Two promising young rugby players have left Grey College and returned to their old stomping ground Selborne after spending just a few months in Bloemfontein.
There is a second thing that just about all the news making sportsmen who have left Selborne for anywhere in the hopes of finding greener pastures have in common – they have all as some stage desperately wanted to return to the East London school.
Not all who have had that overwhelming desire to return have been given the opportunity, but this week the two lucky under-17 rugby players will once again get to experience that home is where the heart is feeling that Selborne clearly invokes. Selborne must be doing something right! And perhaps it takes leaving for some to truly appreciate what makes the place so special.
Both youngsters were exceptional for Selborne at under-16 level last year and got invited to SARU’s green squad camp held at the end of the third term in 2017.
For 2018 and beyond they initially pledged their futures to Grey College and went on to be part of Grey’s 1st XV squad for the opening match at Welkom Gymnasium.
Making the 1st XV at Grey College is no mean feat. The competition for places is fierce in any given year. To achieve 1st XV squad member status as an under-17 is an outstanding accomplishment, especially when one factors in that in 2017 Grey had such a good under-16 team containing numerous high quality players.
A fair assumption would have been to say that the two youngsters were living the dream at Grey College, but as it turned out, it was not their dream.
Now the next challenge lies with Selborne’s coaching staff and school management. How do they go about integrating these two returners into their 1st XV in an acceptable manner and without disruptions?
@McCulleys Workshop: Hi! Now you’ve hurt my feelings!
I can say this, however, both my halves tell it the way it is.
And also, check who denied it – not very credible bloggers.
@Playa: he was in selborne for only one year
@Playa: and from where did selborne get wycliff???? Burgersdorp, wycliff moved to selborne in his grade 7 year only after he was noticed the previous year at u 12 level, moved to Grey start of grade 8 as Burgersdorp is much closer to bloem than EL….
@Oakdale supporter: Definitely not a transformation matter.
@BoishaaiPa: Already happening…Wycliffe Vlitoor
@star: Howzit Star, Happy to pony up a case in the trifector! I was very surprised. The House team has been very competitive through the age groups. Watched them against KC and they seemed rusty which was understandable. I believe that there were 5 players out, but no excuse. The Westville U16 Coach is good, but a reprobate.
@CharlesZA: of dalk het die vrystaat potensiaal gesien in die twee manne en wou hulle dalk nie weer vas aan die slaap gevang word soos verlede jaar nie…
@McCulleys Workshop: I have been trying to get confirmation of the double. Just Hilton v House to go. Also were you not surprized at the House U16A result(7-50) against Westville as that team had never lost to Westville.
@Oakdale supporter: I don’t think that was in play here, but I do foresee it to be a big factor in coming years. Watch the star players from Queens and Dale jnr and other primary schools producing provincial players being targeted in the coming years..
@Playa: I don’t know anything about these two players or their backgrounds, but cannot help to wonder about transformation targets for schools. I might be completely wrong.
@CharlesZA:
@Playa: Hate losing to Boishaai.
@McCulleys Workshop: De – nial is not just a river in Africa.
I don’t get why a school that easily fields 10+ open teams on a weekly basis would go recruiting at open level. Especially one that consistently has a 2nd team that could make the Top 20 1st XV rankings in most seasons. While their 3rds are probably top 30 material.
@Djou: Howzit Djou, ya but you don’t count because you are half and half. There was sanctimonious strong denial a season or two back. But as Renier says, I think they have left the house.
@Slam: They returned because Montpelier’ prerequisite for scholarship was that the recipients has to be fluent in Afrikaans.
@Slam:
I want the details of Selborne’s sangoma that always has the ability to bring back their recruited boys.
@McCulleys Workshop: Not true. I mentioned it many a time. Grey does recruit and scholars do receive bursaries. As far back as when I was at school.
Without having asked the schools about it, I have a feeling the initial move was a very transparent one which did not cause any animosity. I say this because Grey actually rescheduled their match with Paarl Boys’ High to make sure they could play Selborne on a weekend when Selborne were free. The knock on effect of the Grey vs Boishaai match having to move to a week earlier was that they lost their Premier Interschools televised game slot. So it was quite a big sacrifice in the end.
@McCulleys Workshop: Methinks they have left the building.
@Rainier: Sure they were, I’m just calling out the virginal Grey supporters who have never admitted to that. I thought they may have got there by wind pollination.
These two kids probably felt like I do every day reading comments on this site…more Afrikaans than English
Not sure why they wanted to go from a tier 1 to another tier 1 school as good as Grey College is. Looks like they didn’t take into consideration what happened to David Brits when he moved schools only to return to East London.
Party laaitys sukkel maar met die aanpassing na koshuislewe… Is maar nie maklik nie
@McCulleys Workshop: They were on bursaries.
I’m just glad Grey don’t buy players.
@CharlesZA:
Hakker en slot
What position do the 2 boys play? Would like to keep an eye on them.