From the SA Rugby website press release:
The Academy programme, which was launched in 2015, aims to balance formal education with high performance training and player welfare. Thanks to the vital support from corporates through the Rugby Education Foundation (REF) and Academy sponsors, Remgro (through the Stellenbosch Academy of Sport) and SuperSport, over 100 players have participated in the project and received education bursaries to date.The 2019 programme, which kicks off on Sunday, 3 February and runs until 20 April, will be steered by Junior Springbok coach Chean Roux, assistant coach Bafana Nhleko and SA Rugby High Performance Manager, Louis Koen.
In line with the programme’s objective of ensuring holistic player development on and off the field, all the participants will be enrolled for various degrees, national diplomas, national certificates and short courses, which will be backed up by life skills and mentorship programmes and regular tutor sessions.
“These 45 players are among the best Under-19 and Under-20 players in the country, and we are delighted to assist in their development both and off the field,” said SA Rugby CEO Jurie Roux.
“Last year we had 30 players in the programme, so it is fantastic that we have been able to include more players this year, and this is all thanks to our sponsors. I would like to thank the corporates who support our Rugby Education Foundation, as well as Remgro and SuperSport, for making this possible.”
Roux had high hopes for the squad and said: “The objective of the SA Rugby Academy is to develop top-class rugby players who can advance through our structures to the Junior Springboks and our senior national teams in future, and who can contribute to society off the field after rugby, and we believe this group of players has the potential to achieve that.
“The fact that most of these players have come through our SA Rugby Under-16 to Under-18 Elite Player Development structures is also evidence that our development programme is working.”
Academy players
| # | A/G | POS | NAME | SCHOOL | UNION |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | u20 | PR | Asenathi Ntlabakanye | 1 of 1 St Stithians | 1 of 4 Lions |
| 2 | u20 | PR | Kudzwai Dube | 1 of 1 Muir | 1 of 8 Bulls |
| 3 | u20 | PR | Nkosikhona Masuku | 1 of 1 Parktown | 2 of 4 Lions |
| 4 | u19 | PR | Thabiso Mdletshe | 1 of 4 Glenwood | 1 of 14 Sharks |
| 5 | u19 | PR | Hanro Jacobs | 1 of 1 Paul Roos | 2 of 14 Sharks |
| 6 | u20 | HK | Fezokuhle Mbatha | 1 of 1 Maritzburg College | 3 of 14 Sharks |
| 7 | u20 | HK | Dameon Venter | 1 of 1 Helpmekaar | 3 of 4 Lions |
| 8 | u20 | HK | Joe van Zyl | 1 of 3 Affies | 2 of 8 Bulls |
| 9 | u19 | LK | Lunga Ncube | 2 of 4 Glenwood | 4 of 14 Sharks |
| 10 | u20 | LK | Elrigh Louw | 1 of 1 Transvalia | 1 of 2 Free State |
| 11 | u20 | LK | Emile van Heerden | 1 of 4 HJS Paarl BH | 5 of 14 Sharks |
| 12 | u20 | LK | JJ van der Mescht | 3 of 4 Glenwood | 6 of 14 Sharks |
| 13 | u20 | LK | Janko Swanepoel | 1 of 2 Stellenberg | 3 of 8 Bulls |
| 14 | u19 | FL | Sibusiso Sangweni | 1 of 2 Kearsney | 4 of 4 Lions |
| 15 | u20 | FL | Dylan Richardson | 2 of 2 Kearsney | 7 of 14 Sharks |
| 16 | u20 | FL | Evan Roos | 2 of 4 HJS Paarl BH | 8 of 14 Sharks |
| 17 | u20 | FL | Jaco Labuschagne | 2 of 3 Affies | 4 of 8 Bulls |
| 18 | u19 | N8 | Celimpilo Gumede | 1 of 3 DHS | 9 of 14 Sharks |
| 19 | u20 | N8 | Phendulani Buthelezi | 2 of 3 DHS | 10 of 14 Sharks |
| 20 | u20 | N8 | Francke Horn | 3 of 4 HJS Paarl BH | 1 of 7 WP |
| 21 | u20 | SH | Sanele Nohamba | 3 of 3 DHS | 11 of 14 Sharks |
| 22 | u20 | SH | Vusile Dlepu | 1 of 1 SACS | 2 of 7 WP |
| 23 | u19 | SH | Jaden Hendrikse | 4 of 4 Glenwood | 12 of 14 Sharks |
| 24 | u20 | FH | David Coetzer | 1 of 2 Selborne | 3 of 7 WP |
| 25 | u19 | CT | Mnombo Zwelendaba | 2 of 2 Selborne | 4 of 7 WP |
| 26 | u20 | CT | James Mollentze | 1 of 1 Outeniqua | 2 of 2 Free State |
| 27 | u20 | CT | Jay Cee Nel | 1 of 1 Oakdale | 5 of 8 Bulls |
| 28 | u20 | CT | Marnus Potgieter | 3 of 3 Affies | 6 of 8 Bulls |
| 29 | u20 | CT | Rikus Pretorius | 1 of 2 Grey College | 5 of 7 WP |
| 30 | u20 | WG | Angelo Davids | 2 of 2 Stellenberg | 6 of 7 WP |
| 31 | u20 | B3 | Caleb Dingaan | 1 of 1 Weston | 13 of 14 Sharks |
| 32 | u20 | B3 | Qamani Kota | 1 of 1 Welkom Gim | 7 of 8 Bulls |
| 33 | u20 | B3 | Sebastian Jobb | 1 of 1 Duineveld | 8 of 8 Bulls |
| 34 | u20 | B3 | Thaakir Abrahams | 4 of 4 HJS Paarl BH | 14 of 14 Sharks |
| 35 | u20 | B3 | David Kriel | 2 of 2 Grey College | 7 of 7 WP |
| Academy 1 attendees | |||||
| 1 | u19 | PR | Mthokozisi Gumede | DHS | Bulls |
| 2 | u20 | PR | Keagan Glade | KES | Lions |
| 3 | u20 | PR | Francois Klopper | Voortrekker (Beth) | Sharks |
| 4 | u20 | LK | Jeandre Labuschagne | Maritzburg College | Sharks |
| 5 | u20 | FL | Mandisi Mthiyane | DHS | Lions |
| 6 | u20 | FL | Vian Fourie | HJS Paarl BH | Sharks |
| 7 | u20 | SH | Sylvester Hassien | Outeniqua | Leopards |
| 8 | u20 | FH | Vaughen Isaacs | Marlow | Bulls |
| 9 | u19 | B3 | Asanda Kunene | DHS | Sharks |
| 10 | u20 | B3 | Muzi Manyike | Jeppe | Lions |
| 11 | u20 | B3 | Prince Nkabinde | Hoogenhout | Lions |
| 12 | u19 | B3 | Sibabalwe Xamlashe | Selborne | WP |
| Training Camp 1 attendees | |||||
| 1 | u20 | PR | Dian Bleuler | Oakdale | WP |
| 2 | u20 | PR | James Scott | Grey HS | Sharks |
| 4 | u20 | LK | Deon van Niekerk | Noord-Kaap | Free State |
| 5 | u20 | FL | Orateng Koikanyang | St Alban’s | Bulls |
| 6 | u20 | FL | Mark Snyman | Helpmekaar | Lions |
| 7 | u20 | FH | Henry Chamberlain | HJS Paarl BH | Sharks |
| 8 | u20 | FH | Christopher Schreuder | Grey College | WP |
| 9 | u20 | CT | Henk Cilliers | Grey College | Sharks |
| 10 | u20 | CT | Murray Koster | St Andrew’s | Sharks |
| 12 | u20 | FB | Conan Le Fleur | Glenwood | Sharks |
| Other SA Schools 2017 players | |||||
| 1 | u19 | PR | Jordan Clarke | Glenwood | |
| 2 | u19 | PR | Banele Mthenjane | Nelspruit | |
| 3 | u19 | HK | Morne Brandon | Monument | Lions |
| 4 | u20 | HK | Ruhann Greyling | Grey College | WP |
| 5 | u19 | LK | Adrian Alberts | HJS Paarl BH | Lions |
| 6 | u20 | LK | Christen van Niekerk | Monument | Lions/Scotland |
| 7 | u20 | FL | Henco Martins | Paarl Gim | WP |
| 8 | u20 | N8 | Travis Gordon | KES | Lions |
| 9 | u20 | CT | Yanga Hlalu | KES | Lions |
| 10 | u19 | CT | Diego Appollis | Garsfontein | Bulls |
| 11 | u20 | B3 | Muller Du Plessis | Paarl Gim | Sharks/SA 7’s |
| 12 | u20 | B3 | Kennedy Mpeku | KES | Lions |
Ek het n 1April grappie gehoor dat n O/18 losskakel van die Westelike Provinsie in die finale groep gaan wees.
Gaan die finale groep hoeveel spelers in hë?
@Quagga:in 2017 was vian fourie DIE premier fetcher in skole rugby nie in die groep nie, Adriaan Alberts, die nr 1 slot in skole rugby laas jaar, nie in die groep nie, Dewt Marais, die premier 7 flank laasjaar, nie in die goep nie, so kan ons aan gaan en aan gaan
@Rooikat: I know Henco Martins is still very active at the 7s. The rest I am not sure of.
@Smallies: Stem saam oor die numbers ding. Deesdae raak dit al groter en groter issue. Die numbers wat op die konstante metings gereflekteer word nog meer so……Ek dink outjies soos Janko van Heyniging byvoorbeeld loop oor van talent (maar hy was nie betrokke om toon teen teen te kon meeding met die ander manne nie.
@Smallies: Ken hom glad nie. Hoor net hy is tough op die outjies (waaroor ek bly is). Hulle reken die one-on-one sessies is ‘n riller.
@Smallies: Ek sal jou een ding sê, daardie seuns werk al sedert November, dus meer as 4 maande, hulle gatte af in bloedige warm omstandighede, so wegkruip plekke is daar min. Behalwe vir die paar beseerdes soos Swanepoel wat ‘n kamp hier of daar mis, asook die spelers wat by die Sharks en die Blitzbokke diens doen, is die groter groep aanwesig en gaan deur al die aktiwiteite. Ek verneem verskeie afrigters van die groter unies asook dié van die Bokke self was al betrokke, so hulle behoort op die regte spelers (wat betrokke is) te kan besluit.
@Quagga: julle moet onthou chean is n numbers coach, jy moet soveel weeg om n voory te wees, jy moet so lank wees vir n flank, jy moet so vinnig wees vir n vleuel, die man het totaal geen viessie nie en is so een dimensioneel soos n klip…
@Lat-Wiel: They could probably make up an entire squad of players that were deserving of the opportunity to give it a go, but were not involved since November. I am not so much concerned with those that have attended and were then omitted at a later camp. The closer they get the more nerve-racking it becomes because there is still some reductions pending as they work towards their final squad. What bugs me personally is that some players that I think could have added value were not part of the process at all, but that’s the thing about selections….nobody is ever 100% happy with the process nor the outcome.
Not one Paarl Gim player in the 35, strange given that Paarl Gim was one of the top teams when this age group played first team rugby!
@Lat-Wiel: ?Agree!
@Lat-Wiel: Mag ek se ek sal graag met jou saamstem?
@boerboel: jy vergeet dis chean roux wat die span kies…. N talent spotter par excellence
Waar is Boeta CHamberlain??
lag lag die beste loskakel o20 in SA?
@BrotherBear: Pepsi gaan volgende jaar sy hande vol he met Evan Roos wat ook by Sharks is.
@Wondermaar: ek dink politiek en in hierdie geval ‘n besering speel maar altyd ‘n rol. Sommige skiet deur en ander vat langer. Kyk jou maar vir Pepsi. Hy kry al blootstelling op S15 vlak maar daar is ‘n hele paar ander loosies wat net so goed en sommige selfs beter is, maar nie die kanse nou kry nie. Ek dink van die manne is per kans gelukkig om daar te kan wees. Tyd sal leer of hulle goed genoeg is.
@beet: Hulle gaan kies wie in hulle wedstrydplan pas, maar dit gaan my verstand te bowe dat die Bulle se twee groot skrumskakels nie daar is nie, of ten minste een van die twee.
@Wondermaar: Ek hoor die seun het ‘n knie operasie ondergaan en sal stellig dalk nie dié seisoen in aksie wees nie. Hoop maar hy is reg vir die Welpies in die o21 Currie Beker vanjaar. Glo hy gaan nog diep spore trap hier in leeu wereld.
@Lat-Wiel: ongelukkig lyk dit nie of mark se rugby so goed ontwikkel het na skool nie??? Is dit beserings of hoe???
@Smallies:sport sal nooit met politiek kan kompeteer nie. Kom ons lag weer saam?????
@Skopgraaf243: sodat jy beter kan hoor, ouma ;-)
@BrotherBear: why tell us twice?, is there an echo or is it just your empty opinion on KZN schools
@Vleis: 2017 DHS was a rumour.
@Vleis: 2017 DHS was a rumour.
@ForeverHorseFly: Six is a very impressive number, but I watched the St Alban’s 1st team of 2017 beat the DHS 1st team that contained said six players. Just shows that anything can happen in SBR.
@Dok F: Hy is by die Sewes-Akademie op Stellenbosch sover ek weet. Hy was verlede jaar vir enkele wedstryde vir WP O/19 op die plaasvervangersbank
Definitely the strongest group since 2007
@ForeverHorseFly: I was too lazy to correct after typing in Durban High School instead of DHS and as a result ending up with blanks
To elaborate – the formula I use did not pick up the long name so defaulted to blank
@Grizzly: ??
‘Freudian slip”, in a couple of years Sean could be a good choice for that job
Wat het geword van Henco Martins. 2017 se speler van die jaar by Cravenweek
@Human Piranha: Hope you enjoyed the holiday,maybe my intel was with you…hope above post clears up my confusion.
@Grizzly: i am a bit confused by your statement over Sean Erasmus ex coach of Boishaai, I was under the impression he has gone to the Lions. If I am not mistaken Chean Roux is in charge of the junior Boks, unless this changed while I was away on a long holiday?
@boerboel: Ek het verstaan hy vat by Klein Jurie oor wat Lions toe gaan,weet nie hoekom Nie.Sean by die Lions,nee wat,dan is daar geen hoop Nie.Die keuses maak darem nou meer sin@A4ie: Apologies…
Any particular reason why DHS’s name doesn’t appear next to its six boys on the list above? If i’m not mistaken, it makes them the highest represented school in this SA Academy squad.
@Grizzly: Jou Jean broekie is te styf
chean roux rig die 020s af-nie sean erasmus nie
dink egter ook daar is paar manne afwesig wat daar moes wees
@A4ie: Ja,Chean.Boyshigh??And you wearing the jearsy?
Some very talented players in the group. If the correct combinations are selected the team could be in the running. Some of the past fails in this group can be attributed to too much focus on attacking and not enough attention to defensive skills. See some of the BIG names not making the cut. Pond is only so big at the end of the day.
Really sad that Mark Snyman is not in the group. Believe he has the right combination of skills, attitude and leadership to go to the top. Let’s hope there is another route planned for him.
Glad for Dameon Venter that is in the final group. Seems he is working hard and impressed the decision-makers.
@Grizzly: Chean Roux , Boyshigh, ??
@Grizzly: Baie dankie. Ek het hom.
@Hooit: Nee wat,eks nie hier on vriende te maak nie.Ek verstaan jy en @@Riempies: het “skin in die game” en is moeilik om te se wat op die hart is.
Net terug na die slot conversation na flank toe.SA het nog nooit n tekort aan klassieke be 7’s gehad nie,nie eers in Springbok se maer jare nie.As ek vinnig dink,Gert Small,Johan Lampreght,Andre Venter,Bob Skinstad,Juan Smith en dan my favourite,Danie Rossow.
Fourie wat in n tydperk gespeel het van Matfield, McCaw,Carter,ens het gese dis die eerste naam wat hy pen as hy sy beste span moet Kies.In sy eie woorde het hy nie saam of teen n beter speler gespeel as Danie nie.
Ek dink Pieter-Stef is n revaluation op 7.Soos Danie kan die coach hom op albei pos gebruik.Ek dink spelers soos Eben Etzebeth,Mark Andrews,Krynow Otto en paar ander sou ook goeie 7’s gemaak het,imo is dit opsies en soos fyn goud om as n coach daai spelers in n span te he…..Nou lees tussen die lyne
@Riempies: ek stem saam jou
My opinie: Hulle gaan n moerse pak kry. En nee ek is nie suurgat nie net realisties
Ek nou al geleer om my opinie vir myself te hou op die vlak. Sal maar sien wat op die veld gebeur. Het darem stats van die 2017 SAS span en 2018 o/19 jaar om my opinie te staaf.
@Smallies: Onthou hierdie was daai huil groep wat gewhitewash is die incoming toer in ’17.Ek het nou bietjie gaan loer na daai thread en kommentaar.Drie goed staan uit,Kwaga van Niekerk was loshande die speler van die week,@Mikest het daar genoem dat hulle hom 7 toe moet convert ala Pieter Stef,ek stem 100% saam.Mark Snyman het n verskil gemaak as hy op kom en was die real deal in oorblywende games.Agter het net Diego en Muller hond haar gemaak en heeltyd probeer.Intresant is Kwaggas weg met Mark,Muller en Diego wat nie in is nie,ek weet ook nie of die groep finaal is nie.Dalk weet Sean iets wat ons nie weet nie,hy sal egter eers gejudge word in September.Eending is verseker,indien hy Nie slaag nie sal hy gou agterkom SA is nie so vrygewig soos Boishaai nie.Ek wens hom alle sterkte toe.
Die groep gaan soos verlede jaar se groep nerens kom nie, spelers wat virseker baie baie teleurgestel kan wees Alberts, Marais, LeFleur, Apollis,Aggencach, Muller Dup, Pheku..
Dankie vir die lys. Hanro Jacobs is mos die seun wat hulle Bunny noem. Ek is amper seker hy is onder neentien vanjaar?
(Editor corrected list after this comment made)
Ek wonder of Mark Snyman se afwesigheid ander ouens ook dwars in die krop sal steek. Hy hoort mos in daai geselskap en nogals as ‘n leier ook. Dalk is daar ‘n rede daarvoor ons kan maar net hoop. En dan Boeta Chamberlain was tog sekerlik een van die heel beste loskakels gewees verlede jaar?