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Daar is slegs twee soorte rugbyafrigters – die wat in die pad gesteek is en die wat nog in die pad gesteek gaan word.

Jerry Erasmus van die Afrikaanse Hoërskool Kroonstad oftewel Rooiskool is ‘n uitsondering op dié gesegde. Hy sal vanjaar vir die 37ste agtereenvolgende seisoen aan die stuur van die Rooies se eerstespan staan.

Erasmus het wel verlede jaar as onderwyser afgetree, maar het besluit om steeds die skool se eerstespan touwys te maak. Na 596 wedstryde aan stuur van die skool se eerstespan het hy nog nie genoeg gehad nie. “Ek het slegs een van die wedstryde tydens die seisoen van 1989 misgeloop omdat ek ‘n operasie aan my enkel moes ondergaan,” het Erasmus gesê.

AHS Kroonstad handhaaf ‘n wenpersentasie van 75 persent sedert 1990.

In Suid-Afrika is daar nie ‘n skoleafrigter wat langer as Erasmus aan stuur van ‘n skolespan is nie. Die legendariese Skonk Nicholson (Maritzburg College) was vir 35 jaar van 1948 die skool in Pietermaritzburg se breier. Diocesan College oftewel Bishops se Basil Bey was vir 27 jaar van 1972 tot 1998 die skool se breier, terwyl Piley Rees, waarna die skool se hoofveld vernoem is, van 1922 tot 1962 die skool se eerstespan afgerig het.

Sedert die ontstaan van die Afrikaanse Hoërskool Kroonstad in 1957 het die skool slegs twee hoofafrigters gehad. Die eerste was Piet Hertzog wat die eerstespan van 1957 tot en met 1980 gebrei het.

Erasmus het die leisels van Rooiskool se eerstespan sedert 1981 in sy hande. Van 1981 tot en met 2002 het hy saam met Gert Kotze die span afgerig. Vanaf 2003 tot op hede rig Erasmus en Eric Scriven die skool se trots af. Sedert 2015 is TBS du Plessis ook saam met Erasmus en Scriven by die eerstespan se afrigting betrokke.

Sonder twyfel die grootste gees in die geskiedenis van Rooiskool se rugby het nooit self vir dié skool se eerstespan uitgedraf nie. “Ek het in 1971 gematrikuleer by Rooiskool en weer in 1977 begin skoolgee as Tegniese Tekeninge-onderwyser.” Erasmus het as skrumskakel nooit die eer gehad om sy skool se eerstespan te verteenwoordig nie, maar daar bestaan geen twyfel dat hy die persoon is wat die grootste impak in die trotse rugbygeskiedenis van die skool gelewer het nie.

Sy sukses as afrigter kan daaraan toegeskryf word da thy vir meeste van die seuns ‘n vaderfiguur was. Erasmus was nie verniet van 1986 tot en met 2014 die koshuisvader nie.

Die manier hoe Erasmus sy loopbaan verlede jaar by Rooiskool as onderwyser op ‘n hoogtepunt afgesluit het, is nogal ironies. “Verlede jaar se titel as kampioen was vir my die grootste hoogtepunt omdat dit ‘n spesiale afskeidsgekenk was.”

Rooiskool het in 2017 vir die negende keer onder sy breierskap as kampioen van die Noord Vrystaat gekroon. Die span van Kroonstad het met 24-elk gelykop in die eindstryd van die liga gespeel, maar danksy ‘n reël dat die span met die beste punteverskil tydens die liga as kampioen gekroon word, het Rooiskool met die louere weggestap.

Dié een groot teleurstelling in Erasmus se loopbaan is wat die hoogtepunt so ironies maak. Rooiskool het in 1991 met 0-elk gelykop teen Welkom Gimnasium in die eindstryd van die liga gespeel. Daar was toe nog nie ‘n reël in plek vir wat sou gebeur indien spanne gelykop in die eindstryd speel nie. Gimmies is toe as kampioen weens ‘n beter punteverskil in die liga gekroon.

Rooiskool het die ligawedstryd tussen die twee skole daardie jaar gemaklik met 17-3 gewen. Gimnasium se eerstespan het voortgegaan en tot in die eindstryd van die Vrystaatse Direkteurstrofee gevorder waar hy teen Sentraal met 9-18 vasgeval het.

Rooiskool is in 2002 as Mediumskole-kampioen van die Media24 se nasionale kompetisie gekroon. Die span het wel die louere met Despatch gedeel met 24-elk in die eindstryd.

Rooiskool kon nog nooit die Vrystaatse Direkteurstrofee of the Kovsiestreekkompetisie se Shimla-liga wen nie, maar het al vier keer in 1993, 1994, 1997 (Direkteurstrofee) en 2009 (Shimla-liga) tot die eindstryd deurgedring.

Erasmus het Rooiskool in 1993 tot sy eerste van tien titels in die Noord-Vrystaat gebrei. Die skool het sedert 1990 slegs twee keer in 2011 en 2015 nie daarin geslaag om tot die halfeindronde van die plaaslike liga deur te dring nie.

In die tydperk het Rooiskool 16 keer uit die 27 jaar tot die eindstryd deurgedring. Die eerstespan het sy tien titels in 1993, 1994, 1995, 1997, 2003, 2004, 2006, 2007, 2009 en 2017 verower.

Twee spelers Rodney van Vuuren (1983) en Braam Els (1990) het onder Erasmus se breierskap die SA Skole-span gehaal.

Rooiskool het ook gereeld bo sy gewigklas geboks en teen van die tradisionele rugbykragte van Suid-Afrika sy man gestaan. Die span het in 2008 teen die Hoër Jongenskool Paarl (7-19) die knie gebuig en teen Grey-kollege (47-8) in die eindstryd van die Direkteurstrofee in 1997 sy man gestaan.

Seges oor HTS Vereeniging (25-24, 1996), EG Jansen (12-10, 1999) en Eldoraigne (55-0, 2004) beklemtoon hoe dié plattelandse skool met ‘n getal seuns wat tussen 180 en 250 oor die jare gewissel het heelwat bo sy gewigklas geboks het.

Sy lojaliteit teenoor Rooiskool ken geen perke nie. Erasmus was jare lank ‘n keurder vir die Griffons se provinsiale spanne, maar het slegs een jaar die unie se Cravenweek-span afgerig.

“Dit was vir my belangriker om my skoolspan vir die belangrike uitspeelwedstryde van die derde kwartaal voor te berei,” het Erasmus gesê.

Former SA Schools stars Salmaan Moerat, Muller Uys, Nkosikhona Masuku and Rikus Pretorius will be among the first intake of top young stars inducted into the SA Rugby Academy as the mother body on Thursday welcomed the Stellenbosch Academy of Sport (SAS) as official partner to the new initiative. 

Thirty of the best U19 and U20 players from around the country will form part of the SA Rugby Academy in 2018. The players will be based as a group for four months at SAS’s world-class facilities in Stellenbosch and will return to their respective unions for the rest of the season.

As part of the programme, coaches from the Springbok team, Junior Springboks and the Springbok Sevens, as well as SAS, will work with these players, following the agreement of one-year partnership deal to this very important programme.

“With the holistic development of the players as its main aim, this programme is the perfect fit between high performance sport and education,” said SA Rugby CEO Jurie Roux.

“It’s wonderful to have a company as committed to sport and the upliftment of people such as SAS to come on board in this very important venture and I would like to thank them for their contribution.

“The academic side of the programme is very important as we aim to also prepare players for careers outside of playing rugby, while at the same time keeping the very important aspect of transformation in mind.

“They will receive world-class guidance in terms of what is needed to become a top professional rugby player, but will also study various courses at a number of tertiary institutions across the country.”

Rob Benadie, CEO of SAS, said: “We want to promote excellence and make a contribution to transformation in South African Rugby.

“We particularly like the idea of partnering with SA Rugby on their rugby academy as it creates fantastic opportunities for the development of our top black rugby players and the performance of the Boks over years to come.”

Issued by SA Rugby Communications

St Stithians College is delighted to host its 35th Sports Festival beginning over the Easter weekend. The Saints Sports Festival is a highlight in the school’s calendar, and it is a celebration of sport, friendly competition, and all that these bring.

Many of you know this festival as the Easter Sports Festival. Due to the addition of the Prep schools’ festival St Stithians now refers to it is as the Saints Sports Festival to include both the Prep and College festivals. Once again, the headline sponsor is Standard Bank.

The College festival takes place over the Easter weekend and begins on Wednesday 28 March 2018. #SaintsFest2018 takes place on the 28 March, 29 March, 31 March, and 2 April 2018 at St Stithians College. Thousands of young athletes will compete in cross country, football, hockey, netball, squash, tennis, and rugby in an exciting four days of sport.

The Prep schools’ festival will take place from 5 – 7 April 2018, this is a change from last year where the event took place before the College festival. Prep festival participants will play rugby, netball, and tennis.

The festival promises great entertainment, exciting sport, and tasty food from a range of vendors. There will be a children’s play area, a youth chill area, a hospitality tent for over 18s, as well as a large Standard Bank – Saints Supporters’ marquee. Vendors include, but are not limited to Spur, Amici Pizzeria, Cupped Coffee, House of Crepes, Paquito’s Treatery, Blendid, Tapped Event Services, and Bubbles Galore.

Tickets go on sale on 15 February 2018 and will be available from St Stithians College or at the gate on #SaintsFest2018 days. They cost R40.

St Stithians College thanks its generous event sponsors. Namely, headline sponsor Standard Bank, along with Amici Pizzeria; City Lodge Hotel Group; Mercedes Benz, Bryanston; Sodexo; and Spur.

For more information on St Stithians College, visit www.stithian.com 

The Rugby fixtures: 

Thursday, 29 March 2018

09:45 – Rondebosch Boys’ High vs Parktown Boys’ High
11:00 – Graeme College vs Clifton
12:15 – Diocesan College vs Grey High School
13:30 – St Stithians College vs Kingswood College
14:45 – St Andrew’s College vs Michaelhouse
16:00 – Maritzburg College vs SACS

Saturday, 31 March 2018

09:45 – Graeme College vs Parktown Boys’ High
11:00 – St Andrew’s College vs Clifton
12:15 – Rondebosch Boys’ High vs Kingswood College
13:30 – Grey High School vs Maritzburg College
14:45 – SACS vs Michaelhouse
16:30 – St Stithians College vs Diocesan College

Monday, 2 April 2018

08:45 – Graeme College vs Northcliff
10:00 – Rondebosch Boys’ High vs Maritzburg College
11:15 – Grey High School vs Parktown Boys’ High
12:30 – St Stithians College vs Clifton
13:45 – Kingswood College vs SACS
15:00 – Diocesan College vs Michaelhouse

Die Hoërskool Middelburg sal vanjaar die jaarlikse Noord Suid Derby in die koolvelde in Mpumalanga aanbied. Middelburg vier vanjaar sy 100ste bestaansjaar en die toernooi sal een van die hoogtepunte van die eeufeesvieringe wees.

Die jaarlikse interskole tussen Hoërskool Middelburg en HTS Middelburg wat ‘n hoogtepunt vir die dorp is, is in die weegskaal. Die Hoërskool Middelburg het intussen na sy onttrekking verlede jaar aan die Virsekerbeker besluit dat hy wel vanjaar aan die reeks sal deelneem.

Indien die interskole nie plaasvind sal die Noord-Suid Derby die grootste rugbygebeurtenis vir Hoërskool Middelburg tydens sy eeufeesvieringe wees.

Die toernooi sal vir die vierde keer sedert sy ontstaan in 2016 aangebied word. HTS Drostdy in Worcester was die gasheer van die eerste drie toernooie.

Kearsney College van Durban is ‘n nuweling op vanjaar se toernooi. Die span sal teen Transvalia, Hoërskool Middelburg en Marais Viljoen in sy drie wedstryde te staan kom.

Dié wedstryd tydens die toernooi om nie mis te loop nie is die een tussen HTS Drostdy en Transvalia op die laaste dag. Die twee spanne sal wel om 09:00 die ryp van Middelberg se hoofveld afspeel, maar dié wedstryd sal een van die wedstryde van die jaar wees om nie mis te loop nie.

Albei die skole se eerstespanne behoort vanjaar sterk aanspraakmakers te wees om onder die voorste 20 spanne in die land te tel.

Die bepalings is: 

Donderdag, 5 April 2018 

12:00 – Transvalia vs Kearsney College
13:10 – Marais Viljoen vs HTS Daniël Pienaar
14:20 – Hoërskool Middelburg vs HTS Drostdy

Saterdag, 7 April 2018

12:00 – Hoërskool Middelburg vs Kearsney College
13:10 – Transvalia vs HTS Daniël Pienaar
14:20 – HTS Drostdy vs Marais Viljoen

Maandag, 9 April 2018 

09:00 – HTS Drostdy vs Transvalia
10:10 – Marais Viljoen vs Kearsney College
11:20 – Hoërskool Middelburg vs HTS Daniël Pienaar

St Andrew’s School of Bloemfontein set a new record during their clash with Sand du Plessis in the Coca-Cola Schools T20 Challenge in Bloemfontein. Saints first team amassed a massive total of 400/2 in their allotted 20 overs on Vossie’s Field.

More than half of the 120 deliveries in their innings was dispatched past the boundary rope. In total Saints struck 65 boundaries of which 35 touched ground for the first time on the other side of the boundary rope. 

Calvin Flanegan led the way with an unbeaten 207 runs from just 61 deliveries. He struck an unbelievable 22 sixes and 13 fours in his innings. He received support from Ruan Cronje (93*) who only faced a mere 34 deliveries. Cronje’s innings included seven maximums and ten fours. 

Flanegan and Cronje shared an unbeaten 260-run partnership off only 12.1 overs. Garnett Tarr (61, 21b) also took the Sannies bowling attack apart hitting five fours and five sixes on his way to his half-century. 

Sand du Plessis managed only 29 runs in reply. Left-arm spin bowler Naleli Sekhibane enjoying a dream debut for Saints’ First XI by grabbing five wickets for a mere three runs in his four overs. Saints claiming victory by a mammoth 371 runs.

The world record in an international T20-match was a total of 263/3 scored by Australia against Sri Lanka in 2016. 

The world record for the highest individual innings in T20 cricket is held by Mohit Ahlawat. He scored 300 runs from just 72 deliveries for Maavi in the Friends Premier League in Delhi, India. The 21-year-old struck 39 sixes and 14 fours in his innings helping his side to a total of 416/2 in their allotted overs. 

Photo Credit: St Andrew’s School FB Page

Wynberg Boys’ High has decided to cancel their annual Standard Bank Wynberg Winter Sports Festival due to the water crisis which Cape Town is currently experiencing due to the drought that plaguing the Western Cape. 

The impending Day Zero for Cape Town’s water supply is estimated to be on 12 April 2018. “This means that taps will be switched off on that day. Our local hostels are understandably unable to commit to hosting boys under these conditions. We do not feel it is acceptable to invite guests from Gauteng and beyond to pay money to wash themselves from a bucket,” reads the release from Wynberg Boys’ High. 

There is also a lot of other risks that Wynberg Boys’ High took into consideration with this decision. There is possibility of chaos breaking out when Day Zero arrives. Wynberg Boys’ High’s junior school has also been named as a possible water collection point. This means that traffic around the school will also be influenced during this period. 

The festival would have been hosted from 28 until 30 April in the Mother City. It is the same weekend as the Wildeklawer Festival in Kimberley, K2-tournament in Oudtshoorn and Grey High Schools’ Festival in Port Elizabeth. The schools who would’ve attended the Standard Bank Wynberg Winter Sports Festival will by scurrying to find other festivals to attend over this weekend. 

“But more importantly, we feel it would be immoral to host a sporting event in the spirit of “business as usual” while the rest of Cape Town is taking extraordinary measures to survive from day to day. We apologise sincerely for the inconvenience caused and hope that the situation stabilises sufficiently to allow us to host the festival in 2019 and beyond,” says Wynberg Boys’ High. 

The Western Cape has quite a few sporting events scheduled for 2018. Paarl Boys’ High will be hosting the World Schools Festival between 2 and 7 April in Paarl. The school will also host the annual Coca-Cola Craven Week in July as part of their 150th celebrations. The Academy Week is also held in conjunction with the Craven Week in Paarl. 

The annual Coca-Cola Khaya Majola Cricket Week is also being hosted by Cape Town in December. 

The schools that would’ve participated in the Standard Bank Wynberg Festival were Bellville, Diocesan College (Bishops), DF Malan, Garsfontein, Fish Hoek, Durbanville, Hugenote (Wellington), King Edward VII, Milnerton, Parel Vallei, Rondebosch Boys’ High, SACS, Somerset College, St Benedict’s College, Tygerberg, Upington, Windhoek High and Wynberg Boys’ High. 

One of the most exciting development rugby tournaments ever to be launched in South Africa will be held for the first time this year when the inaugural World Schools Festival takes place in Paarl between 2-7 April 2018.

The international event, which will feature the top 10 schools in South Africa and 10 of the best school teams from around the world, will be hosted by Paarl Boys’ High School as part of the institution’s 150-year anniversary celebrations.

Aside from showcasing global stars of the future, some of the world’s best coaches will also be invited to the tournament to work with the youngsters and local coaches, in order to assist in driving development by raising domestic standards across the board.

Fulfilling a dream by providing a platform for local talent to face the best schools from around the world on home soil, Carinat Sports Marketing managing director Heyneke Meyer believes the event will offer all participants a life-changing opportunity

“I’ve always coached rugby because I believe in making a difference in people’s lives, and I truly believe this event can do that,” says Meyer, a renowned coach who has mentored the Springboks and the Bulls.

“Rugby is not only about competing hard on the field, but also making friendships for life off the field, so this tournament will give something back to the game by making a difference and developing rugby in South Africa.

“I’m really excited about it and really looking forward to some great games. It’s a tremendous new project for Carinat in South Africa and we are looking forward to building the Festival over the coming years.”

Aside from the hosts, local participating schools will include Afrikaanse Seuns, Boland Landbou, Glenwood, Monument, Grey College, Outeniqua, Oakdale, Paarl Gymnasium and Hilton College.

The overseas schools taking part will be announced closer to the event.

“We look forward to hosting the world’s most promising young rugby players,” says Paarl Boys headmaster Derek Swart.

“We have firmly established our place among the best rugby schools in the country, and I think it is fitting for us to hold an event of this magnitude during our 150th anniversary celebrations.

“The tournament also gives our schoolboy players a real chance to test themselves against rising young stars from around the world.”

Paarl Boys head coach Sean Erasmus is eager to see his team in action at a whole new level, as they look to celebrate the school’s anniversary in style.

“It’s a very exciting time for us as a rugby fraternity and a school family,” Erasmus says.

“It’s definitely going to boost the boys, and it’s an ideal opportunity for the South African sides to band together and measure themselves against the best from across the world.”

The festival promises to embody the true spirit of rugby, promoting the traditional values of the sport by gathering some of the most promising schoolboy talent the game has to offer.

Having already received significant support from the international rugby fraternity, final processes are also in place to gain official recognition from rugby bodies beyond the realms of school sport.

“This tournament will give talented young players an opportunity to measure themselves at the highest level of their age group,” says Jon Phelps, a founding partner of event organisers Carinat Sports Marketing.

“It also aims to provide a platform for these supremely talented players to learn how to conduct themselves both on and off the field when they compete internationally, giving them a chance to act as ambassadors for their schools and their countries.”

Former Springbok captain Jean de Villiers has thrown his weight behind the tournament.

“Schoolboy rugby is popular across South Africa and around the world, and an event of this magnitude will not only give the players a crucial opportunity to grow and expand on their skills by facing elite competition, but it also gives fans a chance to watch these young players in action,” De Villiers says.

“By developing the game at school level, we will see that success flowing into the senior game, and hopefully more international contests like this will be launched in order to contribute towards the promotion of the sport.”

The annual Kearsney Easter Festival will once again be hosted by Kearsney College over the Easter Weekend with Standard Bank as the title sponsors. 

It will be the 11th edition of the Kearsney College Easter Festival. 

The opening day have one of the matches not to miss for 2018 with Glenwood of Durban taking on HTS Drostdy of Worcester. In what promises to be an epic battle between the Grasshoppers and the Donkeys could be a vital game for both of this teams’ aspirations for the season that lays ahead. 

HTS Drostdy finished KERF2017 unbeaten by beating Pretoria Boys’ High (22-5), Dale College (26-25) and Kearsney College (45-17) in their three matches during last year’s festival. This year’s team promises to be even stronger than the one of 2017. 

The hosts Kearsney College will face HTS Middelburg, Noord-Kaap and Pretoria Boys’ High in their three matches during the festival. EG Jansen and Monument will not take part this year as they have other commitments during the Easter Weekend. EG Jansen of Boksburg will attend the Noord/Suid in Pretoria, while Monument will take part in Paarl Boys’ High’s 150th celebration festival. 

The fixtures are: 

Day 1, Thursday 29 March 2018 

09:30 – Kearsney College vs HTS Middelburg
10:45 – Queen’s College vs Pretoria Boys’ High School
12:00 – Glenwood vs HTS Drostdy 
13:15 – Dale College vs Framesby 
14:30 – Selborne College vs Durban High School
15:45 – Welkom Gimnasium vs Noord-Kaap 

Day 2, Saturday 31 March 2018

09:30 – Framesby vs Pretoria Boys’ High
10:45 – Durban High School vs Queen’s College
12:00 – Kearsney College vs Noord-Kaap
13:15 – Glenwood vs Dale College
14:30 – Welkom Gimnasium vs HTS Drostdy 
15:45 – Selborne College vs HTS Middelburg

Day 3, Monday 2 April 2018

09:30 – Glenwood vs Welkom Gimnasium
10:45 – Noord-Kaap vs Framesby
12:00 – HTS Middelburg vs Queen’s College
13:15 – Durban High School vs Dale College 
14:30 – HTS Drostdy vs Selborne College
15:45 – Kearsney College vs Pretoria Boys’ High

Results 

1	10/03/2018	Garsfontein	47	HTS Middelburg	40		Match Info
2	17/03/2018	Garsfontein	24	Boland Landbou	20	Paarl	Match Info
3	20/03/2018	Garsfontein	18	Kempton Park	8	Kempton Park	Match Info
4	24/04/2018	Garsfontein	31	Transvalia	48	Vanderbijlpark	Match Info
5	29/03/2018	Garsfontein	50	Outeniqua	22	Noord/Suid	Match Info
6	31/04/2018	Garsfontein	31	Grey College	43	Noord/Suid	Match Info
7	14/04/2018	Garsfontein	74	Pietersburg	3		Match Info
8	21/04/2018	Garsfontein	31	Monument	68	Krugersdorp	Match Info
9	28/04/2018	Garsfontein	32	Nico Malan	22	Grey PE Festival	Match Info
10	30/04/2018	Garsfontein	29	Durban High School	26	Grey PE Festival	Match Info
11	5/05/2018	Garsfontein	48	Rustenburg	19	LC de Villiers	Match Info
12	12/05/2018	Garsfontein	48	HTS Middelburg	29		Match Info
13	19/05/2018	Garsfontein	57	EG Jansen	15		Match Info
14	26/05/2018	Garsfontein	48	Menlopark	24		Match Info
15	9/06/2018	Garsfontein	49	Monument	39		Match Info
16	21/07/2018	Garsfontein	25	Helpmekaar	31		Match Info
17	27/07/2018	Garsfontein	43	Nelspruit	14		Match Info
18	4/08/2018	Garsfontein	22	Transvalia	20		Match Info
19	11/08/2018	Garsfontein	14	Monument	45		Match Info

Players: Diego Appollis, Jurich Claassens, Jordan van Dyk (captain), Juandré Scheepers, Etienne Terblanche, Brailon Brandt, Ricardo Botha, Junior Snyman, Drian Lerm, Kallie Calitz, Campo Willemse, Martin Austen, Keegan Johannes, Jaryd Scheepers, Johandré Buitendag, Gerhard van der Merwe, Aldo Landsberg, Dillon Olckers, Jaden Visagie, Manie Potgieter. 

Coaches: Johan du Plessis and Ryno van der Merwe. 
Team Manager: Gustav Theunissen.

Garsfontein also defeated Voortrekker of Bethlehem (45-0) during the Loftus Versfeld Rugby Day in which no kicking at goal is permitted.