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Die grootste skolerugbyweek ter wereld, die Mauritz Hansen-week, word vanjaar vir die 26ste agtereenvolgende jaar by die Hoerskool Hans Strijdom op Mookgophong (Naboomspruit) aangebied. ‘n Totaal van 82 rugbyspanne sal vanjaar van 3 tot 7 April sake op die rugbyweek uitsorteer.  

Die verdedigende kampioen van die week, Hugenote van Springs, sal sy aanslag op vanjaar se titel teen Pionier van Vryheid afskop. Die span van Vryheid behoort ook ‘n sterk aanspraakmaker te wees. Hy het reeds vanjaar vir Kearsney College met 23-17 verslaan. 

Hugenote het verlede jaar vir Zwartkop met 23-9 in die eindstryd getroef. Zwartkop sal nie vanjaar op die Hansie-week in aksie wees nie. Daar sal altesaam 20 eerstespanne aan vanjaar se week deelneem. 

Buiten Zwartkop het Hentie Cilliers van Virginia, Riebeeckrand, Heidelberg Volkskool, Lowveld High, Wolmaransstad en Midstream College nie weer spanne na die week gestuur nie. 

Die gasheer, Hans Strijdom, sal op die eerste dag in die hoofwedstryd vir Erasmus van Bronkhorstspruit die stryd aanse. Port Natal kan ook ‘n verrassing teen Witteberg verwag. Witteberg van Behtlehem het verlede jaar in die eindstryd van die Griffon-liga met 24-elk gelykop teen die Afrikaanse Hoerskool Kroonstad gespeel. 

Soos die afgelope paar jaar die geval sal daar na afloop van die week ‘n toerspan gekies word. Die Mauritz Hansen XV-tal sal vanjaar ‘n toer na Engeland onderneem.  

Die bepalings is: 

Dinsdag, 3 April 2018

A-veld 

07:30 – o.16 – Hugenote (Springs) vs Hans Strijdom
08:30 – o.19 – HTS John Vorster vs Lydenburg
09:30 – o.19 – Hoerskool Tuine vs HTS Witbank
10:30 – o.19 – Morgenzon Landbou vs Carletonville 
11:30 – o.19 – Oos-Moot vs Piet Potgieter
12:30 – o.19 – Hoerskool Brits vs Ellisras
13:30 – o.19 – Dinamika vs HTS Tom Naude
14:30 – o.19 – Hugenote (Springs) vs Pionier
15:30 – o.19 – Northcliff vs Curro Hazeldean 
16:30 – o.19 – Port Natal vs Witteberg
19:30 – o.19 – Hans Strijdom vs Erasmus (Bronkhorstspruit)

B-veld 

07:30 – o.16 – Ellisras vs Secunda
08:30 – o.16 – Oos-Moot II vs Curro Hazeldean
09:30 – o.16 – HTS Tom Naude vs Erasmus
10:30 – o.16 – Wolmaransstad vs Northcliff
11:30 – o.16 – Dinamika vs HTS Witbank 
12:30 – o.16 – Hoerskool Tuine vs Driehoek
13:30 – o.16 – Ligbron vs HTS John Vorster
14:30 – o.16 – Witteberg vs Piet Potgieter
15:30 – o.16 – Rob Ferreira vs Frikkie Meyer
16:30 – o.16 – Oos-Moot vs Jeugland 

C-veld 

07:30 – o.16 – Hoerskool Brits vs Lydenburg
08:30 – o.15 – Oos-Moot vs Piet Potgieter
09:30 – o.19B – HTS John Vorster vs HTS Rustenburg
10:30 – o.15 – Dinamika vs Lydenburg
11:30 – o.15 – Oosterlig vs Witteberg
12:30 – o.19B – Affies (Rooi Harte) vs Witteberg
13:30 – o.19B – Hans Strijdom vs Morgenzon Landbou
14:30 – o.19B – Dinamika vs Piet Potgieter
15:30 – o.19B – Oos-Moot vs Affies (Geel Kobra) 
16:30 – o.15 – Driehoek vs Ellisras 

Laerskool Eugene Marais (D-veld) 

07:30 – o.14 – Piet Potgieter vs EG Jansen
08:30 – o.14 – HTS Witbank vs Waterberg
09:30 – o.14 – Oos-Moot vs Dinamika
10:30 – o.14 – HTS John Vorster vs Oosterlig
11:30 – o.14 – HTS Tom Naude vs Northcliff
12:30 – o.14 – Hans Strijdom vs Lydenburg
13:30 – o.14 – Witteberg vs Ellisras
14:30 – o.15 – Carletonville vs Northcliff
15:30 – o.15 – Morgenzon Landbou vs Hans Strijdom
16:30 – o.15 – HTS Tom Naude vs HTS John Vorster

Dit was so hittete of die verdedigende kampioen van die Tuks-rugbyreeks, Monument van Krugersdorp, het reeds in sy eerste wedstryd van vanjaar se reeks op sy neus gekyk.

Monnas het met 31-elk gelykop teen Transvalia hier op laasgenoemde se tuisveld gespeel. Die Wit Bulle sal nie tevrede met hul vertoning voel nie.

Transvalia se agttal het nie ‘n tree vir die besoekers se gedugte agttal terug gestaan nie. Dit was veral die flank Nicky Nicholenas wat deurentyd sy lyf op die spel vir ‘n sege gesit het.

Monnas se kaptein en SA Skole-haker, Morné Brandon, het twee keer die doellyn oorgesteek. Sy tweede drie vanaf ‘n rolmaal slegs sewe minute voor die eindfluitjie het aan sy span ‘n voorsprong van 31-24 gegee.

Transvalia se regtervleuel, Damian Jordan, het met sy tweede drie met minder as twee minute se speeltyd oor die telling op 31-29 in Monnas se guns tot stand gebring. Die tuisspan se losskakel, Zian de Jager, het verdoel om sake gelyk te trek. De Jager het goed vertoon en ook ‘n flink skepskop oorgeklits.

Transvalia se vleuel Uli Wiese het gevaarlik gelyk elke keer wat hy bal in die hand gekry het.

Monnas se flank Franco Schutte en vleuel Ruben Barnard kan ook tevrede met hul vertonings voel.

Garsfontein het op sy tuisveld in Pretoria amper te vroeg sy voet van die vet afgehaal. Garsies het die Rooi Bulle van HTS Middelburg met 47-40 geklop.

Die tuisspan het ‘n voorsprong van 47-19 geniet toe HTS Middelburg tot slegs 14 spelers ingeperk is na albei sy hakers in sy 23-tal die veld weens beserings moet verlaat.

Die Rooi Bulle was egter aangevuur en het ‘n terugvegpoging van stapel gestuur. Garsies se skrumskakel, Jurich Claassen, was uitmuntend. Hy het drie keer HTS Middelburg se doellyn oorgesteek waarvan twee van dié drieë danksy sy individuele briljantheid was.

EG Jansen van Boksburg sal ook tevrede met sy oorwinning van 40-15 oor Hoërskool Nelspruit in die reeks voel. Menlopark moes harder as verwag werk om Hoërskool Rustenburg met 32-28 te troef.

Puntemakers: 

Transvalia 31 (14) – Driee: Damian Jordan (2), Divan Meyer, Christiaan Burger. Doelskop: Zian de Jager. Strafdoele: De Jager (2). Skepdoel: De Jager. Monument 31 (7) – Driee: Morne Brandon (2), Ruben Barnard, Izan Esterhuizen, Tristan Dullisear. Doelskoppe: Dean Lategan (3).

Garsfontein 47 (30) – Driee: Jurich Claassen (3), Johandre Buitendag (2), Campwill Willemse. Doelskoppe: Willemse (3), Martin Austin. Strafdoele: Austin (2), Willemse. HTS Middelburg 40 (14) – Driee: Adriaan van Staden (2), JP de Beer, Kayle Schuster, Jeandre Odendaal, Quinton Cloete. Doelskoppe: Ricky Schoneveldt (5).

EG Jansen 40 (7) – Driee: Terrence Goliath (2), Tylon Kotze (2), Brandon Becker, Dylan Schwartz. Doelskoppe: Orelio Philander (5). Hoerskool Nelspruit 15 (8) – Driee: Banele Mkhabela, Jason . Doelskop: Timothy Townsend. Strafdoel: Townsend.

Kempton Park 19 () – Driee: Brenton Theron, Marcel Theunissen, Brendon Spannenberg. Doelskoppe: Ruben Fullard (2). Hoerskool Pietersburg 14 () – Driee: Ruan van Tonder, Francois Koekemoer. Doelskoppe: Zander de Ridder (2).

Menlopark 32 (22) – Driee: Bernard van der Linde (2), Divan Venter, Kenan Wessels, Nsuku Baloyi, Enrique Steffen. Doelskop: Heinrich Boshoff. Hoerskool Rustenburg 29 (14). 

Ander spanne: 

o.16: Monument 24, Transvalia 10; Garsfontein 26, HTS Middelburg 9; EG Jansen 38, Nelspruit 12; Kempton Park 49, Pietersburg 5; Menlopark 50, Rustenburg 15.

o.15: Monument 26, Transvalia 7; HTS Middelburg 21, Garsfontein 7; EG Jansen 28, Nelspruit 12; Pietersburg 29, Kempton Park 5; Menlopark 28, Rustenburg 7.

o.14: Transvalia 7, Monument 3; Garsfontein 16, HTS Middelburg 10; EG Jansen 34, Nelspruit 0; Pietersburg 22, Kempton Park 8; Menlopark 36, Rustenburg 10.

VANDERBIJLPARK. – Dit was so hittete of die verdedigende kampioen van die Tuks-rugbyreeks, Monument van Krugersdorp, het reeds in sy eerste wedstryd van vanjaar se reeks op sy neus gekyk.

Monnas het met 31-elk gelykop teen Transvalia hier op laasgenoemde se tuisveld gespeel. Die Wit Bulle sal nie tevrede met hul vertoning voel nie.

Transvalia se agttal het nie ‘n tree vir die besoekers se gedugte agttal terug gestaan nie. Dit was veral die flank Nicky Nicholenas wat deurentyd sy lyf op die spel vir ‘n sege gesit het.

Monnas se kaptein en SA Skole-haker, Morné Brandon, het twee keer die doellyn oorgesteek. Sy tweede drie vanaf ‘n rolmaal slegs sewe minute voor die eindfluitjie het aan sy span ‘n voorsprong van 31-24 gegee.

Transvalia se regtervleuel, Damian Jordan, het met sy tweede drie met minder as twee minute se speeltyd oor die telling op 31-29 in Monnas se guns tot stand gebring. Die tuisspan se losskakel, Zian de Jager, het verdoel om sake gelyk te trek. De Jager het goed vertoon en ook ‘n flink skepskop oorgeklits.

Transvalia se vleuel Uli Wiese het gevaarlik gelyk elke keer wat hy bal in die hand gekry het.

Monnas se flank Franco Schutte en vleuel Ruben Barnard kan ook tevrede met hul vertonings voel.

Garsfontein het op sy tuisveld in Pretoria amper te vroeg sy voet van die vet afgehaal. Garsies het die Rooi Bulle van HTS Middelburg met 47-40 geklop.

Die tuisspan het ‘n voorsprong van 47-19 geniet toe HTS Middelburg tot slegs 14 spelers ingeperk is na albei sy hakers in sy 23-tal die veld weens beserings moet verlaat.

Die Rooi Bulle was egter aangevuur en het ‘n terugvegpoging van stapel gestuur. Garsies se skrumskakel, Jurich Claassen, was uitmuntend. Hy het drie keer HTS Middelburg se doellyn oorgesteek waarvan twee van dié drieë danksy sy individuele briljantheid was.

EG Jansen van Boksburg sal ook tevrede met sy oorwinning van 40-15 oor Hoërskool Nelspruit in die reeks voel. Menlopark moes harder as verwag werk om Hoërskool Rustenburg met 32-28 te troef.

In die eerste ronde van die Pukke Prestige-reeks het die Hoërskool Middelburg sy spiere met ‘n gemaklike sege van 63-0 oor Driehoek gebult. Jeugland wil ook weer rugby speel en het Marais Viljoen naelskraaps met 27-26 geklop.

Die Anker het gewys dat hy ook ‘n aanspraakmaker vanjaar kan wees na hy Noordheuwel in Krugersdorp met 18-12 uitoorlê het.
Florida sou verskoon gewees het indien hy na verlede week gedink het die trofee vir die Pukke Super-reeks staan reeds in sy trofeekas. Secunda het egter Woensdag Florida met ‘n sege van 26-21 tot verhaal gebring.

Florida se Tino Swanepoel wat die vorige week 41 punte in sy span se sege van 81-5 oor Hartbeespoort aangeteken het, was egter weer op sy stukke en het twee keer die doellyn oorgesteek.

In die hoofwedstryd van die 19de Pieter Swanepoel Sportdag het die gasheer die Staatspresident Swart van Brandfort vir Aliwal-Noord met 24-22 met die kous oor die kop huis toe gestuur.

Riebeeckstad behoort vanjaar weer ‘n goeie seisoen te beleef. Riebies het Sand du Plessis op die sportdag met 34-13 ore aangesit.

Die nuwe Sentrale Skolereeks het ook afgeskop met Witteberg wat met 40-15 te sterk vir Fichardtpark was. Diamantveld het in die tweede helfte teen Goudveld-Hoërskool teruggeveg om met 39-29 as oorwinnaars van die veld te stap.

Helpmekaar-kollege se vleuel Christiaan Bezuidenhout het sy skool se rekord vir die meeste drieë in ‘n eerstespan-wedstryd geëwenaar in sy span se oortuigende sege van 64-21. Bezuidenhout het vier van sy span se tien drieë in die wedstryd gedruk.

Die SA Skole-sewespan het gister sy titel as kampioen van die Capricorn-toernooi in Windhoek suksesvol verdedig deur Duitsland in die eindstryd met 46-0 kaf te draf.

Al die uitslae: 

TUKS-REEKS

Transvalia 31, Monument 31; Garsfontein 47, HTS Middelburg 40; Kempton Park 19, Hoërskool Pietersburg 14; EG Jansen 40, Hoërskool Nelspruit 15; Menlopark 32, Hoërskool Rustenburg 28.

PUKKE PRESTIGE-REEKS

Hoërskool Middelburg 63, Driehoek 0; Jeugland 27, Marais Viljoen 26; Die Anker 18, Noordheuwel 12; Montana 52, HTS Witbank 0; Potchefstroom Volkskool 31, Wesvalia 21; Zwartkop 34, Randburg 24; Potchefstroom Gimnasium 50, Oosterlig 0; Lichtenburg 20, Hugenote (Springs) 18.

PUKKE SUPER-REEKS

Secunda 29, Hans Moore 12; Hoërskool Alberton 50, Hartbeespoort 7; Standerton 28, Linden 21; Florida 55, Hoogenhout 21; Secunda 26, Florida 21; Standerton 22, Hans Moore 17; Hoërskool Alberton 56, Dr. Malan 5; hBastion 51, Hoogenhout 21; Brits 22, Riebeeckrand 17; Dr. Malan 22, Riebeeckrand 7.

PUKKE 16-REEKS

Pretoria-Noord 24, Oosterland 8; Bekker 17, Overvaal 7; Piet Retief 45, Volksrust 9; Stoffberg 24, Delmas 17; Vryburg 20, Fochville 18.

SUPERREEKS

Brandwag (Benoni) 55, Jan Viljoen 0; Heidelberg Volkskool 49, Vereeniging Gimnasium 24; Dinamika 26, Wagpos 22; Hoërskool Tuine 25, Bergsig 22.

PUKKE PROVINSIALE REEKS

Ben Vorster 13, Hoërskool Klerskdorp 5; Frikkie Meyer 23, Oos-Moot 15.

VRIENDSKAPLIK

Helpmekaar 64, Eldoraigne 21; Wonderboom 41, Nylstroom 8; Merensky 28, Rob Ferreira 17; Overkruin 25, Hans Strijdom 14; Piet Potgieter 33, Generaal Hertzog 14; Hugenote (Wellington) 39, Tygerberg 24; Frans du Toit 19, HTS Tom Naudé 5; Ellisras 46, Louis Trichardt 17; Bergvlam 24, Barberton 19; Morgenzon Landbou 50, Hendrina 7; Nico Malan 61, Aeroville 0; Brandwag (Uitenhage) 47, Port Rex 0; Centurion 38, HTS John Vorster 17; Allen Glen 90, Midrand High 12.

PIETER SWANEPOEL SPORTDAG

Brandfort 24, Aliwal-Noord 22; Hentie Cilliers 18, Louis Botha 17; Riebeeckstad 34, Sand du Plessis 13; AHS Kroonstad 42, St Andrews 26; Welkom Gimnasium 62, Stallions 0; Bothaville 22, Kalahari (Kuruman) 10; Bultfontein 19, Hoërskool Bloemfontein 5.

SENTRALE SKOLEREEKS

Witteberg 40, Fichardtpark 15; Diamantveld 39, Goudveld-Hoërskool 29.

BLOU BULLE RUGBYDAG

Boland Landbou 45, Menlopark 10; Affies 30, HTS Middelburg 5; Transvalia 30, Waterkloof 25; Garsfontein 45, Voortrekker (Bethlehem) 0; Monument 10, Welkom Gimnasium 5; EG Jansen 30, Frikkie Meyer 15; Zwartkop 20, Duineveld 20; Oos-Moot 25, Witteberg 5; Diamantveld 20, Pretoria Boys’ High 15; Curro Heuwelkruin 15, Pretoria THS 5; Goudveld 30, Noordheuwel 20; Jeppe 35, Kempton Park 15; St Alban’s College 35, Potchefstroom Gimnasium 5.

The SA Rugby Under-18 Sevens Academy team defended their title in the Capricorn Windhoek International 7s in style on Saturday as they thumped Germany 46-0 in the final to finish the tournament unbeaten.

Such was the team’s dominance throughout the competition, they scored 333 points in their six matches over the two days and conceded only seven.

The team was in fine form from the outset as they registered convincing victories in all three matches on Friday, starting with a 55-0 victory against Zambia before thumping Zimbabwe 71-0 and hosts, Namibia, 42-7.

They continued this fantastic form on Saturday as they outplayed Germany 42-0 and then cruised to a 77-0 win against Botswana.

These convincing results earned them the top spot on the log table and a place in the final against Germany, who were in second position, and coach Marius Schoeman’s team ensured that they took the silverware as they powered their way to a 46-0 win thanks to another top-class performance.

Schoeman was delighted about the victory and said: “We are very proud of the boys for winning the tournament for the second consecutive year. We registered some big scores, but it was not about that for us. We were more pleased about the fact that we only conceded one try in the entire tournament, and that is what we measured ourselves on.

“What makes this victory particularly significant is that we only had one training session before the tournament, and that was on Wednesday. Before that we trained as a big squad of 25 players back in November at the trials.

“The players really put up their hands and showed that they want to be part of the African Youth Games, which will serve as the qualifier for the Junior Olympic Games later this year, and the whole Blitzboks family.”

SA Rugby U18 Sevens Academy results in the Capricorn Windhoek International 7s:

Saturday, 10 March:

SA 42-0 Germany
SA 77-0 Botswana
SA 46-0 Germany (Final)

Friday, 9 March:

SA 55-0 Zambia
SA 71-0 Zimbabwe
SA 42-7 Namibia

Issued by SA Rugby Communications

Fifty Under-18 players within SA Rugby’s Elite Player Development (EPD) system will gather in Stellenbosch for a four-day training camp from 18 to 21 March where the focus will be on grooming them to advance to the SA Schools and Junior Springbok teams in future.

The camp will feature Under-17 and Under-18 players, many of whom attended the Under-16 and Under-17 camps in October last year, and have been in SA Rugby’s High Performance structures since Under-16 level.

Apart from offering members of the Rugby Department an opportunity to work with the players, it also serves as a vital platform to ensure continuity from school level to the junior national structures.

SA Rugby’s EPD 2 Manager, Herman Masimla, will manage the camp while SA Rugby’s High Performance Manager Louis Koen will steer the coaching. The SA Schools selectors will also attend the camp.

“The camp is the culmination of years of hard work with the players behind the scenes by SA Rugby’s EPD managers,” said SA Rugby CEO Jurie Roux.

“Their respective talent identification units, which include managers, coaches and scouts from all 14 provincial unions, have identified, assessed, trained and monitored these players for the past three years.

“The camp plays a vital role within our rugby pathway to prepare these players to make the step up to the SA Schools and Junior Springbok teams in future, and hopefully they will follow in the footsteps of the likes of Damian Willemse, Salmaan Moerat and Handre Pollard in the coming years.”

The players will participate in a series of training sessions over the four days, with the main focus areas being skills, attack, defence and kicking, while there will also be split sessions with the forwards and backs.

SA Rugby U18 Elite Player Development camp squad (in alphabetical order):

Player	School	Position
Jubaren Adriaan	Goudveld Secondary School	Flanker
Jacobus Agenbag	Grey College	Prop
Adriaan Alberts	Paarl Boys	Lock
Philip Apea-Adu	Louis Trichardt	Flanker
Diego Appollis	Garsfontein	Centre
Ross Braude	Grey College	Scrumhalf
Roubert Bester	Paarl Boys	Prop
Morne Brandon	Monument	Hooker
Jurich Claasens	Garsfontein	Scrumhalf
Dylan de Leeuw	Stellenberg	Lock
Sphekahle Dube	Maritzburg College	Prop
Dewald Donald	Affies	Prop
Izak Esterhuizen	Monument	No 8
Keane Galant	HTS Drostdy	Fullback
Christie Grobbelaar	HTS Drostdy	Centre
Celimpilo Gumede	DHS	Flanker
Noegh Hayward	Paarl Boys	Centre
Keno Hendriks	Oakdale	Hooker
Jaden Hendrikse	Glenwood	Scrumhalf
Lohan Horn	Paarl Boys	Flanker
Hanru Jacobs	Paarl Roos	Prop
Stravino Jacobs	Paarl Gymnasium	Winger
Roann Jansen	HTS Drostdy	Winger
Rynhardt Jonker	Glenwood	Centre
Dawid Kellerman	Paarl Gymnasium	Centre
Jean-Jacques Kotze	Paul Roos	Hooker
Richard Kriel	Grey College	Winger
Stephan le Roux	Monument	Lock
Mntungwa Mapantsela	Selborne College	Centre
Jacques Marthinus	Daniëlskuil Hoërskool	Fullback
Bame Malesu	St. Andrew’s College	Prop
Marcelle Mombers	Menlopark	Flanker
Keketso Morabe	Welkom Gymnasium	No 8
Banele Mthenjane	Nelspruit	Prop
Lethabo Mtsheni	Magalies	Lock
Lunga Ncube	Glenwood	Lock
Vernon Paulo	Oakdale	Flanker
Seita Phatudi	Klerksdorp	Flyhalf
Christiaan Pretorius	Paul Roos	Winger
Dylan Pretorius	Glenwood	Flyhalf
Regard Roets	Affies	Flyhalf
Evan Roos	Paarl Boys High	No 8
Franco Schutte	Monument	Flanker
Johannes Slabbert	Westville Boys High	Lock
Reagan van der Westhuizen	Paul Roos	Prop
Emile Van Heerden	Paarl Boys	Lock
Wyclef Vlitoor	Grey College	Centre
Allister Williams	Paarl Boys	Hooker
De Wet Wolhuter	Paarl Boys	Prop
Kade Wolhuter	Paul Roos	Flyhalf

 

Springbok legend Victor Matfield and Jaco van der Westhuyzen have been roped in as coaches to the invitational Africa Pacific Select XV at the inaugural World Schools Festival in Paarl between 2-7 April.

The dynamic duo will spearhead a star-studded coaching team that includes former Bok flyer Cornal Hendricks, Tongan international Hale T-Pole, and Samoan scrum-half and Auckland Rugby Union Development coach Junior Poluleuligaga who will take on mentorship roles.

Promoting camaraderie across different nations the composite Dragons team will be made up of players from South Africa and the Pacific Islands. The team includes schoolboys from Samoa, Tonga and Fiji.

The festival will mark the first time the Dragons will be selected at schoolboy level while South African players will be selected from disadvantaged schools.

Matfield and former Bok flyhalf Van der Westhuyzen have taken the reins of the Dragons before in the Beachcomber World Club 10s in Mauritius.

Due to the limited time the duo will have with the team, Matfield said their approach to the tournament would mirror that of Barbarians rugby.

“The most important thing is to create a team spirit where the guys want to play for each other,” Matfield said.

“When you look at the Pacific Islands players you have guys that play with a lot of flair, so I don’t think you would want to inhibit that with a set game plan.

“We will lay the foundation with the key principals of the game but otherwise we need to allow them to express themselves on the field.”

Taking his cue from his own playing days, Van der Westhuyzen will be looking to instil a sense of adventure with the ball in hand.

“Although we won’t have too much time with them, we would like to introduce a trick or two,” Van der Westhuyzen.

“The most important thing is that the kids enjoy the games, it is the first time that a team like this will be assembled, so it is also a great experience for them.”

Before he became a household name as the Springboks’ most capped Test player and one of the best locks in international rugby, Matfield said he was a shy kid from Pietersburg High School.

Learning his rugby in the small town of Polokwane away from big city lights, Matfield was only exposed to different playing cultures at a later stage in his career.

“I was a shy guy at school, I was a bit nervous just getting together at the South African Academy team where we had guys from the cities mixing with us from the platteland (rural towns),” Matfield recalled.

“But the first time you get onto the training field it changes, and you start banding together, so this is an amazing experience for them to share each other’s cultures and get a different perspective on life and rugby.”

Matfield said the World School Festival will not only be an incredible experience for the schoolboys to test their mettle against international opponents but a great opportunity for rugby fans to see the see future heroes in action.

“The festival will be fantastic, we’ve seen how big schoolboy rugby is in South Africa, and we’ve seen almost bigger crowds than in Super Rugby when some of these schools play against each other,” Matfield said.

“It is fantastic that these players will get to play against teams from other countries in a festival environment.”

Hendricks, who has played for the Dragons in 10s tournaments, said he looked forward to serving in a mentorship role to the youngsters and would also assist in the coaching of the backline.

“I would for example teach the back three skills like high-ball catching, passing and kicking when they are under pressure,” Hendricks said.

Tickets for the Paarl showcase can be purchased at www.computicket.com or at the gates.

Prices vary from R55 for adults, R35 for school pupils between the ages of 10 and 18, and children under the age of 10 are charged R15 per person per day. Four-day rugby passes are priced at R190, R110 and R35 for adults, school pupils and children respectively.

Join us for the festival and see rugby’s #FutureHeroes in action!

Graeme College have again generated a mouth-watering set of fixtures for their annual Pam Golding Properties Graeme Rugby Day in Grahamstown on Saturday, March 24.

With all the leading schools from around the Eastern Cape involved in this popular event, the hosts have put together a smorgasbord of matches, from the U14 level to the first teams, which should satisfy the appetite of the most ardent schools rugby supporter.

Unlike some schools who tend to look after themselves in terms of their opposition when they host festivals of this nature, Graeme have not shied away from providing a serious challenge for their side by electing to play Grey High in the day’s feature match at 16.10.

These two schools produced a thoroughly absorbing encounter when they met in Port Elizabeth last year, with Graeme giving one of their best performances against their PE opponents in recent years before finally going down 22-15.

With Grey a perennial powerhouse in the region, this should prove another fascinating showdown as the Grahamstown lads strive to prove a point.

That, though, is just the final course in the programme and there is something for everyone during the day, starting with what should be an interesting test for Pearson against Muir in the festival’s opening game.

After their outstanding season last year, when they were unbeaten against Eastern Cape opposition, much attention will be on St Andrew’s when they take on Hudson Park.

This is one of several cross-border clashes which litter the programme as EP schools get a chance to take on their East London rivals.

Known for their running brand, St Andrew’s are sure to be a handful for the Hudson outfit.

A second top regional clash will see crack Uitenhage side Brandwag take on Queen’s, where the former will need to be on guard against a unit capable of playing an all-round game based around energetic forwards and exciting backs.

Another team who never fail to excite with their threequarter play are Dale and they should provide a tough examination for Humansdorp outfit Nico Malan.

Marlow have often played Grey in this tournament, but this year they will have a fresh challenge. It doesn’t get much easier for the Karoo team, however, because Selborne are a side you can never take lightly.

But the Cradock outfit are great scrappers and their team unity and commitment see them regularly punch above their weight.

The main curtain-raiser will provide another Grahamstown-PE showdown and Kingswood will have their credentials thoroughly examined by the always competitive Framesby side.

Besides the action on the Somerset field, a further 15 games, which also involve U14 and U16 teams, will be played on the Marais A and B fields.

The fixtures are:

SOMERSET FIELD

08.00 Pearson 1st vs Muir 1st
09.10 Union 1st vs Cambridge 1st
10.20 Brandwag 1st vs Queen’s 1st
11.30 Nico Malan 1st vs Dale 1st
12.40 Selborne 1st vs Marlow 1st
13.50 St. Andrew’s 1st vs Hudson Park 1st
15.00 Kingswood 1st vs Framesby 1st
16.10 Graeme 1st vs Grey High 1st

MARAIS A FIELD

08.00 Graeme U16 vs Grey High U16
09.00 Graeme 2nd vs Grey High 2nd
10.00 Port Alfred 1st vs Nathaniel Nyaluza 1st
11.00 Selborne U16 vs Marlow U16
12.00 Pearson U16 vs Muir U16
13.00 Union High U16 vs Cambridge U16
14.00 Brandwag U16 vs Queen’s U16
15.00 Nico Malan U16 vs Dale U16

MARAIS B FIELD

08.00 Graeme College U14 vs Grey High U14
09.00 Graeme College U15 vs Grey High U15
10.00 Pearson High U14 vs Muir U14
11.00 Selborne U14 vs Marlow U14
12.00 Brandwag U14 vs Queen’s U14
13.00 Union High U14 vs Cambridge U14
14.00 Nico Malan U14 vs Dale U14

Paarl Boys’ High will face Christchurch Boys’ High of New Zealand in the main match of the final day of the World Schools Festival in Paarl. The school from New Zealand is the only side to beat Boishaai since 2015.  

The defeat of 36-38 came during Boishaai’s tour last year through New Zealand. It was expected that the two teams will lock horns during the World Schools Festival which forms part of Paarl Boys’ High’s 150th celebrations. 

Christchurch Boys’ High won’t have an easy tour in South Africa. Their first match of the festival will be against South Africa’s Springbok Factory, Grey College of Bloemfontein. 

Boishaai’s first match will be against the Jaquares of Argentina. There will however be another highlight after the main match of the schools festival and that will be the match between the Boishaai Legends and SA Legends. 

Grey College’s second match will be against Hartpury College of England. 

The opening match of the festival will take place on Monday, 3 April with Boland Landbou taking on Napier Boys’ High of New Zealand.  

Affies of Pretoria will face Hartpury College and the AP Dragons from the Pacific Islands in their two matches. 

The fixtures are: 

Tuesday, 3 April 2018 

14:30 – Boland Landbou vs Napier Boys’ High (NZ)
16:00 – Outeniqua vs St Ignatius (USA)
17:30 – Oakdale Landbou vs Namibia XV 
19:00 – Monument vs Cavaliers Rugby (AUS)

Wedsnesday, 4 April 2018 

11:30 – Glenwood vs Italian All Stars
13:00 – Paarl Gimnasium vs Rhino Rugby (USA)
14:30 – Hilton College vs AP Dragons (Pacific Islands)?
16:00 – Affies vs Hartpury College (UK)
17:30 – Paarl Boys’ High vs Jaquares (ARG)
19:00 – Grey College vs Christchurch Boys’ High (NZ) 

Friday, 6 April 2018 

13:00 – Oakdale Landbou vs St Ignatius (USA)
14:30 – Glenwood vs Namibia XV 
16:00 – Outeniqua vs Italian All Stars 
17:30 – Monument vs Napier Boys’ High (NZ)
19:00 – Boland Landbou vs Cavaliers Rugby (AUS)

Saturday, 7 April 2018

11:45 – Hilton College vs Rhino Rugby (USA)
13:15 – Paarl Gimnasium vs Jaquares (ARG)
14:45 – Grey College vs Hartury College (UK)
16:15 – Affies vs AP Dragons (Pacific Islands)
17:45 – Paarl Boys’ High vs Christchurch Boys’ High (NZ)
19:15 – SA Legends vs Boishaai Legends

Die Virsekerbeker trek in 2018 ‘n nuwe baadjie aan die kompetisie beloof om vir nog heelwat meer opwinding te sorg. Die oudste skolerugbykompetisie in Suid-Afrika sal oor twee jaar sy 100ste bestaansjaar vier.

Die opwindendste aankonding by die bekendstelling van vanjaar se reeks by ‘n spoggeleentheid by Leriba Lodge in Centurion is die feit dat Kyknet elke Saterdag tydens die kompetisie een van die eerstespan-wedstryde regstreeks op Kyknet & Kie sal beeldsend. 

Die kompetisie se geselsprogram sal voortaan ook regstreeks op Donderdae uitgesaai word. Die program sal soos verlede jaar deur Hamilton Wessels en Alwyn Hollenbach aangebied word. Die paneel sal opgekikker word met die toevoeging van Rika Nieuwoudt. 

Vanjaar se reeks sal op ‘n krag-teen-krag formaat beslis word. Die voorste 24 rugbyskole noord van die Vaalrivier is in drie afdelings – Beker-, Plaat- en Skild-afdeling pak.