Blog

The national junior rugby programme will resume in April after a one-year hiatus due to the COVID-19 pandemic, with the SA Rugby Academy set to kick off in Stellenbosch.

The Academy, which is one of the key pillars in preparing the top junior players in the country to make the step-up to the SA Under-20 squad, will run from Wednesday, 7 April until Wednesday, 30 June at the Stellenbosch Academy of Sport.

A squad of 41 players – 22 U20s and 19 U19s – have been invited to participate in the Academy, which will be steered by Junior Springbok head coach Bafana Nhleko and his predecessor Chean Roux.

Four players in the U20 age group featured in the 2020 SA Rugby Academy squad – Jan-Hendrik Wessels (prop), Dylan de Leeuw (lock), George Cronje (No 8), and Kade Wolhuter (flyhalf).

The programme, which was launched in 2017, aims to balance formal education with high-performance training and player welfare.

Thanks to the vital support from corporates through the Rugby Educational Foundation (REF) and Academy sponsors, Remgro (through the Stellenbosch Academy of Sport), and SuperSport, over 184 players have participated in the project and received education bursaries to date.

In line with the programme’s objective of ensuring holistic player development on and off the field, the goal is to have all the participants enrolled for various degrees, national diplomas, national certificates, and short courses, which will be backed up by life skills and mentorship programmes and regular tutor sessions.

“The SA Rugby Academy is one of the cornerstones in our rugby pathway to bridge the gap between junior and senior level, and we are thrilled that this group of talented players will be back in a high-performance environment,” said SA Rugby CEO Jurie Roux.

“With a large focus of the programme also centering on education, the players will benefit on and off the field, which will certainly bode well for their futures.

“I would like to extend a sincere thank you to the corporates who support our Rugby Educational Foundation, as well as Remgro and SuperSport, for making this possible and for investing in the future stars of the game.”

Nhleko was equally pleased to see the players return to action and said: “It has been just over a year since the SA Rugby Academy had to be put on hold due to COVID-19, so we are very grateful and excited about the opportunity to be back on the field.

“The Academy serves an important role in the holistic development of the players on and off the field, and it is also a key pathway through the national structures.”

He added: “There is a good mix of Under-19 and Under-20 players in the group with an eye on possible mid-year fixtures, and also to ensure that we can expose the Under-19 group to international rugby keeping next year in mind, so we are very happy for them.

“That said, the door is not closed to the players who have missed out. We will still be monitoring the players and talking to the coaches at the unions, universities, and clubs to ensure that we track all the players in the system, and where possible, to present opportunities for them.”

SA Rugby Academy squad:

Props: Blaine Golden (Cell C Sharks), Okuhle Siyeni (Xerox Lions), Tielman Nieuwoudt (Vodacom Bulls), Sibusiso Shongwe (Xerox Lions), Frederich Weilbach (DHL Western Province), Jan-Hendrik Wessels (Vodacom Bulls).

Hookers: Jacques Goosen (Cell C Sharks), Andre-Hugo Venter (DHL Western Province), Lukhanyo Vokozela (DHL Western Province).

Locks: Connor Evans, Dylan de Leeuw (both DHL Western Province), Reinhardt Ludwig (Vodacom Bulls), Simon Miller (DHL Western Province).

Loose forwards: George Cronje (Toyota Cheetahs), Wandile Hlophe (Xerox Lions), Keketso Morabe (DHL Western Province), Rynard Mouton (Vodacom Bulls), Siyemukela Ndlovu (Xerox Lions), Siyambuka Ningiza (Cell C Sharks), Jarrod Taylor (DHL Western Province), Sisonke Vumazonke (Xerox Lions)

Scrumhalves: Bobby Alexander (DHL Western Province), Bradley Davies (Cell C Sharks), Nico Steyn (Xerox Lions).

Flyhlaves: Sacha Mngomezulu (DHL Western Province), Brandon Wilkie (Cell C Sharks), Kade Wolhuter (DHL Western Province).

Centres: Carlton Bannies (Vodacom Bulls), Tyler Bocks (Xerox Lions), Nqobi Mkhize (Cell C Sharks), Canan Moodie (Vodacom Bulls), Zeilinga Strydom, Henco van Wyk (both Xerox Lions).

Outside backs: Dalvon Blood (SA Rugby contracted/DHL Western Province), Geraldo Flusk (Vodacom Bulls), Keane Galant (Vodacom Bulls), Curwin Gertse (Cell C Sharks), Matthew Jacobs (Cell C Sharks), Duran Koevort (DHL Western Province), Mtungwa Mapansela (Cell C Sharks), Keanan Wentzel (Vodacom Bulls).

Issued by SA Rugby Communications

Has schoolboy rugby in South Africa lost the plot?

It has all become about who has the biggest budget to spend. I know that none of this is new and that most people who come across this post will say that there is nothing wrong with it. Let me explain to you why everything about it is wrong.

In a recent interview with Eddie Jones on the High Performance Podcast he mentioned what the problem was with schoolboy rugby coaching. “The problem with rugby coaching now is that players are being taught be ex-players and not teachers” (Jones, 2021).

There is a huge misunderstanding of the actual role of coaching, especially at a schoolboy level. Teaching is a fundamental tenant of coaching. As a teacher you need to have the welfare of the kids in mind. “It’s a fundamental floor in education, kids need to be taught and don’t need to be coached at an early age” (Jones, 2021).

The connection that you need to make with a player is important. Teachers know how to make these connections. These connections can be lost when you start forcing schoolboys into a high performance environment.

The fixed mind-set approach to the schoolboy game is our greatest limitation.

This mind-set creates the perception that the only way a 1st XV can achieve results is to ‘buy’ players. The recent debacle of overage players being played in KZN proves this point.

This has resulted in certain school’s no longer willing to play each other. The values that our schools were founded upon have been lost. I made a recent post on the Parent Trap where I referred to the ‘obsessed’ parent.

Parents and supporters have truly become obsessed. No teacher/coach is ever good enough to coach their child. Schools are being forced to continually search for someone from the outside.

Any experienced coach will know that success and failure is a cycle that can’t be changed. You just don’t have the legendary coaches like a Hans Coetzee (Monument), James “Skonk” Nicholson (Maritzburg College), Basil Bay (Bishops) and Kevin Taylor (Selborne) etc. being associated with a particular school.

“Many schools will argue that it’s their biggest marketing tool and when the 1st XV is performing well, the school and boarding establishment are full. Whoever is doing that should not be allowed near kids, and for that matter a rugby field, as it is a part of a bigger problem where the game in our country is dying because of what’s happening at school level” (Stefan Terblanche, 2019).

Terblanche suggests that this is part of the reason for the collapse of the club system in the country.

Schools continue to disguise their bursary programs as giving a better opportunity to the underprivileged player. You only ever hear of their success stories. However, there are many boys who don’t ever succeed.

If they don’t find a playing opportunity beyond school they end up in an even worse situation.

My heart truly bleeds for these boys who literally have nothing after they have been spat out by the school system. The high performance model or approach that has been adopted by many schools often does not cater for them academically and it can end up having an adverse effect on their academic performance in the classroom. You even hear of schools recommending that they repeat an academic year.

This gives the player an extra year to play for their 1st XV. Some schools even use an extra enrichment year to recruit 1st XV players.

Players are being treated like commodities and parents have begun trading their son’s to the highest bidder. Too many players are ending up in two or more high schools. It has really become a sad state of affairs. It is disheartening to witness the level that people are willing to go.

Selling fake promises, luring kids to their schools. Realistically the chances of a player ever really making it are less than 2% according to studies. “Only, 1 in 5 players who play in the u13 Craven Week are selected 5 years later to play at the u18 Craven Week” (Durand, 2011).

With reference to playing U13 Craven Week, “the dropout rate from there on becomes even steeper, with only 0.02% (1 in 6 102 players) of players selected for the national u18 week going on to play at the highest level for the Springboks” (Durand, 2016). The chance of your son becoming a Springbok is slim. I hope that all parents read that again. In another frightening statistic, 95% of school leavers stop playing the game altogether.

Where does the funding come from? Schools will eventually not be able to make their own appointments when it comes to coaching staff, let alone giving the coach the respect to select his own team.

Blackmail and interference will soon become the new norm in the schoolboy game. The obsession of getting better results will soon become the exact reason why teams underperform.

“Rugby can ill-afford to lose any players and supporters, and when this happens at primary school level we rip out the heart, ethos and everything the game stands for, never to be returned or recovered” (Terblanche, 2020).

The authority and respect for the schoolboy coach is in danger of being lost forever. The player’s interest should always be the first priority. “We trying to turn high school teams into high performance teams, where they should be just development teams” (Jones, 2021).

In a previous post called Will my son make it? I address a number of these concerns. As schoolboy coaches, are we missing the point? According to the former Springbok coach, Allister Coetzee we are.

He was quoted in saying that“The first thing that must be taken away from U-13 Craven week is the scoreboard.” This highlights the importance of skill development and not just the result. It is our job to develop talent and to create a future pathway for our players to make a profession out of the sport. We often place too much emphasis on winning in the immediate term.

If we have the players best interests at heart, winning should not always be our first priority. The development of the player should be at the centre of everything that we do.

This is unfortunately lost when we start to worry too much about only winning. Many people misunderstood me when I was quoted in an article written by SA Rugby Mag a couple of years ago called SA schools rugby too results driven. People who know me, know that I am very competitive and that I don’t take losing well.

Everything you try and do as a coach is to ensure that your team wins. However, it is not winning at all costs. “The currency in coaching is winning and the currency in education is building the child up” (Jones, 2021).

Retired players are on the prowl desperately looking for positions in schools. It is sad to hear about what extent these guys are willing to go to get the top rugby job in a school. They are never around for very long and at the first opportunity will leave to pursue professional coaching careers (if they are lucky).

This impacts heavily on the continuity within the schoolboy system. A successful environment cannot be created when there is a high turnover rate. This is not what should have become of the game which we so love and are passionate about.

The great Doc Craven certainly would not be impressed with what has become of the game. “Before it’s too late, people need to take responsibility so that we can once and for all remove those who are trying to damage our beautiful game” (Terblanche, 2020). Schools need to push back and take control of the situation.

The future of the game cannot afford to be captured at a schoolboy level.

This article was written by Allan Miles who is the Head of Rugby (2016-2021) and Head Coach (2017-2020) of Grey High School. He has also coached the First XV’s of Graeme College, Selborne College and St Andrew’s College. The article was first published on his personal blog – https://coachtalk.wordpress.com/ and re-published here with permission by the author. 

References

Coetzee: Scrap scoreboard in junior rugby. Lloyd Burnard. September 2016. http://m.sport24.co.za/sport24/Rugby/Springboks/coetzee-scrap-scoreboard-in-junior-rugby-20161021

Durandt, J. et al., 2011. Rugby-playing history at the national U13 level and subsequent participation at the national U16 and U18 rugby tournaments. South African Journal of Sports Medicine, 23(4).

Durandt, J. 2016. Early- vs. Late Specialization. SSISA Wellness and Fitness Convention

Jack, D. 2018. SA Schools rugby too results driven. https://www.sarugbymag.co.za/sa-schools-too-results-driven/

Tee, J. 2021. Do Late Developers Really Have a Disadvantage? https://saschoolsports.co.za/do-late-developers-really-have-a-disadvantage/

Terblanche, S. 2020. Age of destruction. https://www.sarugbymag.co.za/age-of-destruction/

Terblanche, S. 2020. Schoolboy rugby losing fun factor. https://www.sarugbymag.co.za/schoolboy-rugby-losing-fun-factor/

The High Performance Podcast. Series Four. Eddie Jones. 14 February 2021. https://www.thehighperformancepodcast.com/episodes/eddiejones

[powr-comments id=”c1f3d4f8_1615353898271″]

Dink aan al die stories en staaltjies wat jy met jou vriende deel oor jou rugbydae vir jou hoërskool se eerstespan.

Jy sou tussen een en drie jaar vir jou skool se eerstes uitgedraf het, dink nou aan hoeveel stories jy sou kon deel indien jy langer as 30 jaar by jou skool se eerstespan betrokke was.

Nou ja een van die grootste geeste van skolerugby en Suid-Afrika se rugbyfabriek, Grey-kollege, Dries van der Wal het besluit om die interresante stories en staaltjies in sy 36 jaar as onderwyser by Grey-kollege in Bloemfontein te boekstaaf. 

Die boek met die titel Grey’t stories & staaltjies oor 36 jaar word deur Van der Wal self uitgegee. Die koste beloop R230 per boek en Bloemfonteiners kan dit by Grey-kollege se reunie-kantoor aankoop. 

Die boek kan ook direk by Van der Wal aangekoop word deur R230 (afleweringskoste uitgesluit) in die rekening onderaan die artikel in te betaal. Die afleweringskoste beloop R50 per boek indien indien tussen twee tot sewe boeke bestel word is die afleweringskoste R150.

Van der Wal was vir 22 jaar die hoofafrigter van dié spogskool se eerstespan en was vir nog ‘n verdere sewe jaar die spanbestuurder. Hy was ook vir 23 jaar die koshuisvader van Leith-huis – en ons almal weet die meeste kattekwaad word deur koshuisbrakke aangevang. 

In totaal het Van der Wal 25 van die skool se Springbokke gebrei. Sekerlik die meeste Bokke nog ooit deur ‘n skoleafrigter se hande. Grey het onder Van der Wal ‘n ongelooflike rekord opgebou deur 351 keer in 394 wedstryde koning te kraai. 

Die boek sluit ook stories in oor die Cravenweek waarby Van der Wal as afrigter, spanbestuurder en administrateur betrokke by was. 

Hier volg een kort staaltjie uit Grey’t stories & staaltjies oor 36 jaar met toestemming van die skrywer: 

Dit was so tien minute in die tweede helfte dat Dirkie (Froneman) na my toe kom en vra hy wil asseblief nou opgaan om te speel. Ons was op daardie stadium gemaklik voor en het vir hom gesê ek dink nie dis nodig dat hy opgaan nie. Hy was nie gelukkig nie. 

Vyf minute later kom hy weer na my toe en sê hy wil nou speel. Weer het ek vir hom verduidelik hoekom ons nie wil hê hy moet speel nie. Hierdie keer het hy brom-brom weggestap, baie ongelukkig en gatvol vir my.

Wragtig, nie ‘n minuut later nie kom hy weer na my kant toe. Hierdie keer ignoreer hy my en stap na Vollies wat langs my gesit het. “Meneer Volsteedt, Mnr vd Wal is nie die baas van Grey nie, jy is. Kan ek asseblief opgaan om te speel?”. Vollies het toe ook nie die antwoord gegee wat hy wou hoor nie. “Dirkie, ek is die baas van die skool, maar ongelukkig nie die afrigter van die Eerstespan nie. Net Mnr van der Wal en Mnr Swanepoel kan besluit of jy kan speel.”

Dirkie was nou regtig baie kwaad… eintlik die moer in. Na nog ‘n minuut en hier sien ek kom Fronies reguit na my toe. Ek kon sien hy het nou regtig iets op sy hart om vir my te sê. Hy kom staan so reg voor my en kyk my reguit in my oë: “Mnr Dries, ek vra jou in die naam van die Here, kan ek asseblief op die veld gaan om te speel?”.

Nou hoe kan ‘n mens nou so ‘n “uit die hart” versoek weier. Ek het dadelik ja gesê en Fronies het met ‘n groot glimlag op die veld gehardloop en dadelik ‘n impak gemaak Dirkie/Fronies, jy het ons baie plesier verskaf, ou Yster. Oor jou gaan ons nog bai stories langs braaivleisvure vertel.

Ons mis jou nog steeds… “Grey legend”.

BANKBESONDERHEDE

AMS van der Wal
ABSA Spaarrekening
Takkode: 630 358
Rekening nr.: 9359351397

Na oorbetaling stuur asseblief bewys van betaling na Van der Wal via WhatsApp 082 820 7322 of per e-pos na vanderwaldries@gmail.com – asook die volgende inligting Naam en Van en huis- of pos-adres waar die boek afgelewer moet word. 

[powr-comments id=”1fb74929_1615269868890″]

Onder unieke omstadighede beloof die Barloworld Toyota Menlyn Noord/Suid-toernooi om vanjaar weer een van die hoogtepunte op die skolerugby kalender te wees. Die toernooi sal vanjaar tussen 27 April en 1 Mei by die Afrikaanse Hoër Seunskool van Pretoria aangebied word. 

Affies sou verlede jaar ook die toernooi aangebied het, voordat die organiseerders weens die Coronavirus-pandemie gedwing was om die 2020-weergawe van die toernooi af te stel. Affies het verlede jaar sy 100ste bestaansjaar gevier. 

Nie minder as 18 van die land se voorste skolespanne asook hul naasbestes sal in die Jakarandastad in aksie wees. Die gasheer sal in die hoofwedstryd van die eerste dag teen Oakdale Landbou van Riversdal te staan kom. Die vernaamste voorwedstryd van die dag behoort ook vir heelwat vuurwerk te sorg met Grey-kollege wat vir Menlopark die stryd sal aansê.

En dan natuurlik het kragmetings tussen Paarl Gimnasium en Garsfontein op vorige toernooie nog elke keer vir baie opwinding gesorg. Monument van Krugersdorp, wat vanjaar sy 100ste bestaansjaar vier, sal ook op die eerste dag in aksie wees wanneer hy en Stellenberg teen mekaar te staan sal kom. 

Die hoofwedstryd van die tweede dag tussen Helpmekaar-kollege en Outeniqua se Kwaggas behoort ook een van die hoogtepunte van die toernooi te wees. Helpies het twee jaar in ‘n ry oor die laaste hekkie van die Virsekerbeker se Beker-afdeling gestruikel, terwyl die Kwaggas altyd ‘n span is om mee rekening te hou.

Garsfontein se tweede wedstryd sal teen Oakdale Landbou op die derde dag van die toernooi wees. Dit sal ook die hoofwedstryd van die voorlaaste dag wees. Die enigste ander eerstespan-wedstryd van dié dag sal tussen HTS Middelburg se Rooi Bulle en Stellenberg wees.

Op die laaste dag is die hoofmaal ‘n tweestryd tussen Affies en Welkom Gimnasium. Die span van Welkom speel altyd opwindende hardlooprugby en behoort die Wit Bulle se verdediging behoorlik op die proef te stel. 

Die kragmeting wat egter die meeste belangstelling op die dag sal lok is die tussen Monument en die Hoër Jongenskool Paarl om 12:00. Boishaai het die afgelope paar jaar Monnas se nommer gehad. Die twee spanne het verlede jaar ook in die hoofwedstryd van Porterville se jaarlikse sportdag gespeel met die manne van die Paarl wat naelskraaps met 17-10 die septer geswaai het. 

Die bepalings is: 

Dinsdag, 27 April 2021 

13:00 – HTS Middelburg vs Duineveld
14:30 – Monument vs Stellenberg
16:00 – Garsfontein vs Paarl Gimnasium
17:30 – Menlopark vs Grey College
18:00 – Affies vs Oakdale Landbou

Woensdag, 28 April 2021

14:30 – Waterkloof vs Durbanville
16:00 – EG Jansen vs Welkom Gimnasium
17:30 – Paarl Boys’ High vs Noordheuwel
19:00 – Helpmekaar vs Outeniqua

Vrydag, 30 April 2021

18:00 – HTS Middelburg vs Stellenberg
19:30 – Garsfontein vs Oakdale Landbou

Saterdag, 1 Mei 2021

09:00 – Noordheuwel vs Durbanville
10:30 – Helpmekaar vs Paarl Gimnasium
12:00 – Monument vs Paarl Boys’ High
13:30 – Waterkloof vs Duineveld
15:00 – Menlopark vs Outeniqua
16:30 – Grey College vs EG Jansen
18:00 – Affies vs Welkom Gimnasium

[powr-comments id=”16d2d96c_1615261367396″]

Die virtuele skolerugby krag onder laerskole blyk tot dusver om in Pretoria te lê.  

Daar is slegs 16 laerskole oor in die Campus Cup en agt van dié skole kom vanuit Pretoria. Die agt skole uit die Jakarandastad wat die week gaan poog om tot die kwarteindronde van die reeks deur te dring is – Hennopspark, Wonderboom, Wierdapark, Stephanus Roos, Garsfontein, Elarduspark, Menlopark en Monumentpark. 

Dalk is dit ‘n geval dat die skole in die Jakarandastad se sosiale media op Facebook en Instagram op so standaard is dat hulle heelwat meer ondersteuning kan werf. 

Grey-kollege Primêr van Bloemfontein, Outenqua van George, Frikkie Meyer, Pietersburg-Noord, Noordskool Sasolburg, Thabazimbi, Helderkruin, Hartensbos en Bastion van Brackenfell is die ander agt spanne wat in die vierde ronde in aksie sal wees.

Die vierde ronde skop Woensdag of School of Rugby se Instagram en Facebook blaaie af. 

Die wenner van elke virtuele wedstryd sal deur die aantal stemme wat ‘n skool ontvang bepaal word. Die stemming sal op albei platforms vir slegs 24 uur bly – ondersteuners van dié skole sal twee keer hul stem kan uitbring een keer op elk van die platforms (Instagram en Facebook). 

Op Instagram stem jy deur op jou skool se naam op die story te kliek – indien jy jou stem suksesvol uitgebring het, sal die story ‘n persentasie van die stemme tot dusver uitgebring ten toon stel. Op Facebook gaan ons ‘n nuwe sisteem uittoets deur dat ondersteuners bv. die post like vir Laerskool Pofadder en love vir Laerskool Geelslang. 

Wys jou ondersteuning vir jou skool en gemeenskap deur hulle tot die volgende ronde van die kompetisie deur te stem. Skole kan die skakel vir die Instagram storries met hulle ondersteuners via WhatsApp en op Facebook deel – asook dit deel via die skool se Instagram.

#	Round 3	Insta	FB	Total
1	Witrivier	285	99	384
	Hennopspark	280	249	529
2	Wonderboom	332	216	548
	Worcester-Oos	233	213	446
3	Helderkruin	261	23	284
	Thabazimbi	231	68	299
4	Wierdapark	390	110	500
	Durban North College	202	47	249
5	Stephanus Roos	271	92	363
	Sentrale Volkskool	200	59	259
6	Garsfontein	350	133	483
	Vastrap	158	114	272
7	Hartenbos	336	11	347
	Orion	156	5	161
8	Elarduspark	299	223	522
	Randhart	183	16	199
9	Mooirivier	260	75	335
	Bastion	230	243	473
10	Magalieskruin	135	59	194
	Menlopark	333	63	396
11	Outeniqua	292	37	329
	Kruinsig	182	43	225
12	Grey Primer	389	22	411
	Knysna	153	98	251
13	Curro Nelspruit	255	328	583
	Pietersburg-Noord	293	360	653
14	Noordskool Sasolburg	260	155	415
	Kenmare	241	134	375
15	Frikkie Meyer	244	8	252
	Fonteine	198	11	209
16	Monumentpark	210	139	349
	Middelburg	227	117	344

[powr-comments id=”cc5317c8_1615209230247″]

Indien dit nie genoeg is dat ondersteuners reeds uitgehonger is vir skolerugby nie, is daar boonop nou die vooruitsig dat ‘n kragmeting tydens die eerste naweek van skolerugby na meer as ‘n jaar se onderbreking beloof om een van die hoogtepunte van die 2021-seisoen te wees.

Die land se voorste skolerugbyspan van 2019, Grey-kollege, sal sy seisoen in Krugersdorp teen die Hoërskool Monument afskop. Monnas vier vanjaar sy 100ste bestaansjaar en dié kragmeting op die Ras van Rooyen sou een van die hoogtepunte van die jaar gewees het. Dié wedstryd wat vanjaar vir 17 April geskeduleer is se belangrikheid vir die twee skole het egter nou nog ‘n trappie geklim.

Grey-kollege se nuwe hoofafrigter, Jannie Geldenhuys, sal ‘n behoorlike vuurdoop in sy nuwe pos ontvang. Die span van Bloemfontein sal na die stryd teen Monnas ook ‘n week later op die Ras van Rooyen tydens ‘n rugbydag ter viering van Monns as eeufees in aksie wees. Vier dae later aantree vir die Barloworld Noord/Suid-toernooi wat by die Afrikaanse Hoër Seunskool in Pretoria aangebied sal word.

Affies, wat verlede jaar sy eeufees gevier het, sou die toernooi verlede jaar ook aangebied het. Die voorlopige bepalings van die Noord/Suid het Menlopark en EG Jansen as Grey-kollege se teenstanders in die Jakarandastad gehad.

Grey-kollege sal vanjaar slegs drie keer in die Rosestad te sien wees. Hy sal in drie interskoles – teen Selborne College, Oakdale Landbou en Paul Roos Gimnasium op sy tuisveld in aksie wees.

Grey se o.14-toernooi sal ook steeds plaasvind vanaf 9 tot 13 Julie. Dit is die eerste keer wat die toernooi aangebied sal word. Die ander groot junior-toernooie – Kwagga-week (o.14), Boishaai-week (o.15) en Jean de Villiers-week (o.16) by Paarl Gimnasium se aanbieding moet nog bevestig word.

 

#	Datum	Teenstander	Plek	Toernooi
1	17/04/2021	vs Monument	Krugersdorp
2	24/04/2021	vs TBC	Krugersdorp	Monnas Eeufees
3	28/04/2021	vs Menlopark	Pretoria	Noord/Suid
4	01/05/2021	vs EG Jansen	Pretoria	Noord/Suid
5	08/05/2021	vs Paarl Boys’ High	Paarl
6	15/05/2021	vs Affies	Pretoria
7	22/05/2021	vs Selborne College	Bloemfontein
8	29/05/2021	vs Oakdale Landbou	Bloemfontein
9	31/07/2021	Glenwood	Durban
10	06/08/2021	vs TBC	Kimberley	Wildeklawer
11	09/08/2021	vs TBC	Kimberley	Wildeklawer
12	14/08/2021	vs Grey High School	Port Elizabeth
13	21/08/2021	vs Paul Roos	Bloemfontein

 

SA Rugby announced on Monday that coaches, parents, and players from schools across the country will be invited to a series of webinars as preparations step up a gear for a return to action later in the year.

An announcement was made recently on the return to non-contact training for all amateur rugby – schools, clubs, and associations – within specific safety conditions required by the current COVID-19 pandemic, in light of the recent easing of adjusted lockdown regulations.

To further assist and educate players from the various Under-18 age groups, SA Rugby’s Rugby Department will share their expertise online and in real-time with players, coaches, and parents at school level.

The programme – which will run from 4 March until 1 April 2021 – was compiled by Hilton Adonis (Manager: Training and Education), Louis Koen (Manager: High-Performance Programmes), as well as Herman Masimla and Nico Serfontein, who spearhead the Elite Player Development (EPD) programmes.

“Our online coaching webinar series last year was a massive success and we decided to do something similar, specifically to assist players at school with the best way to get back into action again after a very long time away from the game,” said Rassie Erasmus (Director of Rugby).

“Hilton, Louis, Herman, and Nico have put in a lot of effort and done great work in this regard, and the series of webinars will be of great value for any player, coach, or parent from Under-15 level upwards.

“While the focus will be on the better players, who have been identified as part of our EPD programmes, any players who are keen to lace up their boots again will find benefit from the information we’re planning to share.”

Four webinars are planned, as well as a final interactive session where parents, players, and coaches will have the opportunity to interact with staff from the Rugby Department.

The first session, which will be conducted by Springbok head coach Jacques Nienaber and his Junior Springbok counterpart Bafana Nhleko, will discuss the national coaching blueprint (4 March).

This will be followed by a session on strength and conditioning (11 March), hosted by SA Rugby’s head S&C coach, Tim Qumbu.

SA Rugby Nutritionists Zeenat Simjee and Robyn Moore will talk about diet and the use of supplements (18 March), and the last session, on training management during COVID-19, will be hosted by Springbok Women’s head coach Stanley Raubenheimer (25 March).

The series will conclude with a live feedback and information session on 1 April.

Schools will be informed via their provinces on the details of the webinars, and those looking for more information are urged to get in touch with their provincial unions.

Issued by SA Rugby Communications

 

It has been a long year without schoolboy rugby but after President Cyril Ramaphosa’s announcement, last night that South Africa will move to Lockdown Level 1 we as a school rugby community are one step closer to seeing the game we love played in the manner that only schoolboys can.

Ramaphosa’s announcement during the country’s “family meeting” on Sunday provided a spark of hope amongst school rugby followers, players, coaches, and their parents about the possibility of the game getting back to being played.

The reality is however that we will only see the first schools’ rugby matches by the middle of April. Schools are already following the conditions put out by the South African Rugby Union (Saru) in their return-to-play strategy for amateur teams and their players.

The South African Schools’ Rugby Association (Sasra) officially announced the protocols that need to be adhered to before teams could play each other on the 15th of January 2021. The protocols included four weeks of non-contact training and moving to four weeks of contact training in phase 2.

Saru has also started a virtual coaching roll-out plan for schools’ rugby which runs from 4 March until 1 April 2021. The first matches according to the protocols and conditions could therefore be played after the 15th of April 2021.

Schools and tournament organisers are already getting ready to start their season in mid-April. The annual Barloworld Toyota Menlyn Noord/Suid and Wildeklawer tournaments seem to be the biggest that will still be held in 2021. Monument of Krugersdorp and Kearsney College of Durban are celebrating their centenaries this year.

Monnas will be celebrating their 100th year with a rugby day on the 24th of April, while Kearsney was to planning to celebrate their centenary with their annual Easter Festival, but will have to make other plans this year.

If the status quo stays the same the Craven Week would also be a reality for 2021.

#StepUpStepOut #ReturnToPlay #Covid19 #LockdownSA

[powr-comments id=”4e1f70c7_1614586579546″]

Tyrone Green (Jeppe High School for Boys’) scored two superb tries in his first start for the Harlequins as they were attempting to bag their eighth successive victory on the road. It was however not enough as the Newcastle Falcons bagged a 25-22 victory thanks to a penalty by flyhalf, Brett Connan, in the 79th minute of the encounter. 

The Harlequins’ other try was scored by former Springbok Stephan Lewies (Eldoraigne) who also captained the losing side. Green started on the right-wing with another two South Africans André Esterhuizen (Klerksdorp) and Wilco Louw (HTS Drostdy) in the starting line-up. Green made seven runs in which he gained 129 metres for the Harlequins. 

Jordan Els (Westville Boys’ High) was an unused sub in the match, while Simon Kerrod (Pretoria Boys’ High) who replaced Louw in the 65th minute received a yellow card in the 76th minute of the clash. 

Another Springbok Louis Schreuder (Paarl Gimnasium) and Philip van der Walt (Adelaide Gimnasium) started for the winning side of this clash.

The Sale Sharks moved into the fourth position in the standings for the Guinness Premiership with a 25-20 victory over the Exeter Chiefs with four Saffas who started the match for them. Faf de Klerk (Waterkloof), Lood de Jager (Hugenote, Springs), Jono Ross (St Stithians College) and Daniel du Preez (Kearsney College) all started in this victory for the Sharks. 

World Cup champions De Jager and De Klerk were star performers for the Sharks with the former receiving the Man-of-the-Match award for his performance. 

Another three South Africans – Coenie Oosthuizen (Grey College), Cobus Wiese (Hoërskool Upington) and Robert du Preez (Kearsney College) made an appearance from the bench. Ross received a yellow card in the 25th minute of the encounter at the AJ Bell Stadium. 

For the losing side Jacques Vermeulen (Paarl Gimnasium) started on the side of the scrum, while another loose-forward Don Armand (Maritzburg College) got some game time from the bench. 

Gloucester managed to secure only their second victory of this season’s Guinness Premiership by downing the Worcester Warriors by 22-14. The Warriors enjoyed a 7-5 lead at the break after winger Nick David dotted down in the opening minute.

Gloucester had one Saffa in Ruan Ackermann (Garsfontein) starting at Nr. 8, while four South Africans – Francois Hougaard (Paul Roos Gimnasium), Francois Venter (Grey College), Nic Schonert (Maritzburg College), and Gerrit-Jan van Velze (Affies) started for the Warriors. 

The Bristol Bears kept their position on top of the rankings thanks to a 17-3 victory over the Leicester Tigers at Ashton Gate. Only one Saffa was in action in the match with Kobus van Wyk (Paarl Gimnasium) starting on the right-wing for the Tigers. 

London Irish came from behind to beat the Wasps by 16-10 in their encounter at the Ricoh Arena on Saturday. The Wasps enjoyed a 10-6 lead at the break. 

London Irish had Alan Dell (Queen’s College) in their midst starting at loosehead prop, while former Bok-centre Juan de Jongh (Hugenote, Wellington) started in the midfield for the Wasps. 

PHOTO: Twitter/@SaleSharksRugby

Scorers: 

Sale Sharks 25 (15) – Tries: Byron McGuigan, Bevan Rodd, Curtis Langdon. Conversions: AJ MacGinty (2). Penalties: MacGinty. Exeter Chiefs 20 (15) – Tries: Facundo Cordero, Sean Lonsdale, Sam Simmonds. Conversion: Joe Simmonds. Penalty: Simmonds. 

Newcastle Falcons 25 (14) – Tries: Callum Chick, Logovi’i Mulipola, Adam Radwan. Conversions: Brett Connan (2). Penalties: Connan (2). Harlequins 22 (7) – Tries: Tyrone Green (2), Stephan Lewies. Conversions: Marcus Smith (2). Penalty: Smith.

Gloucester 22 (5) – Tries: Billy Twelvetrees, Matias Alemanno, Tom Seabrook. Conversions: Twelvetrees (2). Penalty: George Barton. Worcester Warriors 14 (7) – Tries: Nick David, Penalty Try. Conversion: Jamie Shillcock.

Bristol Bears 17 (14) – Tries: Will Capon, Piers O’Conor. Conversions: Ioan Lloyd (2). Penalty: Lloyd. Leicester Tigers 3 (3) – Penalty: Joaquin Diaz Bonilla.

London Irish 16 (6) – Try: Ollie Hassell-Collins. Conversion: Paddy Jackson. Penalties: Jackson (3). Wasps 10 (10) – Try: Tom Willis. Conversion: Jacob Umaga. Penalty: Umaga.

[powr-comments id=”ce07486f_1614514640440″]

The first round of the Campus Cup for Primary Schools was concluded last week, finally!

It took a bit longer getting everything ready on the voting system we are using with the competition as expected but everything should run smoothly from now on until the final.

A total of 45 237 votes were cast during the opening round of the competition. The first round consisted of 128 matches with 256 primary schools from around South Africa participating in the competition.

Supporters are reminded that they are allowed to vote twice in the competition. Once on the poll of the matches that are placed on School of Rugby’s Instagram stories as well as once on the School of Rugby’s Facebook page were matches are placed as posts and reactions on the posts are counted as votes.

Voting is only open for 24 hours after the placement of the matches on social media.

Support your schools and share the stories and posts with alumni and parents. Just remember only reactions on the post on School of Rugby’s page will be counted towards your school’s votes. 

For more information about the competition and other schools’ rugby news visit our website – www.schoolofrugby.co.za or download our School of Rugby app from the Google Playstore. If you are a iPhone user, we have good news you could also download the app by visiting app.schoolofrugby.co.za and clicking on the home button on the right-hand corner of your screen.

Voting for the second round of the competition will start from 11:00 on Thursday, 25 February 2021.

All the Results from Round 1: 

 

#	Round 1	Insta	FB	Total
1	De Hoop	341	51	392
	Constantiapark	302	27	329
2	Witrivier	514	136	650
	Wolmaransstad	194	158	352
3	Tygerpoort	263	51	314
	Hennopspark	453	228	681
4	St Helena	257	23	280
	Messina	343	121	464
5	Wonderboom	333	105	438
	Rustenburg	364	28	392
6	Queen’s College	394	42	436
	Concordia	229	191	420
7	Fontainebleau	211	91	302
	Van Riebeeckstrand	388	22	410
8	Staatspresident Swart	216	30	246
	Worcester-Oos	368	125	493
9	Saamtrek	302	40	342
	Helderkruin	372	76	448
10	Florida	407	86	493
	Curro Hazeldean	272	75	347
11	Sonop	439	366	805
	Sunridge Primary	163	275	438
12	Clarendon Park	217	15	232
	Thabazimbi	376	82	458
13	Risiville	351	27	378
	Standerton	433	43	476
14	Lochnerhof	194	130	324
	Wierdapark	607	110	717
15	Durban North College	377	95	472
	Dalview	315	143	458
16	JJ van der Merwe	251	19	270
	Pionier	336	21	357
17	Muldersdrift	426	18	444
	Onze Rust	138	116	254
18	Harrismith	295	15	310
	Stephanus Roos	329	120	449
19	Curro Hermanus	413	30	443
	Merchiston Prep	194	7	201
20	Sentrale Volkskool	281	94	375
	Eureka	253	22	275
21	Garsfontein	468	171	639
	Truida Kestell	148	36	184
22	Pietersburg-Oos	269	216	485
	Paarl Gimnasium	453	248	701
23	Krugersdorp-Noord	231	10	241
	Vastrap	343	26	369
24	Willem Postma	230	74	304
	Op die Voorpos	279	45	324
25	Hartenbos	466	23	489
	Marble Hall	212	11	223
26	Aristea	112	11	123
	Brits	528	20	548
27	Kirkwood Primary	314	17	331
	HotRock	226	69	295
28	Stirling Primary	206	10	216
	Orion	377	24	401
29	Grey Junior	484	14	498
	Elarduspark	251	279	530
30	Hermanus	349	26	375
	Welgemoed	276	22	298
31	Charlo Primary	199	40	239
	Westville	432	10	442
32	Highbury Prep	246	2	248
	Randhart	411	22	433
33	Seodin	181	92	273
	Fairland	350	127	477
34	Van Rheede	120	6	126
	Mooirivier	415	169	584
35	Eikestad	336	67	403
	Durban Prep	474	4	478
36	Durbanville	416	68	484
	Bastion	210	294	504
37	Magalieskruin	339	33	372
	Bellpark	231	134	365
38	Prieska	303	23	326
	Louw Geldenhuys	242	16	258
39	Nelspruit	417	39	456
	Riebeeckstad	193	102	295
40	Koppie Alleen	136	100	236
	Menlopark	475	17	492
41	Outeniqua	346	43	389
	Tzaneen	194	169	363
42	Louis Leipoldt	166	13	179
	Stellenbosch	408	14	422
43	Worcester Primer	220	104	324
	Hugenote	318	24	342
44	Uplands Prep	187	17	204
	Kruinsig	323	51	374
45	Grey Primer	545	25	570
	Pietersburg	118	60	178
46	Glenwood Prep	333	5	338
	Olienpark	188	19	207
47	Selborne Primary	264	6	270
	Van Riebeeckpark	245	56	301
48	Skuilkrans	208	198	406
	Knysna	345	196	541
49	Goedehoop	293	28	321
	Curro Nelspruit	262	139	401
50	Voorwaarts	175	15	190
	De Aar	276	16	292
51	Kroonheuwel	188	81	269
	Pietersburg-Noord	279	188	467
52	Voorpos	291	16	307
	Park	150	11	161
53	Noordskool Sasolburg	258	173	431
	Verkenner	176	130	306
54	Fichardtpark	172	14	186
	Riebeek-Kasteel	267	15	282
55	Fauna	124	13	137
	Hendrik Louw	298	13	311
56	Marietjie van Niekerk	191	91	282
	Kenmare	276	152	428
57	Universitas	141	15	156
	Frikkie Meyer	255	14	269
58	Handhaaf	131	13	144
	Eugene Marais	244	11	255
59	Dale Primary	142	9	151
	Noorderlig Benoni	224	58	282
60	Douglas	134	11	145
	Fonteine	270	46	316
61	Mikro	89	14	103
	Monumentpark	324	14	338
62	Gericke	109	48	157
	Tuine	266	19	285
63	Gene Louw	111	47	158
	Middelburg	324	88	412
64	Klein Boishaai	257	26	283
	Jordania	148	26	174