Class of 2020 just can’t catch a break

I have to feel for rugby boys from the Class of 2020. After their matric year rugby season was cut hopelessly short by the onset of Covid, those who persevered and picked a career in rugby, have just had their hopes of featuring in the prestigious u20 Junior World Cup dashed.

World Rugby announced on Tuesday, 22/2/22, that the men’s World Rugby U20 Championship and World Rugby U20 Trophy would be organised in 2023 following three consecutive years without age-grade global tournaments.

World Rugby U20 Championship 2023 participating unions: Argentina, Australia, England, Fiji, France, Georgia, Ireland, Italy, Japan, New Zealand, South Africa, Wales.

Scotland, the rugby land with the most grandmothers and grandfathers,  has been related the u20 Trophy competition.

Some of the current crop of  u20 players who have experience of playing in the u20 provincial competition of 2021.

POS	NAME	UNION	SCHOOL
LH Prop	Heiko Pohlmann	Lions	Monument
LH Prop	Prince Mulea	Lions	KES
LH Prop	Braam Reyneke	Sharks	HJS Paarl BH
LH Prop	Cebolenkosi Dlamini	Bulls	Maritzburg College
TH Prop	Tielman Nieuwoudt	Bulls	Grey College
LH Prop	Lamla Nunu	WP	Rondebosch
LH Prop	Vernon Matongo	WP	Northwood
TH Prop	Munashe Mhere	Sharks	St Stithians
TH Prop	Sebastian Lombard	Bulls	HJS Paarl BH
TH Prop	Corne Weilbach	WP	Paul Roos
Hooker	Ricardo Fourie	Lions	Grey College
Hooker	Jordan McLoughlin	Sharks	Selborne
Hooker	Keagan Potgieter	Bulls	Affies
Hooker	Reuben van der Nest	Bulls	Selborne
Hooker	Tiaan Lange	Bulls	Menlopark
Hooker	Keagan Blanckenberg	WP	Bishops
Hooker	Lukhanyo Vokozela	WP	Rondebosch
Lock	Justin Kalamer	Lions	Jeppe
Lock	Henk Gouws	Lions	Glenwood
Lock	Corne Rahl	Sharks	Oakdale
Lock	Andrew Beyrooti	Sharks	St Charles
Lock	Ruan Delport	Bulls	Garsfontein
Lock	Marco de Witt	Bulls	Boland Landbou
Lock	Hardus Rothman	Bulls	Ermelo
Lock	Reinhardt Ludwig	Bulls	Affies
Lock	Connor Evans	WP	Bishops
Loose-forward	Ruan Venter	Lions	HJS Paarl BH
Loose-forward	Sisonke Vumazonke	Lions	Grey College
Loose-forward	Joshua van Vreden	Lions	Selborne
Loose-forward	Jaques Marais	Sharks	Nelspruit
Loose-forward	Damon Royle	Sharks	Grey HS
Loose-forward	Siyambuka Ningiza	Sharks	Port Rex
Loose-forward	Enos Ndiao	Sharks	SACS
Loose-forward	Renzo du Plessis	Sharks	Ben Vorster
Loose-forward	Rynard Mouton	Bulls	Monument
Loose-forward	Eric Basson	Bulls	Paarl Gim
Loose-forward	Willie Potgieter	Bulls	Affies
Loose-forward	Cameron Hanekom	Bulls	Charlie Hofmeyr
Loose-forward	Armand Maritz	WP	Paul Roos
Loose-forward	Louw Nel	WP	Paarl Gim
Scrumhalf	Nico Steyn	Lions	Glenwood
Scrumhalf	Bradley Davids	Sharks	Paarl Gim
Scrumhalf	Tiaan Fourie	Bulls	Grey College
Scrumhalf	Rowan Cloete	Bulls	Garsfontein
Scrumhalf	Johan Muller	Bulls	Affies
Flyhalf	Sihlalo Benge	Lions	Queen’s
Flyhalf	Warrick Day	Sharks	Selborne
Flyhalf	Sacha Mngomezulu	WP	Bishops
Centre	Liyema Matyolweni	Lions	Grey HS
Centre	Josh Jonas	Lions	Hudson Park
Centre	Brandon Wilkie	Sharks	Framesby
Centre	Ethan Fisher	Sharks	KES
Centre	Lloyd Koster	Sharks	St Andrew’s
Centre	Mambo Mkhize	Sharks	Westville
Centre	Carlton Banies	Bulls	Garsfontein
Centre	Niel Beukes	Bulls	Menlopark
Centre	Ethan James	WP	Paarl Gim
Centre	Meyr Retief	WP	Stellenberg
Wing	Siviwe Zondani	Sharks	Grey HS
Wing	Curwin Gertse	Sharks	Paarl Gim
Wing	Simelela Nkomo	Sharks	Westville
Wing	Sonwabo Sokoyi	Bulls	Grey College
Wing	Bayanda Ngubane	Bulls	Westville
Wing	Ebenezer Tshimanga	WP	Wynberg
Wing	Luke Burger	WP	Paul Roos
Wing	Paschal Ekeji	WP	Witteberg
Fullback	Setshaba Mokoena	Lions	Jeppe
Fullback	Matthew Jacobs	Sharks	Paarl Gim
Fullback	Katlego Thinyane	Sharks	Glenwood
Fullback	Lathe Nqebe	Sharks	Grey HS
Fullback	Duran Koevort	WP	SACS