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The small town of Makhanda, formerly known as Grahamstown, will come to a standstill this weekend when Kingswood College hosts St Andrew’s College and The Diocesan School for Girls (DSG) in the annual K-Day derby.

In fact, it’s a five-day sporting extravaganza that sees the three schools compete against each other in hockey, squash, netball, rugby, chess, golf, music, and the arts.

The campuses will be buzzing with activity, and among the most highly anticipated events will be the first team hockey fixtures. 

The boys’ clash between St Andrew’s and Kingswood takes place on Thursday, 12 June, at 17:15. The girls’ sides meet on Saturday at 13:15.

Ahead of those clashes, we take a look at the teams’ current form, past results, and what they’ll need to do to get one over on their fierce rivals.

St Andrew’s vs Kingswood

St Andrew’s enters the derby as the favourites to win it, and some would suggest they should win comfortably.

The side, led by coaches Dean Ferreira and Reece Buchan, has enjoyed a stellar season, despite some disappointing results in May.

Their last outing resulted in a 7-0 whipping of Cambridge High in East London. Luke Mason scored a brace in that clash, while the other goals were netted by Daniel Meihuizen, Sid Fishlock, Greg Rodwell, Angus Glen and the skipper, Connor McNamara.

Before that win, St Andrew’s suffered narrow losses against Grey High and Selborne College – both ended 0-1 in favour of their opponents.

Coach Ferreira’s players are focusing on what’s in front of them, however, and they’re excited to be a part of the big clash. 

“K-Day is always a great occasion and something the players look forward to every year, so there’s some extra excitement around the fixture,” he told SuperSport Schools Plus.

“We are approaching it like any other game, and I would describe the team atmosphere as positive and exciting.

“Of course, there is a sense of tradition and pride around K-Day, but it’s just another opportunity for the team to play the sport they love together.”

Securing a win away from home won’t be easy for St Andrew’s, who take on a Kingswood outfit that’s put together a pretty decent run in 2025.

Led by coach José Smith, the boys in red and black have been consistent, losing only six of their 24 matches.

In the Eastern Province region, they’ve beaten Pearson High, Westering High, and Victoria Park High, but they were well beaten by Grey High, going down 0-4.

Despite his side being favoured to win, coach Ferreira said they won’t underestimate their rivals.

“Kingswood have proven that they are a capable team this season, and we expect them to bring plenty of intensity and energy.

“Our goal will be to stay composed throughout the match, make good decisions with and without the ball, and avoid the frantic, emotional hockey that is typical of derbies.”

St Andrew’s recorded a 2-0 win on K-Day last year, and they’ll be eager to keep their winning record against Kingswood intact.

DSG Makhanda vs Kingswood

There is no doubt that the Kingswood first-team girls’ side faces their toughest match of the season when they take on DSG.

That’s because their opponents are in scorching-hot form. They’ve played some outstanding hockey, resulting in a flowing, free-scoring game, which has seen them stack win after win against opponents within and outside of the province. 

Late last month, DSG laid claim to being the best team in the Eastern Cape after outplaying Collegiate Girls’ High 4-1 in Gqeberha.

Following that clash, they put on a masterclass and recorded a stunning result against Cambridge High School, powering their way to a jaw-dropping 22-0 victory.

On K-Day, they’ll face a Kingswood College team that has struggled to find form and consistency in 2025. To date, they’ve played 23 matches, suffered 12 losses, and won nine matches. The last time they took on DSG, in a pre-season friendly, DSG cruised to a 7-0 win. 

Kingswood has gone down in their past two outings, but by a single goal only on both occasions, losing 0-1 to Union High and 1-2 to Pearson High. 

Coach Jason Maclachlan will have faith that his girls can pull off a massive upset on derby day. If they did, it would be a seismic shock, indeed.

Other Eastern Cape fixtures

While K-Day will hold the spotlight in the province, there are other derbies taking place.

In East London, Hudson Park hosts Stirling High while Selborne College takes on Cambridge High.

Woodridge College will test their mettle against Gqeberha’s Westering High School.

The experienced former Parktown Boys’ High coach, Kyle Reddy, has been appointed the head coach of Southern Gauteng’s u18A team for the forthcoming SASHOC National Week, set to take place at Maritzburg College from 30 June to 5 July.

Reddy’s appointment marks a significant milestone in his coaching journey.

Reflecting on his post, he said: “It’s something I’ve worked towards for a while now. I’ve worked in different roles over the years – assistant coach, manager, selector – all of it. So, it’s an honour now to lead this group, and I’m very proud to do so.”

Reddy will be supported by a top-tier technical team, with St David’s Marist Inanda coach, Andy Aldred, filling the role of assistant coach. Former head coach and Director of Hockey at St John’s College, Anthony Woodhouse, takes on the role of video analyst. James Furlonger, Master in Charge of Hockey at Parktown Boys’ High, serves as the team manager, while Jarred Marsh is the strength and conditioning coach.

Reddy is excited about the group. He told SuperSport Schools Plus: “I’ve worked with both Andy and Woody before, in different roles, and we get on brilliantly. There is trust. There is honesty. We challenge each other in a good way.

“We talk hockey for hours, which is probably not healthy, but it helps the team. It is great to have that kind of knowledge and experience around you.”

Last year, Southern Gauteng u18A finished fourth, losing out 0-1 to KZN Coastal u18A in the playoff for third spot.

Sevens schools are represented in their line-up this year. Unbeaten Jeppe High School for Boys provides five players, Parktown Boys’ High and St David’s Marist Inanda supply three each, there are two from King Edward VII, and one each from St Stithians College, Hoërskool Monument, and St John’s College.

“The boys all know each other from previous provincial teams and the JHL (Joburg Hockey League),” Reddy said. “They have played together. They’ve played against each other. So, the chemistry is already there, and the understanding is there.

“These players come in with a mature mindset. They know it’s not about your school badge here. It’s about representing Southern Gauteng. That’s what makes it work. It’s not difficult at all. It’s brilliant.”

The team is blessed with strong leadership. It includes the captains of five schools. However, a skipper has not yet been named.

“We’ve got the captains of Jeppe, Parktown, St Stithians, St David’s, and Monument all in the team. So, leadership is not a problem, not at all,” Reddy enthused. “We’ve got a proper leadership group and, no matter who wears the armband, we’ve got a lot of boys who lead with their actions and their attitude.”

As one of the traditional powerhouses of South African hockey, there are high expectations of Southern Gauteng A.

“At Southern Gauteng, there’s a big hockey culture. We’ve got the numbers. We’ve got the resources. We’ve got the history,” Reddy said.

“There’s an expectation to perform, but that’s what makes it exciting. Pressure means people care, and pressure makes diamonds. It means people expect something special. I love that, to be honest. That’s what you want in sport.”

SOUTHERN GAUTENG U18 A TEAM

Khotso Mabona (St David’s Marist Inanda), Ethan Kapanda (Jeppe High School for Boys), Khanyisa Kraai (Parktown Boys’ High), Owethu Sishuba (St John’s College), Benjamin Simon (King Edward VII), Cole Stanbury (Jeppe High School for Boys), Zeyad Davids (Parktown Boys’ High), Matteo Stipcevich (St David’s Marist Inanda), Jared Beilings (St David’s Marist Inanda), Aiden Blatch (St Stithians College), Ezray Stadt (Jeppe High School for Boys), Ndyebo Pongwana (Parktown Boys’ High), Reece Green (Hoërskool Monument), Jack Hodson (King Edward VII), Matthew McKenzie (Jeppe High School for Boys).

Just two weeks remain before the SASHOC National Week springs into action in Pietermaritzburg on Monday, 30 June.

The national tournament for the boys’ u18 A-Section take places on the iconic Pape’s AstroTurf, at Maritzburg College, where Western Province u18A and Boland, last year’s finalists, will be among the favourites.

When they met in the title game in Bloemfontein in 2024, it was Province who reigned supreme, beating their noisy neighbours 3-2 in a tightly contested clash.

Due to the fact that they contested the final, the rivals have been drawn in separate pools, but another meeting in the final would not be a surprise if it happened. 

Before that, though, this weekend, some of the leading teams in the Western Province and Boland regions will lock horns in local derbies.

Paul Roos Gimnasium (PRG) and Paarl Gimnasium will make the trip from Stellenbosch and Paarl, respectively, to face Wynberg Boys’ High and South African College High School (SACS) on Friday night.

We take a look at the teams’ current form, past results, and how they have fared ahead of those big games.

SACS vs Paarl Gimnasium

The Brewery AstroTurf, the home of SACS hockey, will welcome Paarl Gimnasium on Friday night for the second meeting of the teams in 2025.

They met in the Hibbert Shield final in Gqeberha, in May, and it was SACS who dominated their opponents, recording a 6-3 win.

Led by coach Sam Holmes, SACS has not looked back since that win and have continued to run rampant against their Western Cape counterparts. 

They’ve played some of their best hockey in the local league, beating Bishops 4-1, overrunning Rondebosch Boys’ High 9-1, and DF Malan 10-0.

Their toughest task was a meeting with Paul Roos Gimnasium, and they passed that test by handing the Stellenbosch outfit a 3-1 defeat on the Maties AstroTurf.

SACS’s last outing resulted in a 4-0 win over Reddam House Constantia, so they enter the clash in red-hot form.

Paarl Gim, meanwhile, has suffered a bit of a slump since reaching that Hibbert Shield final a month ago.

Coach Jacques Grobler’s boys came out on the wrong end in a hefty 2-6 loss against PRG exactly a week after Hibbert. They were then stunned by Parel Vallei High, going down 2-3.

Paarl Gim, then, rolled to a convincing 5-0 win over HTS Drostdy, but last week they fell to a 1-2 loss against Bishops. The competition in the Western Cape is tough! 

And it will be a tough ask to go to SACS and pull off a win, but coach Grobler and his troops believe it can be done. If they get it right, though, it would be the biggest upset of the season.

Wynberg vs Paul Roos

The last meeting between these two sides didn’t end well for coach Ben Wiley and his Wynberg side, who were dealt a one-sided 1-7 loss.

That defeat occurred in Stellenbosch, which is a difficult place to visit, so Wynberg will be banking on their home-ground advantage to make a big difference on Friday when they host PRG at the Astro of Dreams.

It hasn’t been the best of seasons for Wynberg. They’re a young team, full of potential, with a sprinkling of experienced campaigners, led by their skipper, Zach Gibbon.

They’ve produced a mixed bag of results in their last three outings. Last week, they suffered a 1-3 loss to Rondebosch Boys’ High away from home. The week prior, they drew 3-3 with Stellenberg High, and they defeated Bishops in May.

In Paul Roos, they’ll come up against a side that’s lost only twice this season, and both of those defeats came against SACS, the first of them after a penalty shootout in the Hibbert Shield semifinals.

Besides those two losses, coach Michael Baker‘s team has dominated and last weekend they put five past Stellenberg.

They’ve also scored handy wins over Paarl Gimnasium and Paarl Boys’ High. The last time they visited Cape Town, though, they mustered a nervy 3-2 win over Bishops.

It promises to be an enticing clash and far more closely contested than their first meeting.

While two Boland teams head to Cape Town, a Cape Town team, Bishops, journeys into the winelands to take on Paarl Boys’ High.

FIXTURES

19:00 – SACS vs Paarl Gimnasium
19:00 – Wynberg Boys’ High vs Paul Roos Gimnasium
19:25 – Paarl Boys’ High vs Bishops

Glenwood High School will pay tribute to the late South African legend and old boy, Clive Barker, during the inaugural u16 Clive Barker Soccer Festival, to be played on Saturday, 21 June, at the school.

Clive Barker, born on 23 June 1944, passed away on 10 June 2023. He was a national football treasure and led Bafana Bafana, the South African National Team, to its first and only African Cup of Nations (Afcon) title in 1996, two years after South Africa gained its first democratically elected government under President Nelson Mandela.

That momentous success came a year after the Springboks won the Rugby World Cup for a first time, defeating their long-standing arch-rival, the All Blacks, 15-12 at Ellis Park Stadium, in Johannesburg.

Securing the 1996 Afcon title, with a 2-0 win over Tunisia in the final, was a crowning achievement for a nation and a team that had been readmitted to the Fédération Internationale de Football Association (FIFA) on 7 July 1992.

At the age of 17, in 1959, Barker played rugby matches on Saturdays for Glenwood and represented Durban City on Sundays.

His playing career included wearing the jerseys of Durban City and Durban United in the 1960s. He underwent a trial with the English club, Leicester City. However, an injury curtailed his playing career prematurely.

Barker attended Glenwood from 1958 to 1961. He was a multi-talented sportsman in his younger days, playing first team cricket in 1960 and 1961 and first team rugby in 1961.

Nicknamed “Shortie”, he played Natal Schools Football in 1960 and was included in the SA Schools football team that same year. In 1961 he played for Durban City Colts, and for Durban City in 1962. From 1963 to 1967 he played for Durban United.

It is, however, his managerial career that stands out. He took charge of many top teams, including AmaZulu, Juventus Durban, Manning Rangers, Maritzburg United, Mpumalanga Black Aces, and, of course, Bafana Bafana.

Khaya Mngwengwe, the Director of Soccer at Glenwood and coach of the Green Machine, told SuperSport Schools Plus that the inaugural Clive Barker Soccer Tournament is something the school is extremely enthusiastic about: “It’s something I have thought about for a couple of years, and, finally, it has come to light,” he said.

The event will honour a football legend whose name will always be remembered, said Mngwengwe.

This year, the festival will take the form of a one-day tournament. Next year, however, it is planned to be an event that span several days. The intention is to also invite schools from other provinces, Mngwengwe said.

Glenwood is one of the powerhouses of schools’ football in KZN, and with the school promoting the Clive Barker Soccer Tournament, it has the potential to become a significant addition to the schools’ football calendar.

“It’s a big dream, and we hope to have different age groups in the future,” Mngwengwe said.

He encouraged spectators to attend in large numbers at the home of the Green Machine – make it a family occasion, make use of the school’s braai facilities, and turn it into a festive occasion to celebrate the life of a great Glenwood old boy.

“We looked forward to hosting everyone,” he said.

The participating schools include Westville Boys’ High and Hillcrest High, whose first teams are set to face each other in the final of the Mancosa KwaZulu-Natal High Schools Football Association (KZNHSFA) Second Term, Coastal A-League.

Maritzburg College will also be in action. Their first team will face Carter High in the Mancosa KZNHSFA Inland A-League final on Wednesday, 11 June, at Barns Field at 15:30. That’s a rematch of the 2024 final, which was won by Carter High.

Northwood School, which narrowly avoided relegation on the final day of last week’s Mancosa Coastal A-League fixtures, will hope for better fortunes for their u16 side.

Other participants in the Clive Barker Soccer Festival include Durban Academy, Port Shepstone High, Queensburgh High, Pinetown Boys’ High, and the hosts, the Green Machine.

GROUPS

Group A

Glenwood High, Westville Boys’ High, Queensburgh High, and Pinetown Boys’ High

Group B

Durban Academy, Northwood School, Hillcrest High, Maritzburg College

FIXTURES 

Dixon’s Field 

Group A

09:30 – Glenwood High vs Westville Boys’ High
11:30 – Glenwood High vs Queensburgh High
13:30 – Pinetown Boys’ High vs Glenwood High

Group B

08:30 – Maritzburg College vs Hillcrest High
10:30 – Durban Academy vs Maritzburg College
12:30 – Northwood School vs Maritzburg College

Basson’s Field

Group A

09:30 – Pinetown Boys’ High vs Queensburgh High
11:30 – Westville Boys’ High vs Pinetown Boys’ High
13:30 – Westville Boys’ High vs Queensburgh High

Group B

08:30 – Durban Academy vs Northwood School
10:30 – Northwood School vs Hillcrest High
12:30 – Durban Academy vs Hillcrest High

Final

Dixon’s Field

15:30 – Winner A vs Winner B

16:30 – Prize Giving.

Western Province, Southern Gauteng A, Boland, and KZN Inland are among the teams expected to make their mark at the SASHOC National Week but don’t rule out Eastern Province (EP).

The Eastern Cape boys will arrive at the tournament, which will be hosted by Maritzburg College from 30 June to 5 July, with absolutely nothing to lose but a point to prove.

They haven’t enjoyed much success in recent year. In fact, EP has failed to finish in the top five for four years running.

In 2024, they had a talent-laden team, but they blew hot and cold during the pool stages, which led to their progress to the last four being taken out of their hands. It’s something they’ve become accustomed to in recent times.

Unfortunately for Eastern Province, other results within their group didn’t go their way, and they missed out. By the end of the tournament, they had finished a disappointing ninth.

In 2023, they placed a lowly 11th. The year before that, they ended sixth, and in 2019, they were ninth. Measured against their historical results, those results have been sub-standard.

For 2025, the province has turned to coach Andrew Beynon to try to turn around EP’s fortunes. He takes over from Lyall Meyer.

Beynon needs no introduction to the EP hockey faithful. In 2024, he led the u16A girls to gold in Bloemfontein, so he’s a man who knows how to win provincial tournaments.

It will, however, be a challenging task for Beynon, his backroom staff, and the 16-player squad.

Ten of those players are from Grey High School, where Beynon coaches the 1st XI. They are Luke Tait, Kaino Broadhurst, Ameer Muller, Matthew Allibone, Liam Poole, Logan Goddard-Ford, Dale Jennings, Athi Voight, Keegan Le Roux, and Jordyn Billie.

Only three players out of the 10 played for Eastern Province last year, namely Tait, Broadhurst, and Poole.

Joining the Grey boys will be the St Andrew’s College duo of Samuel Scheckter and Greg Rodwell, who has previously represented the SA u17 side.

The team is completed by Ethan Moothoo (Woodridge College), Tristan Botha (Alexander Road), Seth Groener (Westering High), and Anthwone April (Pearson High).

EP’s campaign in Pool A starts with a stiff exam from Southern Gauteng A on 30 June. They meet in an early 07:30 clash on Pape’s AstroTurf.

Eastern Province u18A Team

Kaino Broadhurst	Grey High School
Ethan Moothoo	Woodridge College
Ameer Muller	Grey High School
Tristan Botha	Alexander Road High School
Greg Rodwell	St Andrew’s College
Matthew Allibone	Grey High School
Seth Groener	Westering High School
Liam Poole	Grey High School
Samuel Schekter	St Andrew’s College
Logan Goddard-Ford	Grey High School
Dale Jennings	Grey High School
Athi Voight	Grey High School
Luke Tait	Grey High School
Keegan Le Roux	Grey High School
Jordyn Billie	Grey High School
Anthwone April	Pearson High School

POOL FIXTURES

Monday, 30 June

07:30 – Eastern Province A vs Southern Gauteng A
16:00 – Eastern Province A vs KZN Inland A

Tuesday, 1 July

13:10 – Eastern Province A vs Western Province A

Wednesday, 2 July

10:20 – Eastern Province A vs KZN Coastal B

Thursday, 3 July

13:10 – Eastern Province A vs Boland B

The race is on in the Gauteng Women’s Development League (GWDL), with SAFA Academy now topping the table.

They vaulted to the summit of the standings after a massive 14-0 win against Highlands Park on Sunday.

After 10 matches and 10 wins, SAFA Academy has the maximum 30 points. Those victories include a win over Mamelodi Sundowns, who previously topped the table. ‘Downs are three points adrift, on 27, also after 10 outings.

Sunday’s big loss was the second in succession for Highlands Park, who were overwhelmed 10-0 by Sundowns in May.

Highlands Park, incredibly, was in third place in the standings before their loss to SAFA Academy. Now, they’ve slipped to fourth spot, with Remember Sport Elite Academy (RESA) moving up after a 1-0 win over Refilwe FC in which Lesedi Motaung scored the match-winner.

In other matches on Sunday, Lebohang Malatji‘s two goals for Kempton Park FC lifted them to a 2-0 victory over Edenvale FC. The win, their fifth of the season, leaves Kempton Park in eighth place.

Kenneth FC, who are positioned in the lower half of the table, in 12th place, produced an impressive showing against Dinoko Rondebult FC, scoring a decisive 6-0 victory.

Ditshwanelo Mazibe netted twice, while Mpho Mhlongo, Kholofelo Rasetlapa, Poppy Ramaboya, and Boitumelo Mangwane also scored in the one-sided win.

Hellenic Falcons bagged a big scalp, handing JVW a 2-0 defeat.

GWDL Results 

RESA 1-0 Refilwe FC
Kenneth FC 6-0 Dinoko Rondebult FC
Kempton Park FC 2-0 Edenvale FC
Hellenic Falcons 2-0 JVW
SAFA Academy 14-0 Highlands Park FC

The Boland u18A girls’ team will head to the SASHOC National Week aiming to make history by clinching just their third provincial title in 12 years.

The tournament, which kicks off on Monday, 30 June, and concludes on Saturday, 5 July, takes place at St Anne’s DSG, in Hilton, KwaZulu-Natal.

Boland, led by experienced coach Chris Gerber, from Rhenish Girls’ High, is among the favourites to capture the title. Given the quality in their ranks, that’s not a stretch.

The last time Boland claimed the inter-provincial crown was in 2016 when they defeated Southern Gauteng in the final. Before that, they won the tournament in 2013, beating Southern Free State 3-1 in the title game in Durban.

The past five inter-provincial tournament have, however, ended in disappointment for the girls in black and yellow.

Their best finish in the past five years was second in 2023. Last year, though, they ended fifth, behind the Southern Gauteng B team.

History will, of course, mean very little at the tournament. Also, to make matters more interesting, there’s a new sheriff in town with Gerber taking over the coaching reins.

He and his selectors have named a star-studded team that looks well-equipped to take on the best from South Africa’s other provinces.

The 16-player squad includes seven players from Rhenish, with Rhenish skipper Leah du Plessis also named the captain of Boland.

Parel Vallei High has the second-highest number of representatives with four players, while Paarl Gimnasium has two, and HMS Bloemhof and Paarl Girls’ High one each.

“Selection is always very difficult, especially in a region like Boland,” Gerber told SuperSport Schools Plus.

“There are lots of really good players that missed out. In the end, we picked a well-balanced side where the players can combine and work around the style we want to play.”

The team may have come up short of winning it all in the past half-decade, but Gerber’s focus is on the present and not the past.

“It’s difficult to say what worked and what didn’t last year because I wasn’t part of the structure, so I can’t comment,” he said.

“What I can say, though, is that this is a new and exciting team, and we want to go out there and express ourselves and play well as a team.”

Boland is drawn in Pool A, which appears to be the group of death. They’ll be up against Southern Gauteng A and B, Eastern Province A, Southern Free State A, and Northern Gauteng B.

“The first game versus Free State will set the tone for the tournament, so it’s vital to start the tournament well and get some confidence and momentum in our stride. There are no easy games, so we must hit the ground running.” Gerber said.

Boland u18A Team

Katherine Sickle (Rhenish Girls’ High), Leah du Plessis (Rhenish Girls’ High), Lily Newton (Rhenish Girls’ High), Pippa Viljoen (Rhenish Girls’ High), Puck Bakker (Rhenish Girls’ High), Rose Quinlivan (Rhenish Girls’ High), Sarah-Ellen Groenewald (Rhenish Girls’ High), Andrea Fortuin (Parel Vallei), Anya Swanepoel (Paarl Gimnasium), Elré Oosthuizen (HMS Bloemhof), Emihle Wulana (Parel Vallei), Cassie Fairbairn (Paarl Girls’ High), Joné de Winnaar (Paarl Gimnasium), Jordan Boer (Parel Vallei), Skylar Bougaard (Parel Vallei).

POOL FIXTURES

Monday, 30 June

08:55 – Boland A vs Southern Free State A
16:00 – Boland A vs Eastern Province A

Tuesday, 1 July

11:45 – Boland A vs Southern Gauteng B

Wednesday, 2 July

07:30 – Boland A vs Northern Gauteng B

Thursday, 3 July

10:20 – Boland A vs Southern Gauteng A

Transvalia se eerste span het Saterdag hul plek as naaswenners van die Sedibeng-liga verseker met ’n klipharde en spannende sege van 18–17 oor Dr. Malan.

Dié uitspeelwedstryd moes bepaal wie met Heidelberg Volkskool deurdring na die Gauteng-kampioenskap, en die atmosfeer het behoorlik gekook met afwagting.

Dit het van meet af aan ‘n nek-aan-nek-stryd afgegee, met nie een van die twee spanne wat noemenswaardige momentum kon opbou gedurende die eerste drie kwarte nie en elke doel wat swaarverdiend was. In die laaste kwart het Transvalia egter daarin geslaag om ‘n kortstondige greep op die kragmeting te verkry met ’n indrukwekkende aanvalsreeks van vier opeenvolgende doele, wat aan hulle ‘n waardevolle voorsprong besorg het.

Dokkies het geweier om handdoek in te gooi en doelgerig teruggeveg om die agterstand stelselmatig te laat krimp, wat gesorg het vir die naelbyteinde. Valia het egter koelkop gebly om die oorwinning met ‘n enkele doel te beklink.

Transvalia gaan dus met Heidelberg Volkskool, wat reeds as ligawenners gekroon is, vir die Sedibeng-distrik verteenwoordig by die komende Gauteng-kampioenskap. Dit sal uiters interessant wees om te sien hoe dié twee spanne opweeg teen die beste in die provinsie.

Uitslag:

Transvalia 18, Dr.Malan 17

Junior Springbok head coach Kevin Foote has included five players who will feature in their second World Rugby Under-20 Championship in Italy, with lock Riley Norton retained as captain for the tournament which will be staged from 29 June to 19 July.

Phiwayinkosi Kubheka (prop) and Ian van der Merwe (flyhalf) have not played for the SA U20s before, while Jaco Grobbelaar (lock), Stephanus Linde (No 8) and Jaco Williams (outside back) are back in the squad after missing the recent U20 Rugby Championship in Gqeberha.

Kubheka played for the SA U18s last year and Van der Merwe in 2023, while Linde toured with the Junior Boks in Georgia earlier this year before he picked up an injury which ruled him out of the Rugby Championship. Grobbelaar and Williams were involved with the Vodacom United Rugby Championship squads with the Vodacom Bulls and Hollywoodbets Sharks, respectively.

Grobbelaar is one of the five players who are returning for a second World Rugby Championship stint, alongside utility forward Bathobele Hlekani, prop Herman Lubbe, loose forward Wandile Mlaba and scrumhalf Haashim Pead.

Furthermore, six players who are still U19 have been included in the squad, which bodes well for next season. They are Kubheka and his fellow prop Oliver Reid, Siphosethu Mnebelele (hooker), Norton (lock), Vusi Moyo (flyhalf), and Cheswill Jooste (outside back).

According to Foote, the final selection process was a very difficult task and he and the coaching staff are very pleased with the final squad.

“The boys have all been superb in their attitude and application and most of the group have been together since November last year, when the SA Under-19 Academy Programme kicked off in Stellenbosch,” said Foote.

“I want to thank every player who have been part of the various training groups, for their amazing effort. The schools and provincial unions also deserve a huge amount of credit for the way in which they have prepared our players.

“The provincial unions must be commended for their excellent cooperation during the numerous training camps, our successful tour to Georgia and the Rugby Championship.”

The training squad of 37 players were reduced to the official squad size of 30 players who will represent South Africa from the end of the month against the best U20 players in world rugby.

“We selected a good group of players who are determine to do the country proud with their performances on the field of play and their conduct off-field,” said Foote.

“It was an enormously difficult task to cut the squad to 30 players and we all feel for those guys who did not make the final selection. I want to say thank you to them for their positive attitude and their great effort at all times, they will remain on standby, and we will not hesitate to call any of them up should the need arise.

“Congratulations to the 30 who were selected; what an honour to represent your country against the best in world.”

The squad will continue with their preparations in Stellenbosch until their departure to Italy on 24 June. The Junior Boks open their campaign in Italy on 29 June against Australia in Calvisano, before they take on England on 4 July in Rovigo, and their final pool fixture is on 9 July against Scotland, also in Calvisano.

Junior Springbok squad for the 2025 World Rugby U20 Championship in Italy:

Props: Jean Erasmus (Vodacom Bulls), Phiwayinkosi “Rambo” Kubheka (Hollywoodbets Sharks), Herman Lubbe (DHL Western Province), Simphiwe Ngobese (Hollywoodbets Sharks), Oliver Reid (DHL Western Province).

Hookers: Siphosethu Mnebelele (Vodacom Bulls), Jaundré Schoeman (Vodacom Bulls).

Locks: Jaco Grobbelaar (Vodacom Bulls), Riley Norton (captain, DHL Western Province), JJ Theron (Vodacom Bulls), Morné Venter (Fidelity ADT Lions).

Loose forwards: Thando Biyela (Fidelity ADT Lions), Bathobele Hlekani (Hollywoodbets Sharks), Wandile Mlaba (DHL Western Province), Xola Nyali (DHL Western Province), Matt Romao (Hollywoodbets Sharks), Stephanus Linde (Toyota Cheetahs).

Scrumhalves: Ceano Everson (Hollywoodbets Sharks), Haashim Pead (Fidelity ADT Lions), Erich Visser (Toyota Cheetahs).

Flyhalves: Vusi Moyo (Hollywoodbets Sharks), Ian van der Merwe (Vodacom Bulls).

Centres: Albie Bester (Hollywoodbets Sharks), Gino Cupido (DHL Western Province), Demitre Erasmus (Vodacom Bulls), Dominic Malgas (DHL Western Province).

Outside backs: Cheswill Jooste (Vodacom Bulls), Gilermo Mentoe (Fidelity ADT Lions), Siya Ndlozi (DHL Western Province), Jaco Williams (Hollywoodbets Sharks).

South Africa’s Pool A fixtures:

Sunday, 29 June: Junior Boks vs Australia U20 – Stadio San Michele (Calvisano)

Friday, 4 July: Junior Boks vs England U20 – Stadio Mario Battaglini (Rovigo)

Wednesday, 9 July: Junior Boks vs Scotland U20 – June Stadio San Michele (Calvisano)

Playoffs:

Monday, 14 July: Semi-finals (Verona and Viadana)

Saturday, 19 July: Final and ranking matches (Calvisano and Rovigo)

 

Issued by SA Rugby Communications

Met die Afrikaanse Hoër Meisieskool, Menlopark en Garsfontein wat reeds hul plekke vir die Gauteng-uitdunne in die Jubilee-liga verseker het, het die fokus verskuif na die oorblywende spanne wat meegeding het om die laaste, waardevolle plek. Die afgelope week se uitspeelwedstryde was dus van kritieke belang vir spanne soos Montana, Oos-Moot, Waterkloof en Midstream, met Monties wat uiteindelik die pyp gerook het.

Montana, wat die vierde posisie in die liga beklee, het puik vertoon om ál hul uitspeelwedstryde te wen en uiteindelik die eindstryd teen Oos-Moot met 26-20 te beklink. Hulle het met elke kragmeting momentum opgebou, onder andere met ’n indrukwekkende sege van 36-25 oor Midstream in die halfeindstryd, en vroeër met oortuigende seges oor DSG (30-6) en Oos-Moot (25-13) in die groepfase.

Oos-Moot, wat vyfde op die puntelys lê, het hulself as sterk aanspraakmakers onderskei deur Waterkloof in die halfeindstryd met 16-14 uit te skakel. Dit was ’n dramatiese en klipharde stryd waarin Oosies se verdediging en deursettingsvermoë uiteindelik die deurslag gegee het. Hoewel hulle uiteindelik teen Montana vasgeval het, het Oos-Moot se pad na die eindstryd getuig van karakter en verbeterde spanwerk.

Waterkloof en Midstream het elk oomblikke van briljantheid gehad tydens die uitspeelrondes. Klofies het beïndruk met vroeë seges oor Centurion (35-13) en Gerrit Maritz (34-11). Oos-Moot se veerkragtigheid het egter hul aspirasies in die halfeindstryd beëindig. Midstream het met Gerrit Maritz en Centurion afgereken, maar kon nie Montana se aanvalskrag weerstaan in die halfeindstryd nie.

Met die finale uitslae van die uitspele nou bekend, is dit duidelik dat Montana hul regmatige plek onder die top vier verdien, terwyl Oos-Moot hul seisoen met trots kan afsluit.

Eerskomende naweek kom ál die top skole van Gauteng bymekaar om die top-vier skole te bepaal wat deurdring na die nasionale ronde. Dit beloof uitmuntende netbal en wedywering van hoogstaande gehalte.

Uitslae:

Groepfase:

Montana 24, Cornwall 20

Oos-Moot 32, DSG 14

Waterkloof 35, Centurion 13

Midstream 29, Gerrit Maritz 9

Gerrit Maritz 29, Centurion 10

Waterkloof 26, Midstream 16

DSG 10, Cornwall 25

Montana 25, Oos-Moot 13

DSG 6, Montana 30

Centurion 16, Midstream 23

Cornwall 17, Oos-Moot 25

Gerrit Maritz 11, Waterkloof 34

Halfeindronde:

Montana 36, Midstream 25

Waterkloof 14, Oos-Moot 16

Eindstryd:

Montana 26, Oos-Moot 20