The South African Rugby Union (Saru) announced both the SA Schools and SA Schools squads for the incoming international Series
Both teams will compete against teams from Argentina, England, France, Wales in August which serves as a good opportunity to already begin the process of identifying the best talent in the schools ahead of the 2020 season.
There are a few familiar names as Jacques Goosen (Border), Jarrod Taylor (Border), Keketso Morabe (Thepa Trading Griffons) and Jurich Claasens (Assupol Blue Bulls) all receive their second call up after featuring in the 2018 SA Schools squad.
What a match we have. Now Jurich Claasens darts over under the posts. Conversion over and SA Schools wins 43-40! @Aon_SouthAfrica #aonseries pic.twitter.com/rDzkqzlnMH
— SA Rugby Youth Weeks (@YouthWeeks) August 10, 2018
Mzwakhe Nkosi (Bidvest Waltons Golden Lions, SA Schools) and Phiwe Nomlomo (Border, SA Schools A) are the respective coaches.
Speaking on the announcement of the squad, Saru CEO Jurie Roux spoke about the excitement to see the countries best schoolboy talent take to the field in August.
“It is a rewarding and exciting time for the selected schoolboys as they get the opportunity to play for their country and give justice to their talent and hard work put in,” said Roux.
“The selection of these squads is in line with our elite player development pathway of which the SA Schools teams form an important part.
“We invest time, money and resources into their matches with a view to them graduating through the age group levels to the very top of the game, so good luck to all involved, including the coaching staff of Mzwakhe and Phiwe respectively.”
The week-long Series takes place over the second week of August with matches kicking off on 9 August at Paul Roos Gymnasium in Stellenbosch.
SA Schools:
Outside backs: Geraldo Flusk (Assupol Blue Bulls / HS Garsfontein), Keane Galant (Boland / HTS Drostdy), Zeilinga Strydom (Assupol Blue Bulls / HS Garsfontein), Tarquin Manuel (DHL Western Province / HS Stellenberg).
Centres: Tyler Bocks (DHL Western Province / Paarl Boys High), Henco van Wyk (Bidvest Waltons Golden Lions / Monument), Mntungwa Mapantsela (Border / Selborne College).
Flyhalves: Kean Meadon (DHL Western Province / Paarl Boys High), Boldwin Hansen (Boland / HS Hermanus).
Scrumhalves: Jurich Claasens (Assupol Blue Bulls / HS Garsfontein), Dylan Alexander (DHL Western Province / Paarl Gymnasium).
Loose forwards: George Cronje (Bizhub Free State Cheetahs / Grey College), Gideon van Wyk (DHL Western Province / Paarl Boys High), Jarrod Taylor (Border / Selborne College), Siyemukela Ndlovu (Cell C Sharks / Northwood HS), Keketso Morabe (Thepa Trading Griffons / Welkom Gymnasium).
Locks: Simon Miller (Assupol Blue Bulls / St Albans), Dylan de Leeuw (DHL Western Province / Paul Roos Gymnasium), Connor Evans (DHL Western Province / Bishops), Wandile Hlope (Cell C Sharks / Maritzburg College).
Props: Blaine Golden (Cell C Sharks / Glenwood HS), Bryan le Roux (DHL Western Province / Rondebosch Boys High), Jan-Hendrik Wessels (Bizhub Free State Cheetahs / Grey College), Okuhle Siyeni (Cell C Sharks / Westville Boys High).
Hookers: Jacques Goosen (Border / Selborne College), Andre Venter (Bizhub Free State Cheetahs / Grey College).
Management – Head Coach: Mzwakhe Nkosi (Bidvest Waltons Golden Lions). Assistant coach: Cobus van Dyk (Assupol Blue Bulls). Manager: Dean Moodley (Cell C Sharks).
SA Schools A:
Outside backs: Sibusiso Javu (Border / Selborne College), Sonwabo Sokoyi (Bizhub Free State Cheetahs / Grey College), Nsuku Baloyi (Assupol Blue Bulls / HS Menlo Park), Indiphile Tyeda (Border / Dale College).
Centres: Jacques Rossouw (DHL Western Province / Paarl Boys High), Joseph Iye (Bidvest Waltons Golden Lions / King Edward School), Quan Horn (Western Province / Paarl Boys High).
Flyhalves: Sihlalo Benge (Border / Queens College), Jordan Hendrikse (Cell C Sharks / Glenwood HS).
Scrumhalves: Daimon O’Connell (Border / Selborne College), Kabelo Mokheti (Bidvest Waltons Golden Lions / Jeppe Boys High).
Loose forwards: Izan Esterhuizen (Bidvest Waltons Golden Lions / Monument), Jarod Cairns (DHL Western Province / Paul Roos Gymnasium), Renzo du Plessis (Unitrans Limpopo Blue Bulls / HS Ben Vorster), Pierich Siebert (DHL Western Province / Paarl Gymnasium), Josh van Vreden (Border / Selborne College).
Locks: Marco van Rhyn (DHL Western Province / Paarl Gymnasium), Sisonke Vumazonke (Bizhub Free State Cheetahs / Grey College), Cornelus Rahl (South Western Districts / Oakdale HS), Raynard Roets (Assupol Blue Bulls / HS Garsfontein).
Props: Sibusiso Shongwe (Bidvest Waltons Golden Lions / Jeppe Boys High), Philip Masango (DHL Western Province / Wynberg Boys High), Rynhardt Rijnsburger (DHL Western Province / Paarl Boys High), Dimakatso Lebelo (Assupol Blue Bulls / HS Waterkloof).
Hookers: Jacques-Lois du Toit (Assupol Blue Bulls / Afrikaans Boys HS), Teague Loelly (Cell C Sharks / Westville Boys High).
Management – Head Coach: Phiwe Nomlomo (Border). Assistant coach: Wessel du Plessis (Bizhub Free State Cheetahs). Manager: Ofentse Moeng (Assupol Blue Bulls).
U18 International Series Fixtures:
Friday 9 August 2019 – Paul Roos Gymnasium, Stellenbosch
13h00: SA Schools A vs France U18
14h30: England U18 vs Argentina U18
16h00: SA Schools vs Wales U18
Tuesday 13 August 2019 – Paarl Gymnasium, Paarl
13h00: SA Schools A vs Wales U18
14h30: SA Schools vs Argentina U18
16h00: England U18 vs France U18
Saturday 17 August 2019 – Hugenote High School, Wellington
12h00: SA Schools A vs Argentina U18
13h30: France U18 vs Wales U18
15h00: SA Schools vs England U18
