyk en senter Erich Cronjé het egter ander planne gehad en die vonk met hulle spel vir die vuur verskaf om die wedstryd te wen. Cronjé het die wendrie gedruk, met Van Wyk wat self ook agter die doellyn gaan kuier het. Stassen het voorlangs met sy inklimspel beïndruk.

Paarl Gimnasium het amper daarin geslaag om sy grootste sege nog ooit oor die Afrikaanse Hoër Seunskool te behaal.

Gimmies het Affies wat vanjaar sover op die rugbyveld gesukkel het 40-7 afgeransel. Slegs die oorwinning van 38-3 oor Affies in 1973 oortref die sege van Gimmies. Dit was ook die span van die Paarl se eerste sege oor Affies sedert 2009 toe hy 22-16 baas was.

Gimmies se slot Jaco Willemse en agtsteman HJ Luus het as baldraers meters veld op ‘n slag gewen. Vir Affies het net sy kaptein en heelagter, Eduan Keyter moedig vertoon. Hy is vir sy durf met ‘n onderskepdrie beloon.

Grey-kollege moes sonder drie van sy sleutelspelers in sy agterlyn klaarkom, maar Louwtjie Steenkamp het vir die nodige vuurwerk gesorg om Outeniqua 25-7 te troef.

Steenkamp het op heelagter in die plek van die hoogaangeskrewe Henry Immelman opgedraf. Hy het egter Immelman se skoene volgestaan en twee keer deur die Kwaggas se verdediging soos ‘n spreekwoordelike warm mes deur botter gesny en gaan afrond. Grey was ook sonder sy vleuel Charl Pretorius en senter Julian Jordaan wat soos Immelman die wedstryd weens ‘n besering misgeloop het.

Robbie Petzer het amper daarin geslaag om Noord-Kaap tot ‘n sege oor Oakdale Landbou aan te vuur.

Die losskakel van Noord-Kaap het 20 van sy span se punte met ‘n drie, drie doelskoppe en drie strafdoele aangeteken. Die span se ander punte is deur die slot Rikus Zwart aangeteken wat twee keer oor die doellyn gebars het.

Oakdale het die kragmeting 39-30 gewen nadat Northerns vroeg ‘n voorsprong van 16-0 opgebou het. Die span van Riversdal het teruggeveg om rustyd 17-16 voor te loop danksy ‘n drie deur sy vleuel DC Giliomee.

Petzer en Zwart was ook hulle span se uitblinkers. Petzer het goed geskop, terwyl hy ook deurgans vra aan Oakdale Landbou se verdediging gevra het. Dit het telkens meer as een verdediger gevat om Zwart grond toe te bring.

Waterkloof was met sy losskakel Tinus de Beer aan die spits 39-27 oor Glenwood baas. De Beer is vir sy vertoning as speler van die wedstryd aangewys. Hy het 14 punte met sy skopskoen aangeteken. Die span van Pretoria was rustyd met die telling 31-15 reeds stewig in die saal.

HTS Middelburg het sy eerste sege in nege wedstryde op Wildeklawer teen Diamantveld (25-0) in die hoofwedstryd van die dag behaal. Die skeidsregter Khotso Raleting het in die eerste helfte eers die die tuisspan se senter JD Swanepoel met ‘n geelkaart koelkas toe gestuur en kort daarna ook die slot JD Fourie met ‘n rooikaart van die veld gejaag. Albei was vir gevaarlike duikslae.

Paul Roos Gimnasium se losskakel, Reinhard Fortuin het 22 punte tot sy span se weghol-sege van 67-0 oor King Edward VII bygedra. Hy het dalk tuis op Diamantveld se hoofveld gevoel. Hy was nog tot in graad tien ‘n leerling van Diamonds.

Die hotklou het agt van sy span se nege drieë verdoel en ook met twee strafdoele geslaag. Die span se vleuel, Nico Leonard het ‘n driekuns aan drieë behaal. Die span se senterpaar, Edrich Venter en Matt Gallow het in die wedstryd baljaar.

Monument het Boland Landbou 15-0 geklop in ‘n wedstryd wat in die tweede helfte deur te veel hanteervoute gekenmerk is. Monnas se agtsteman, Juan Lemmer het egter ‘n stewige vertoning gelewer.

DAAR sal vanjaar heelwat meer krieket langs die hoofrugbyveld van die Hoërskool Diamantveld tydens die sesde Wildeklawer-rugbytoernooi as tydens die vorige toernooie gepraat word.

Verskeie spelers wat in aksie sal wees tydens die toernooi is begaafde krieketspelers. Soos byvoorbeeld Waterkloof se binnesenter, Janneman Malan het verlede jaar ‘n ongelooflike onoorwonne 214 lopies op Krieket Suid-Afrika (KSA) se nasionale o.17-week teen Grens gemoker. Albei sy broers, André en Pieter Malan speel eersterangse krieket.

Boonop is een van Suid-Afrika se mees talentvolste krieketspelers in sy geskiedenis, Herschelle Gibbs se seun Rashard Fuller in King Edward VII (KES) se span ingesluit. Fuller draf op heelagter en losskakel uit. Sy pa was in 1992 die SA Skole-span se losskakel.

Morgan Steyn (Selborne-kollege, losskakel), Niel Stannard (Grey-kollege, vleuel) en Rikus Zwart (Noord-Kaap, slot) het almal al hulle onderskeie provinsies op KSA se nasionale weke verteenwoordig. Een van Noord-Kaap se afrigters, Zandré Swarts speel krieket vir Griekwas se provinsiale span.

Die Springbok-breier, Heynecke Meyer se seun Vic sal aan die kant van Affies se skrum sak. Die voormalige Springbok-vleuel en Vrystaatse legende, Chris Badenhorst se seun Dian sal op skrumskakel vir Grey-kollege in aksie wees. Grey se heelagter Henry Immelman se broer Nicolaas speel vir die Vrystaat in die Vodacombeker-reeks. Die span se senter Julian Jordaan is die neef van Paul Jordaan wat in dieselfde posisie vir die Sharks in die Superugby-reeks speel.

In die gasheer se span sal Hawies “Dagga” Bosman se seun Nardus die span van flank af aanvoer. Maritzburg-kollege se heelagter, Matthew Kriel is die jongste broer van die Kriel-tweeling, Jesse en Dan wat in die Suid-Afrikaanse o.20-span vir die komende wêreldkampioenskap vir o.20-spanne in Nieu-Seeland ingesluit is.

Die voormalige Griekwa-afrigter en speler, Abré Minnie se seun Derrick sal die oond vir sy pa se alma mater Hoërskool Outeniqua skoonmaak. Minnie sr. is ook die Kwaggas se tegniese adviseur en sal sonder twyfel die span se wedstryd Maandag teen Grey op televisie dophou indien hy nie saam met die span na die Diamantstad reis nie.

Die voormalige Springbok-senter, Brendan Venter is in dieselfde posisie as Minnie by Paul Roos betrokke. Hy behoort ook sy waarnemings aan die span van Stellenbosch na die eerste wedstryd teen KES deur te gee. Die span van die Eikestad se een afrigter is die voormalige Springbok, Dawie Snyman.

Ander afrigters met eersterangse ondervinding as spelers is Wessel du Plessis, Tewis de Bruyn (albei Grey), Jean Stemmet, Bok Markram (albei Diamantveld), Rudi Dames (Glenwood) en Ryan Strudwick (Maritzburg-kollege).

Scorers: 

Monument 15 (10) – Tries: Ivan Smit, Odwa Nkunjane. Conversion: Smit. Penalty: Wikus van Biljon. Boland Landbou 0.

EG Jansen 25 (3) – Tries: Marco Niemand, Martin van Wyk, Erich Cronje. Conversions: Forrest Roos (2). Penalties: Kotze (2). Grey Boys’ High School 21 (7) – Tries: Dylan Barendse, Keanu Vers, Athi Mayinje. Conversions: Garrick Mattheus. 

Selborne College 19 (9) – Try: David Brits. Conversion: Morgan Steyn. Penalties: Steyn (4). HTS Drostdy 10 (3) – Try: Wynand Roets. Conversion: Roets. Penalty: Roets. 

Oakdale Landbou 39 (17) – Tries: Ruan Barnard (2), Maurice White DC Giliomee, Boeta Hamman. Conversions: JT Jackson (4). Penalties: Hamman (2). Noord-Kaap 30 (16) – Tries: Rikus Zwart, Bradley Leijdekkers, Robbie Petzer. Conversions: Petzer (3). Penalties: Petzer (3). 

Paul Roos Gimnasium 67 (39) – Tries: Nico Leonard (3), Herschell Jantjes (2), Matt Gallow (2), Calvin Nel, Jerome Korff. Conversions: Reinhard Fortuin (8). Penalties: Fortuin (2). King Edward VII 0. 

Waterkloof 39 (31) – Tries: JP Snyman (2), Roan Venter, Corne Schoeman, Dewald Lindeque. Conversions: Tinus de Beer (4). Penalties: De Beer. Glenwood 27 (15) – Tries: Sphamandla Ngcobo, James Venter, Philani Ngcobo, Ruan Desmore. Conversions: Morne Joubert (2). Penalty: Joubert. 

Maritzburg-kollege 61 (30) – Tries: Xolisa Guma (3), Darryn Goodson (2), Marcell Coetsee (2), Mac van der Linde, Tiaan Steyn, Matthew Kriel. Conversions: Coetsee (3), Brandon Holder. Penalty: Holder. Coca-Cola Invitation XV 15 (10) – Tries: Duncan Saal (2). Conversion: Dennis Cox. Penalty: Cox.

Grey College 25 (15) – Tries: Louwtjie Steenkamp (2), Ruben Terblanche, Henry Slabbert. Conversion: Steenkamp. Penalty: Steenkamp. Outeniqua 7 (0) – Try: Christopher Roelofse. Conversion: Manie Libbok.

HTS Middelburg 25 (18) – Tries: Driaan Bester, Derik Willemse, Brandon Par-Bailey. Conversions: Barend Smit (2). Penalties: Smit (2). Diamantveld 0. 

Paarl Gimnasium 40 (14) – Tries: HJ Luus (2), Jaco Willemse (2), Paul Human, Taigh Schoor. Conversions: Smit (5). Affies 7 (7) – Try:  Eduan Keyter. Conversion: Pieter Coetser.  

Paarl Gimnasium: 15 Paul Human, 14 Leaviel Gouws, 13 Taigh Schoor, 12 Andri Cooper, 11 Grant Williams, 10 Walter Smit, 9 Zandre de Koker, 8 HJ Luus, 7 Waldo MacDonald, 6 Dieter Leicher, 5 Ernst van Rhyn, 4 Jaco Willemse, 3 Adriaan Geldenhuys, 2 Marco Mostert, 1 Gavin van den Berg. Replacements: 16 Willem Moolman, 17 O’Neill Thairt, 18 MJ Hayes, 20 Hennie Beukes, 21 Willie Smal, 22 George Lourens.  

EG Jansen: 15 Martin van Wyk, 14 Juan Botha, 13 Erich Cronje, 12 Delano Kotze, 11 Irven Ali, 10 Forrest Roos, 9 Charl Barkhuizen, 8 Warren Brits, 7 Dillon Robus, 6 Eben Buitendag, 5 Hendre Stassen, 4 Quinton van der Schyff, 3 Armand Jordaan, 2 Nico Peyper, 1 Rouxbann Baumann. Replacements: 16 Brandon-Lee Hayward, 17 Morne Taute, 18 Edwin Jansen, 19 Dylan van der Walt, 20 Jonathan Strydom, 21 Xander Crause, 22 Marco Niemand, 23 Esuan van Niekerk, 24 Lynton Frylinck. 

Affies: 15 Eduan Keyter, 14 Pieter Coetzer, 13 Tiaan Schmullian, 12 Eddie Fouche, 11 Janco Booysen, 10 Dale Hendricks, 9 Carlo de Nysschen, 8 Ruan Roelofse, 7 Vic Meyer, 6 Gavin Foster, 5 Juan Basson, 4 Ruben van Heerden, 3 Reinhardt Goosen, 2 Ramon Viviers, 1 DP du Plessis. Replacements: 16 Jano Espag, 17 Viaan Mong, 18 Louis de Jongh, 19 Human Bodenstein, 20 Eduan Lubbe, 21 Divan Henning, 22 Ryno Lourens, 23 Henco Jordaan. 

Waterkloof: 15 Wilbri Gunter, 14 Dewald Fourie, 13 Stedman Gans, 12 Janneman Malan, 11 Dewald Lindeque, 10 Tinus de Beer, 9 Jeanre Pieterse, 8 JP Snyman, 7 Juandre Michau, 6 Stian Smit, 5 Lezar Botha, 4 Tiaan Erasmus, 3 JD Burger, 2 Roan Venter, 1 Basil Polydorou. Replacements: 16 Jeandre Jones, 17 Chergin Fillies, 18 Neels Schoeman, 19 Francois Karg, 20 Corne Schoeman, 21 Berco Venter, 22 Runan Venter, 23 Jean Henning. 

Oakdale Landbou: 15 Ruan Barnard, 14 DC Gilliomee, 13 Kurt Eybers, 12 JT Jackson, 11 JP Coetzee, 10 Boeta Hamman, 9 Maurice White, 8 Renaldo Ferreira, 7 Armand Heunis, 6 Bertie de Bod, 5 Stephan Streicher, 4 Adre Smit, 3 Marcel Barnard, 2 Cian Waggenaar, 1 Chrisjan du Toit. Replacements: 16 HP van Schoor, 17 SW Odendaal, 18 Piet Gouws, 19 Eckard Leicher, 20 William Eybers. 

HTS Drostdy: 15 Earl Dowrie, 14 Gevin Scheepers, 13 Frikkie Badenhorst, 12 Bernito McPherson, 11 Marnu Bartels, 10 Wynand Roets, 9 Alberto dos Santos, 8 Edward Haas, 7 Jurie Fick, 6 Evan Booysen, 5 Willem Augustyn, 4 MC Haggard, 3 Robert Hunt, 2 Tiaan Smuts, 1 Roy Brink. Replacements: 16 Zandre Fernhout, 17 Kobus Roux, 18 Emile Opperman, 19 Ruhan Marais, 20 Jason Howells, 21 Carel Kotze, 22 Andre Swanepoel, 23 Theodore Pienaar. 

Glenwood: 15 Morne Joubert, 14 Lunga Mukendi, 13 Sphamandla Ngcobo, 12 Ruben Fouche, 11 Philani Ngcobo, 10 Curtis Jonas, 9 Kwazi Khanyile, 8 Jaco Coetzee, 7 MacMillan Muller, 6 James Venter, 5 Ruan Desmore, 4 Kevin du Randt (captain), 3 Koos Tredoux, 2 Percy Mngadi, 1 Kenny van Niekerk. Replacements: 16 Christopher Klopper, 17 Nama Xaba, 18 Johan King, 19 Marco Palvie, 20 Donovan du Randt, 21 Chris Breddel, 22 Jayden Morgan.  

Selborne College: 15 Liam McLoughlin, 14 Tristian Coetzer, 13 Jacinto da Silva, 12 David Brits, 11 Milani Lubelwana, 10 Morgan Steyn, 9 Sibahle Dunjana, 8 Jason Steyn, 7 Lutho Selem, 6 Adrian Greig, 5 Robert Lyons, 4 Daniel Froneman, 3 Tango Balekile (captain), 2 Grant Venter, 1 Skye Bawden. Replacements: 16 Cole van Tonder, 17 Daniel Voigt, 18 Gregg Shean, 19 Heinrich Nieuwenhuizen, 20 Joshua Allderman, 21 Michael Botha, 22 Brandon Perks. 

King Edward VII: 15 Brad Wright, 14 Sicelo Champion, 13 Keketso Maphathe, 12 Brad Naude, 11 Mangoba Mbatha, 10 Tony de Zorzi, 9 Nkosana Mathaba, 8 Jordan Mills (captain), 7 Joshua Bryan, 6 Brendan O’Donoghue, 5 Senzo Mkhize, 4 Dorian Botha, 3 Keagan Mills, 2 Willem du Plessis, 1 Mlungisi Macheke. Replacements: 16 Mpato Nkomo, 17 Jake Glass, 18 Jonty Mattheus, 19 Devin King, 20 Micci Marussi, 21 Brad Meyer, 22 Rashard Fuller. 

Boland Landbou: 15 MC Erasmus, 14 JT Potgieter, 13 Carlton Fourie, 12 Danrich Visagie, 11 Lourens van Dyk, 10 Luke Philander, 9 Jondre Williams, 8 Slabber la Grange, 7 Heinrich Meyer, 6 Dawid Labuschagne, 5 Gerhard du Toit (captain), 4 Joppie du Pisanie, 3 Tristan Hill, 2 Eduard Snyman, 1 Bertus Smith. Replacements: 16 Hugo Vlok, 17 Gerald Evert, 18 Johan Lubbe, 19 Jandre Maree, 20 Conrad Fourie, 21 Eric Vincent, 22 Sergull van Niekerk. 

Grey Boys’ High School: 15 Garrick Mattheus, 14 Athi Mayinje, 13 Keanu Vers, 12 Jeremy Ward, 11 Dylan Vermaak, 10 Curwin Bosch, 9 Brody van Goevreden, 8 Kavan Trezbiatowsky, 7 Josh Mudrovcic, 6 Johann van Niekerk (captain), 5 Junior Pokomela, 4 Michael de Marco, 3 Dylan Barendse, 2 Robin Stevens, 1 Matthew Howes. Replacements: 16 Wahl Enslin, 17 Keegan Branford, 18 Hanno Minnaar, 19 Matthew Lawson, 20 Paul Briggs, 21 Richie Bryant, 22 Nathan Brown. 

Outeniqua HS: 15 Corne de Klerk, 14 Curtley Prins, 13 Manie Libbok, 12 JP Duvenhage, 11 Niven Langdown, 10 Keenan Tarentaal, 9 Derrick Minnie, 8 Pieter Steenkamp, 7 Le Roux Baard (captain), 6 Christopher Roelofse, 5 Eduard Zandberg, 4 Anton Smit, 3 Wynand de Necker, 2 Riaan Kleyn, 1 Andrew Kuhn. Replacements: 16 Sarel van Loggenberg, 17 Roux Swart, 18 Neil Otto, 19 Andre Coetzee, 20 Clyton Kiewietz, 21 Steffen de Beer, 22 Don-marco Samuels, 23 Stefan Gerber. 

Paul Roos Gimnasium: 15 Morne Taljaard, 14 Nico Leonard, 13 Matthew Gallow, 12 Edrich Venter, 11 Edwill van der Merwe, 10 Aidynn Cupido, 9 Herschel Jantjes, 8 Michael Meyer, 7 Mitchell Carstens, 6 Jacques Oosthuizen, 5 Emile Cloete, 4 Louis Conradie, 3 Jerome Korf, 2 Jacques van Zyl, 1 Carl Prinsloo. Replacements: 16 Muammir Salie, 17 Robert Matthee, 18 Christian Hamman, 19 Dean van Tonder, 20 Joa Swart, 21 Calvin Nell, 22 Reinhardt Fortuin, 23 Joshua Vermeulen. 

Grey College: 15 Henry Immelman, 14 Charl Pretorius, 13 Julian Jordaan, 12 Mike Andrade, 11 Niel Stannard, 10 Dwayne Wessels, 9 Dian Badenhorst, 8 Alex Jonker (captain), 7 Jacques du Preez, 6 De Wet Bezuidenhout, 5 Kassel Rothman, 4 Jurie Burger, 3 Janu Botha, 2 JC Janse van Vuuren, 1 Ruben Terblanche. Replacements: 16 Daniel Rust, 17 Callie Janse van Vuuren, 18 CJ Lotter, 19 Louwtjie Steenkamp, 20 Glenn Erickson, 23 Raynard Esterhuizen.

Diamantveld: 15 Keaton Gordon, 14 Etdeon Greyvenstein, 13 Nico Roets, 12 JD Swanepoel, 11 JP Abrahams, 10 Gerco Nortje, 9 Jannes Wessels, 8 Johan Joubert, 7 Nardus Bosman (captain), 6 Janco Cloete, 5 JD Fourie, 4 Dwayne Botma, 3 Nathun Christiaans, 2 Brandon Smith, 1 Werner Goosen. Replacements: 16 John Duncan Vertue, 17 Michael Rodrigues, 18 Corne van der Merwe, 19 Ettienne Erasmus, 20 Vannas Herholdt, 21 JP Roets, 22 Marno Willemse, 23 Henri Rossouw.

Monument: 15 Stian Joubert, 14 Josh Swanepoel, 13 Armand Grobler, 12 Ernst Beumer, 11 Waldo Kriel, 10 Ivan Smit, 9 Stefan Fitzgerald, 8 Juan Lemmer, 7 Tiaan van Wyk, 6 Gavin Delport, 5 Reinhard Nothnagel, 4 Rhyno Herbst, 3 Jaco Holtzhausen, 2 Vean Roodt, 1 Kevin Booth. Replacements: 16 Arne Grobbelaar, 17 Jaco Smith, 18 Len Massyn, 19 Henro Liebenberg, 20 Jacques Joubert, 21 Wikus van Biljon, 22 Ashley Carr, 23 Goodman Mkwanazi.  

HTS Middelburg: 15 Barend Smit, 14 Brandon Par-Bailey, 13 Jacques du Toit, 12 Ruan Luddick, 11 Liaan Prinsloo, 10 Lohan Bennett, 9 Stephan Enslin, 8 Eric Basson, 7 Derik Willemse, 6 Chrisjan Steynberg, 5 Driaan Bester, 4 Marko Mare, 3 Kyle van Aswegen, 2 JP Mans, 1 Steven Stols. Replacements: 16 Ruan Groenewald, 17 Neven Nel, 18 Bernard Kotzenberg, 19 Dehan Opperman, 20 Gawie du Plessis, 21 Reynard van As, 22 Jan Rens, 23 Gerik Mynhardt, 24 Jacques Viljoen. 

Noord-Kaap: 15 Wilfred Bowers, 14 Leon Becker, 13 Siyambuka Lawu, 12 Gerhard Holtzhausen, 11 Austen Jooste, 10 Robbie Petzer, 9 Brandon de Melim, 8 Hannes Jacobs, 7 Thulani Njenje, 6 Pieter Oosthuizen, 5 Rikus Zwart, 4 Bradley Leijdekkers, 3 Doctor Booysen, 2 AD van Zyl, 1 Qama Hina. Replacements: 16 Geo Davel, 17 Damian van den Berg, 18 Wilbritte Uys, 19 Lukas Oberholster, 20 Daniello Huyser, 21 Thomas Fortuin, 22 Tyron Scholtz, 23 Morne Steynmann, 24 Duan Steenkamp, 25 Lihan Viljoen. 

Maritzburg College: 15 Matthew Kriel, 14 Byron Watson, 13 Marcel Coetzee, 12 Tristan Hanlon, 11 Xolisa Guma, 10 Jordan Koekemoer, 9 Mat Seba, 8 Daryn Goodson, 7 Renard le Roux, 6 Hayden Tharrat, 5 Justin Gold, 4 Wian Jacobs, 3 Mcedisi Dlamini, 2 Masikane Mazwi, 1 Tiaan Steyn. Replacements: 16 Sam Swanepoel, 17 Tanaka Chikwezero, 18 James Prentice, 19 Slade Stuart, 20 Mac van der Linde, 21 Kudswai Muningi, 22 Brandon Holder, 23 Kelvin van Selm.

A highly successful seventh Kearsney Easter Rugby Festival wrapped up yesterday (Monday) with the announcement of the five players to each receive bursaries to the Sharks Academy for 2015.

Valued at over R100 000 each, the recipients are prop Kenny van Niekerk and flyhalf Curtis Jonas, both from Glenwood, flank Adrian Heystek from Westville Boys’ High, fullback Justerino Davids from Dale College in King William’s Town and fullback Barend Smit from HTS Middelburg. This includes a contract with the Academy in 2015, accommodation and a tuition bursary with one of its education partners.

In announcing the awards Etienne Fynn, managing director of the Academy, said the great pool of talent this year had made it extremely difficult for the selectors to choose only three players, as originally planned; and they had therefore decided on awarding five bursaries.

“The standard is again consistently high with excellent match-ups at the festival. Academy coaches and selectors who have been to the other festivals taking place around the country this weekend have reported that the Kearsney Easter Rugby Festival has an exceptionally high standard of participating teams; with sides being very competitive and evenly matched,” Fynn said.

At the end of the festival four teams remained unbeaten: Glenwood, HTS Middelburg, Grey College and Monument. Glenwood and Middelburg both won all three of their games played at the festival; whilst perennial powerhouses Grey and Monument won two and drew the game against each other.

The festival was well supported with capacity crowds who were able to enjoy a high standard of competitive rugby in good weather. It was a successful event for organisers and sponsors Standard Bank, Illovo Sugar South Africa, Nashua Durban and the Sharks Academy.

Adding to the status of the festival and to the thrill of players, international rugby referees Craig Joubert and Marius Jonker officiated at three games over the weekend. Joubert said it was always a delight to ref schoolboy games and to experience the wealth of talent coming through at this level of the game.

A Junior Springbok squad bolstered by several players with Vodacom Super Rugby experience was named by SARU in Cape Town on Tuesday for the 2014 IRB Junior World Championship to be hosted by New Zealand from June 2 to 22.

Handré Pollard (flyhalf, Vodacom Bulls), André Esterhuizen (centre, Cell C Sharks), Sergeal Petersen and Aidon Davis (both Southern Kings) as well as Malcolm Marx (hooker, Lions) have all either played Vodacom Super Rugby or have been part of their respective franchise’s Super Rugby training groups.

The squad also sees the return of several players who did duty for the South Africa Under-20’s in France last year, where they claimed the bronze medal.

Pollard, who also starred in the 2012 tournament, Davis and Jesse Kriel (fullback, Vodacom Blue Bulls) all played for the Junior Boks in 2013. Winger Petersen, who made an impressive Super Rugby debut for the Kings last year by scoring several stunning tries, was also included in the squad but missed the trip to France because of a hamstring injury.

South Africa Under-20 coach Dawie Theron and the national selectors, Peter Jooste and Ian McIntosh, selected the 28-man squad following an intensive identification and trials process. More than 50 players attended the training camp which ran for almost three weeks in Stellenbosch and included two trial matches as well as several training games.

The JWC squad returned to their training base in Stellenbosch on Tuesday to continue their preparations for the tournament. This will include a three-match international series against traditional rivals Argentina from May 2 to 10 in the Western Cape.

Theron said the weather and playing conditions in New Zealand, as well as a tough pool draw, will contribute to a challenging competition. “Our players are used to dry and fast fields and we will encounter the opposite of these conditions in New Zealand. These were obvious factors we had to take into account when selecting the squad,” explained Theron, who led the Junior Springboks to victory at the 2012 JWC on home soil.

He looked forward to working with the finalised squad and said: “We will now intensify our preparations. The series against Argentina will give us an ideal opportunity to test our game plan, readiness and decision-making against a very competitive team and in real match situations.”

Interesting facts:

•There are 17 forwards and 11 backs in the squad. As in previous years, the Blue Bulls have supplied the most players (13), followed by the Sharks (5).

•The squad includes two sets of twin brothers, Jean-Luc (flank) and Daniel du Preez (lock, both Cell C Sharks) and the Kriel twins, Jesse (fullback) and Dan (centre, both Vodacom Blue Bulls).

•The Du Preez twins follow in the footsteps of their older brother Robert, who played flyhalf and centre last year for the Junior Springboks in France. The trio is the sons of former Springbok scrumhalf Robert du Preez.

•Flyhalf Jean-Luc du Plessis (Cell C Sharks) is the son of former Springbok wing and coach Carel du Plessis.

•The squad will play a three-match international series against Argentina U20 on May 2, 6 and 10.

•Their departure to NZ from Cape Town International Airport will be on May 26, a day after the capping ceremony in Stellenbosch.

The Junior Springboks’ 2014 JWC fixtures:

2 June: SA vs Scotland (North Harbour)
6 June: SA vs New Zealand (North Harbour)
10 June: SA vs Samoa (Pukekohe)
15 June: Playoffs (Tbc)
20 June: Finals (Auckland)

Issued by SARU Corporate Affairs