Grant Kretzmann, the King Edward VII School (KES) forwards coach and assistant to Carl Spilhaus signed up earlier this week to be DHS’s new Head of Rugby. Kretzmann will be joining former KES headmaster Mike Fennell (DHS CEO) as new arrivals at the Durban school when the first term of 2013 starts. The search for a new DHS Head of Rugby began several months ago after Deon Gericke informed his superiors that he would be leaving for St Charles in Pietermaritzburg in 2013. Kretzmann will have his work cut out for him. DHS rugby is still close to an all time low and 2013 could prove to be an extremely difficult season for their 1st XV. With DHS celebrating it’s 150th birthday in 2016, the pressure to improve rugby results will be on big time.
The new DHS headmaster will probably be made known in February 2013.
@Gungets Tuft:
I think I know the kid you speak of going to Clifton. Played 1st rugby,polo and hockey at prep? Brother in grade 7 at prep? From what I know the kid I’m speaking of is like in love with College and so is his brother
As for the DHS kid, that’s if he does paddle. Very often kids slack abit after changing schools due to the change in environment etc but I’m sure he’ll fit in well die to a lot of DPHS boys being in his grade at DHS
@HORSEFLY NO.1: Come to think of it, at Clifton he will play A team everything. Was A at everything at DPHS in his last year, 3rd or 4th in form. Rugby .. ho-hum, think he did all his growing till age 15 then stopped. Already taller than both his parents which is never a good sign, bu this size and his brain kept him competitive.
The boy you are getting to DHS might just be your first paddling Springbok one day.
@Gungets Tuft:
good news for College if they havent lost their ‘big guns’. i dont know or think that we have lost anyone besides Leroux van zyl. would be great if all the boys are still around. that boy coming to dhs makes it the 2nd college boy in 2 years whove come this way, Clifton i think took the water polo player due to their u15 side being not that great- they were beaten by dhs andnorthwood
@HORSEFLY NO.1: DHS gets 1 of them, Clifton 2.
@HORSEFLY NO.1: If you are talking about movements from College – I already sent a mail to your Gmail account. None of that should become public info other than they are moving. None of them A-team rugby players, but a really good water-polo player going to Clifton – he will play Firsts for them for grades 10 – 12. No skullduggery there – the lightie wanted to live at home which is a 7-iron from Clifton. You know him and the family.
@Gungets Tuft:
:razz: :razz: Partly, but i didnt really beleive in that. Now that its out of the way, any december movements we should know about?
@HORSEFLY NO.1: Face it Horse – you were just testing to see if the Mayans were right ….
Well done to all boys selected! Great achievement this. I wish all of them good luck in their future ventures.
SA Schools side – http://www.hssm.co.za/news/cricket/national/2012/2012-sa-schools-xi
Diego Rosier (capt) Northern Cape High GW
Shakir Abrahams Grey High EP
Wesley Coulentianos St Johns GP
Daryn Dupavllon Maritzburg College KZN Inland
Clyde Fortuin Western Province St Joseph’s
Craig Kirsten Kearsney KZN Coastal
Greg Oldfield Michaelhouse KZN Inland
Vasili Orros Grey College Free State
Shaylen Pillay KES VII GP
Ngazibini Sigwili Hudson Park Border
Jason Smith Wynberg WP
Anrich Nortjie Brandwag EP
@All Black: Dupavillion is in. Don’t know that whole team yet
@All Black: Daryn cleaned up yesterday. 7/19 – twitter says it is the best in U19 Week history. Then 3 quicks for the SA Schools side are being punted as Dupavillion, Graig Kirsten and Ngazibini Sigwili …
Saw young Schlemmer’s name coming up often – be nice if he makes it, he is a grafter.
Just seen that the top 2 bowlers/wicket takers going into the final day are two College boys. Du Pavillon on 17 and Mahmood on 12 with two others. Mahmood still in Grade 9.
@Greenwood:
Yeah I love how the war cries are sung even in defeat. The bands going head-to-head with their mad beats. Great stuff.
Hopefully its resolved in 2014. I think School will have a good team then so it would be lovely to play GWD then. Also bummed that our 2012 U14A won’t get a chance to avenge their defeat this year to GWD.
@Griffon:
Well we wish him well. His gap was long filled though with very,very good coach J.Leroux now coaching at DHS and I assume Kretzmann will also coach. Don’t know who’ll do the swimming though.
@ Horsy : I heard, think he’ll be coaching an u16 team next year. He may have seen it as an opportunity to fill the void left by the late P.Bees.
Horsie No 1
many outsiders who watched the televised game at Dixons this year commented that they could not believe the quality of handling from both sides & that the score was not closer. What I will miss are the flies singing I,m a horsefly… etc and Glenwoods response SWAT THE FLY..
the first time I heard this was a nite match at School and I got goosies and the wife and granny were quite taken in by the atmosphere and war cries Oh well will have to wait for 2014
@beet:
Yes I agree. The new principal is going to have to be very strong,careful etc to succeed especially with so much change going on at School.the next 3 months will be the most important at DHS. If things go well in these 3 months then School will most defo have a prosperous future. These couple of months will be crucial.
5 teachers have left School this year and Kretzmann covers for two so that’s great.
@griff
WBHS has taken our swimming and 1st team polo coach from us. Wonder who’ll take over the swimming at DHS
It seems that Glenwood have lost two major fixtures for next year. The Westville one, being one I wouldn’t blame them for losing. Very hard gap to fill for these fixtures. You’ll find that more boys know the school politics than teachers.
@HORSEFLY NO.1: If there are more staff on the way, it’s surely Fennel that’s dangling the carrots, knowing who he’s worked well with in the past and who gets the job done. I have no doubt they will be quality people. It’s the changing of the guard that will have to be carefully managed so that existing staff continue to buy into the dream of a prosperous future rather than becoming disgruntled.
@All Black:
I giess we’ll have to wait and see. Yes I agree with the last line which is why a strong headmaster will be needed here. We don’t want the staff room to turn into a cold warzone.
Two very important people have come from KES(their head os rugby and Headmaster) so that will always make some others to join them even though its in another province.
I wouldn’t be surprised.
@HORSEFLY NO.1: Which fixture? KES and DHS? Didnt know about that. The grapevine has all kinds of rumors. The latest is that there may be more KES staff coming to DHS. May be a rumor and no truth in it at all. Change is always good and having good, well paid staff is the key to any organisation. Unfortunately, just like in any business that has an influx of new staff from another company, there are politics. Success comes from strong leadership, bottom line.
@Greenwood:
Yeah from what I’m picking up from the DHS camp its more like we are tired of all the shit you’ve been doing over the past few years and we are now doing something about it.
It does make sense to move to Glenwood as an Afrikaans kid looking for a rugga future due to the Bulls camping there now but it just isn’t right when the badge you are leaving says Deo Fretus and you are going to one with Carpe Diem.
Glenwood has dominated this fixture but I’ve particularly liked the 2010,2011 and 2012 games between the two,very good contests. Also,remember,its not just rugby affected its everything so other sports will also be affected.
I wouldn’t intervene though, let this roll…
@all black and Beet
A few more on the way? How so? This must be because of Fennell though, its like kids who move with their coaches,happens all the time. I don’t think its going to be like a warzone though,instead I think it’ll make School even stronger.
Could the ‘stealing’ of staff be why the fixture between the two has been cancelled??hmmm…
@All Black: Never easy. Any organisation has to carefully weigh up the pros and cons of external recruitment. It could seriously demotivate existing staff if they are overlooked for possible promotion and like you say alienate the newbies. There isn’t any real research to show the harmful effects to a school team when there is an absence of harmony amongst the coaches staff or is there? Anyway logic suggests it is bound to have a negative impact all around.
Getting back to the DHS scenario with all the KES staff members now moving to the coast. I say “all” as apparently a few a more are on the way. What do the fellows from JHB know about life on the Berea that Durban guys do not? I see a lot of money being thrown at the problem and I can just imagine the existing staff looking at a group of ex Kes staff sitting together in the staff room. Good luck with the politics on that one.
Rugbyismylife
at this stage there is no sport between Glenwood & DHS in 2013 the kids at GWD seem to know more about politics than the Teachers/Heads or more likley the latter choose to keep mum on the subject
The lities feel this is because of Van Zyl moving to Glenwood and who incidently is training with the GWD high performance squad over the holidays
according to the GWD kids ,Van Zyl has many friends at Glenwood and no doubt this would have had some influence on the move – its a safe bet to say with a name like le roux Van Zyl that he was not born in London and with GWD having many Afrikaans kids the move does make some sense
If I were the DHS head I would be ticked off but look at Hilton poaching a Glenwood and Westville boy in the same year without cancelation of sport fixtures
bloggers on this site seem to feel that the Glenwood and DHS old boys may intervene here & will try to see if something can be sorted out between the 2 schools
I must say that although 1st team matches between the schools have been dominated by Glenwood over the past few years there has been some quality rugby between the schools with the game this year being rated as one of the best seen in years with excellent handling in adverse weather :smile:
so watch this space & lets see what happens next year
@Henkies:
In U14 they only lost 3 games. They lost a couple of players to other schools,injuries and loss of interest ant therefore struggled this year.
They, in my opinion can beat anyone on their day. They had some close calls but still lost a lot of games. Come next year I think they’ll do better with Kretzmann
Horsey how did our u15A’s do this year? I know they lost most of their games but remember they had a few close calls. We’re lucky to have Kretzmann and I won’t be dissappointed if this group struggles again next year – just more kids playing the game and a gradual improvment over the next few years in overall results will be good enough for me.
@HughH:
Kretzmann will be coaching 16A so hopefully he inspires them to do well but this is a step in the correct direction
I see that Pretoria Boys High are playing Maritzburg College and Westville in 2013 (back to back weekends). MC visit Pretoria on 13 April and then PBHS travel to Westville the following weekend – 20 April. I am looking forward to the Westville fixture as I see many similarities between Westville and PBHS.
Another interesting aspect of the Boys High season is that the the opening fixture is not against KES. Boys High will be playing their first fixture at home to John Voster and Sutherland on 16 March (probably John Voster for rugby and Sutherland for hockey).
Kretzman will be a big loss for KES. Spilhaus and Kretzman made a formidable team in school boy rugby.
I remeber how good DHS were in the 70’s and 80’s. I recall watching DHS beat Jeppe by almost 100 points in 77 or 78.
Hopefully Kretzman will have a big impact on DHS rugby.
@beet:
I would imagine so. And there must be some left-over cash for Bursaries etc… He is worth it though.since being announced he has apparently helped massively in raising about R60 million for School thus far… Pretty impressive if you ask me
@Grasshopper:
Yep he does and that’s true. I think he will have a little competition for his place now that former WBHS boy is at DHS. They are both talented guys and it’ll be very hard to choose for whoever coaches the U15A side next year.
I think everyone at DHS is hoping for a good coach to take on next years U15s and make sure they stay no.1 in KZN because I’m sure that the other KZN teams already want to shoot them down so they can be no.1.
Horsie, Spooner looks a good kid with a good head. Only time will tell if he plays 1st team as by then he could be in a completely different position and a completely different size…..
Interview with one of the DHS U14 boys:
http://www.rugbynewssa.co.za/home-page/getting-down-to-business.html
He was also a member of the kzn u14A water polo side that won the SA Schools champs today…
@greenblooded
Still waiting for official confirmmation…
Interview with one of the DHS U14 boys:
http://www.rugbynewssa.co.za/home-page/getting-down-to-business.html
He was also a member of the kzn u14A water polo side that won the SA Schools champs today…
@HORSEFLY NO.1: Ummmmm – Monday after Glenwood games??? I thought those were a thing of the past?
What’s the latest on the DHS vs Glenwood fixture for 2013?
I hear Kretzmann will be coaching U16A’s next year. Hope he does some good work with those guys
I stand to be corrected but I think Fennell’s salary will be funded by the one or two perhaps more trusts that DHS has. So its not just current contributions, its the well invested money over generations that will be utilised. The Berea was once, perhaps still is a very affluent neighbourhood. All those well off families sending their kids to School for over 100 years and making contributions alone the way probably equals a tidy sum in trust investments by now.
@Grasshopper:
Yes I’m sure its expensive but as you said if the rewards are coming by thick and fast then its most definitely worth it. The amount of money that he has already helped generate from Old Boys already is A LOT! I’m sure your dad knows how much though so just ask him if you don’t know… I agree, people do want to shoot you down once you are at the top but as long as you don’t let it affect you as a school then you are good to go.
Just hope that all things will be ready in time for the schools 150th year. Promises to be a great year!
I’ve heard that the 2015 1st side will be touring to England, not sure if its true but that would be great.
@GreenBlooded:
I don’t know but if I were a staff member I’d be pretty thrilled. Maybe the boys will finally have a better response in class on a Monday after games vs Glenwood on the weekend.
He isn’t employed by the Government and by the Governing Body which means this is where the ‘semi-private’part of the school kicks in…
Grassy yep I think it’s a difficult line headmasters have to walk in this environment. Any school which recruits actively (which seems like pretty much all schools now) will give some other school a bloody nose and I guess that’s just what it boils down to. Maintaining good relations with opposition schools and the public in this environment of active recruitment must be really tricky. It would be great to have someone like Kershaw at DHS if he could do anything for our rugby as he has for Glenwood’s but who knows what the future holds.
Besides all that politics though, were you at the Kearsney Festival this year ? I was pretty taken aback by the size of the players. Those team sheets of height and weight sure made for some interesting reading. In my day in the mid 90’s, you might have 1 or 2 players who were just naturally much bigger than the other guys and stuck out like a sore thumb. Guys like Leyton Pardy or Paul de Bruin were a lot bigger naturally and then most of the other forwards would all be around 85kgs. It’s definitely a different story now. I think the whole EG Jansen front row weighted 110kgs or more. The Affies no 6 was 1.95 and 116kgs if I remember correctly – pretty insane numbers for schoolboys ! Beet sent that article around which showed not only is this year’s SA Schools side heavier than the 1992 Bok side but they were taller as well. I thought height was purely a genetic thing but obviously these kids are getting better nutrition or hormones in their meat or something ? I was glad I was sitting nice and comfortably in the stands that’s for sure ha ha
Beet would you mind setting me up with that beautiful Blue and Gold jersey please ? Thanks
@HORSEFLY NO.1: How did the DHS staff take to this whole CEO idea? Is this allowed in a Govt school setup (SA Schools Act)??
@Horsie, a CEO will be expensive probably a bar or more a year. Although if they can attract that much money or more from Old Boys and other sponsorship then it’s worth it. Thinking out of the box like Glenwood did a few years back pays rewards, but remember when you reach the top everybody wants to shoot you down….Glenwood knows all to well and they were only there for a few years…
@Grasshopper:
If the whole CEO thing works out, I think you’ll find that a lot of schools will start using the idea and why wouldn’t they,it sounds like a smart thing to do.
Wonder if Fennell will be coaching rugby though? He did coach some 1st XVs in his time…
@Horsie, unless like DHS they appoint a CEO who is paid by the parents and old Boys and not involved with teaching……
@Horsie, I don’t think a semi gov school can decide, it’s up to the education dept to decide who goes where. It maybe influenced if the head wants to leave…it seems senior education staff are shuffled around the top schools…
@Grasshopper:
I wouldn’t do that, Trevor doing a lot of good things but hey we won’t mind snatching him up if GWD ever decides to let him go.
@Henkies, ask Beet to change your jersey as he manages that. My dad and uncle are DHS Old Boys contributing to the DHS money pot as they got sick of getting beaten by us and others. It will be a balancing of the system where the rugby talent was only going to a handful of schools, Glenwood being one. Let’s just say Maher had 10 years and like Magner was a traditionalist not focusing on sport. Kershaw has upped the game with Hall at Westville, hence the ego clash. For me is Kershaw can’t come to an agreement for the sake of the boys and keep so quiet when the school is getting bashed from every angle means he can’t take the heat in the kitchen. If you can’t take the heat, move on. Also, change is usually for the good and I would like change at Glenwood to freshen things up and stop the negativity towards the school. A strong character at the helm with good PR skills is required….
Horsey, Grassy how you guys? Good to be on this blog after rugby365 froze us out. Now I need to just figure out how to load up my school rugby jersey icon and I’ll be up and running !
Grassy you’re lucky to be back home to watch a few games. I was back at home for the Kearsney Festival which I saw two days of and it was like gold dust. It definitely beats scrounging around on Youtube for any bits of schoolboy rugby. Watching schoolboy rugby is one of things I miss the most about being over here.
Yep our school rugby system is starting to resemble an American college style set up isn’t it – each school trying to attract the best young players in the country. Going to a school just because your old man was there isn’t the big drawcard anymore ha ha.
Well if you can’t beat em you have to join em and DHS was pedestrian like in adapting to the times. Dave Magner was a traditionalist and although that was admirable in its own way, DHS is now in a position where there is some major catching up to do. So lets see how it goes.
Would you really want a change of headmaster Grassy when Glenwood rugby has been so strong for the last 10 years ?
@Henkies, yep based in Cape Town now but definitely going to make the trip to Durban for the big derbies, if they happen. It seems DHS will be improving but won’t be playing their biggest Durban rival, according to a few rumours by bloggers on here. I had to endure the drought of wins in the 90’s for Glenwood, so things can be turned around. I fear it maybe too late to take over the top spot for good though. All the schools are competitive now. There are not many big wins amongst the top 8 anymore…
@Grasshopper:
Didn’t say that… But yes,true. Also,there has to be an eventual no.1 anyways every year,so in some years there will be a team from any school that will smash all the others, we won’t always be the same.
@Henkies:
Nice to have you here Henkies, and yes, I too have had a similar depression, tough indeed!
Ah at last! Could these two blokes from KES be our saviour and help rid me of the depression I’ve had for the last 11 years of following DHS rugby? It’s been a tough old ride I tell you. Grassy are you back in the Cape now ? You’ve managed to make the move back from London town. You must be loving it.
@Horsie, I don’t think it will be a case of DHS spanking everyone but more of being on par with the others…..closer games are more exciting anyway…
@GreenBlooded:
Not following. About what?
@HORSEFLY NO.1: Are you sure about that? Heard there were some rumblings about it down at Truro House………
@The Beast:
Not yet Beasty,not yet. Give it a few years and it will happen eventually.give it time…
@Gungets Tuft:
He has already done so much since he was announced as CEO but he OFFICIALLY starts in January, lots of excitement about what he’s going to do…
@Horsie, maybe Kershaw will go across the road back to his alma mater and Glenwood could get some fresh blood in the form of a passionate Old boy. Kershaw has done a brilliant job, but he is like marmite you either love him or hate him, so he rubs some people up the wrong way. I would like to see a change as he has been at the helm over a decade now, but no promotions internally….
@HORSEFLY NO.1: When is Mike Fennell going to actually start. The engines have been running for a while now …???
@HORSEFLY NO.1: Cos DHS are gonna spank the locust bottoms!!!!
@The Beast:
Why so?
OK, this has obviously been the worst period of DHS rugby from 2008 onwards. I think this is about to change, if Grant does the amazing job he’s done as head of rugby at kes for dhs,things will change sooner rather than later…
@Greenwood:
Yes the demographics are a problem and are the reason for a poor participation level in rugby but I do get the feeling that the better the sport gets at School the better the demographics will get.
@Grasshopper:
I think that the major puzzle piece that’s left is the Headmaster position now,I just hope for a passionate,all-round old boy for the position, not softies who only care about music and drama!
@Grasshopper: @Greenwood: Seems as though the locusts could be in for a tougher time in KZN come 5 years time?
@Greenwood, of course DHS will be back with this sort of team. It will take 5 years though to turn the results around. They will also need to improve the depth. hahah, I was part of the disasterous 90’s, 1994, 1995 and 1996 being the worst probably in the schools history. We got 50 from College often….
The flies will be back – there is no doubt about that
they are doing what Glenwood did in the late 90’s
they made a decision to improve their rugby which they did and had a good decade 2000-2010 . Glenwood had a phathetic 1990 -1999 but that all changed
only concern here is the DHS demographics although they will no doubt join the “incentive” scheme brigade to lure players to “school” that seems to abound – as example Northwood as blogged by others here – am I being hypocritical as a greenblooded animal? to a point I probably am
watch this space … lots of bloggers hybernating at this time though