Framesby an Afrikaans medium co-ed day student school in Port Elizabeth will our country’s next representatives to taken on the challenge of SANIX in Japan. While a few other schools have tried to ensure better win ratios by padding their fixture lists, Framesby has at least never shied away from taking on the strong opponents of SA school rugby. This admiral attitude has afforded them unique opportunities to play the likes of Paarl Boys High and Grey College in recent seasons and now opened the door for the massive challenge that lies ahead in Japan in 2017. Although a number of knowledgeable school rugby followers will cast doubt on whether Framesby are good enough for SANIX, they in turn are taking it very seriously, and confident that good preparation, hard work and the right attitude will improve their chances of performing well.
What SANIX is NOT
SANIX is definitely not the world championship of schoolboy rugby. It’s comprised mainly of Japanese teams that would probably struggle to finish inside the National Top 100 in South Africa and would probably lose to a good few 2nd XV’s as well.
New Zealand sends their end of season Barbarian Cup high school national champions to SANIX the following year. However the team that tours does not contain the same seniors that helped win the NZ title the year before. With the competition being as stiff as it is in NZ coupled with the unpredictable element of knock-out cup play, their SANIX representatives are generally unlikely to make it far enough to defend their NZ crown later in the year. In other words they are seldom turn out to be the best team in NZ in the relevant year.
What SANIX is
Add the half way around the world travel plus jet lag to testing schedule of having to play 6 matches in 8 days with the 2 hardest matches of the lot right at the end and it speaks for itself : a very challenging package that is definitely not to be scoffed at.
It requires a winning team to have player depth and good management.
It’s also wonderful partly subsidised touring opportunity where youngsters get to experience completely different culture as part of a well-organised rugby tournament and return home with stronger bonds and memories for lifetime plus the bonus of a trophy as well if they are up to the challenge.
Congratulations Framesby !! … Still have fond memories of the Peason / Framesby derbies in PE… You have a proud rugby history …Enjoy the challenge….
Congrats Framesby, it’s a huge logistical undertaking. Also, not all the 1st choice players can go due to costs etc. Glenwood took a good mix of 1st, 2nd and under16A team. It’s more about the experience than fielding the best side. Enjoy it! Those Japanese and very large Fijian sides are improving every year. Ask the Aussie team that went this year….pommeled…
Congrats and hope it goes well. It is an oppertunity that every schoolboy would love.
Do we know how they choose the SA team? Is it maybe that most teams are committed to Wildeklawer?