Submitted article.
St Benedict’s started preseason training in October where our opens attended two field sessions a week and gym sessions coordinated by our strength and conditioning coach Miguel Caldeira to kick start preparations for the 2017 1st XV season.
St Benedicts 1st XV will be coached by the young and talented Katleho Lynch and Morne Nel who has great experience and has been at the helm for a few years, Lynch focusing on backs and Nel focusing on forwards. Mr Nel is part of the Golden Lions Schools coaching set up as well where he coaches u16s and Mr Lynch will be coaching u18s in the Golden Lions High Schools setup for 2017. Mr Lynch also coaches at the University of Johannesburg in the u20 age group where he achieved great success in his first season there by winning the league.
St Benedict’s concluded the 2016 season with a two-day rugby camp for opens where fitness testing took place, mental skill assessments were discussed, coaches focused on skill development and addressing some unit skills in preparation for the 2017 1st XV season. The coaches and players will be working hard to ensure that they prepare well for what promises to be a tough but exciting rugby season. St Benedict’s will be playing at the St Stithians Easter Rugby Festival in 2017 and play the likes of Jeppe Boys High, Pretoria Boys High, St Stithians, St Johns, St Albans and Kearsney College to name a few.
Fixtures for 2017
| Date | Opponents |
|---|---|
| 8 March | Warm up game |
| 11 March | Rugby Camp |
| 14 March | Warm up game |
| 18 March | Sutherland/ Queens |
| 21 March | Warm up game |
| 25 March | Parktown (A) |
| 1 April | St Johns (H) |
| 8 April | St Davids (H) |
| 13-17 April | St Stithians Rugby Easter Festival (DHS, Maritzburg College, Graeme College) Subject to change |
| 24-28 April | KZN and Investec Tour |
| 6 May | Pretoria Boys High (H) |
| 13 May | Jeppe Boys (A) |
| 20 May | St Albans (A) |
| 27 May | TBC |
| 3 June | Kes (A) |
| 11 June | Kearsney (A) |
| 18 June | St Stithians (H) |
DHS / Maritzburg & Graeme College at Saints? Is Saints fixture list out yet?
Hmmmm – playing KES – I didn’t see that on the KES fixtures?