Without doubt the surprise package team of 2023 to date has to be Mpumalanga’s Secunda. In schoolboy rugby ranking circles, it was literally a school name that would be browsed over in the past, but now Secunda are rubbing noses with some of SA’s big hitters and doing really well.
Secunda plays in the Noordvaal Shield. That is effectively the third division for the co-ed schools of the old Transvaal region. No doubt there is some money behind the rugby programme now. To gain promotion in the Noordvaal, all the age group teams results combined are taken into account, so consistency to a degree is vital. There is still work to be done but for 2023, in a year in which Nelspruit 1st XV appears to be struggling (and lost to Secunda in a practice match), HTS Middelburg are going through a deep rugby trough and Hoërskool Middelburg consistent but nothing more, its looking increasingly likely that the Pumas region top guns are going to be Secunda.
Due to Drostdy’s North-South Festival being cancelled in 2023, Secunda has spread their wings to take up opportunities to tour and play around the country. The ambition is paying off. They are competitive and performing admirably. The exposure they are gaining is evident.
FIXTURE LIST 2023
| DATE | SCHOOL | SCHOOL | INFO | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sat.04Mar | Secunda | <15> | <0> | Nelspruit | ||
| Sat.11Mar | Hilton | <19> | <27> | Secunda | ||
| Sat.18Mar | Paul Roos | 17 | 05 | Secunda | Outeniqua 100th | |
| Thu.23Mar | Jim Fouche | – | – | Secunda | ||
| Mon.27Mar | Secunda | – | – | Kearsney | @ Nico Malan | |
| Wed.29Mar | Daniel Pienaar | – | – | Secunda | ||
| Sat.15Apr | John Vorster | – | – | Secunda | ||
| Sat.22Apr | Pietersburg | – | – | Secunda | ||
| Sat.06May | Secunda | – | – | Hans Moore | ||
| Sat.13May | Secunda | – | – | Jeugland | ||
| Sat.27May | Secunda | – | – | Lichtenburg | ||
| Sat.10Jun | Ligbron | – | – | Secunda | ||
| Sat.22Jul | Ben Vorster | – | – | Secunda | ||
| Sat.29Jul | Oos-Moot | – | – | Secunda | ||
| Sat.05Aug | Secunda | – | – | Hugenote (Springs) | ||
| Sat.12Aug | Heidelberg VS | – | – | Secunda |
@Middies pa: Môre man. Net ‘n regstelling asb. Outeniqua het julle en Paul Roos genooi.
Ek neem aan geen post matrieks nie?
Middies se o/16 spannetjie het laas week teen Paul Roos gespeel en 28 – 10 verloor (4 drieë teen 2). Die manne was in die begin ‘n bietjie groot oog, maar later onthou dat rugby orals dieselfde is. Ek dink dit was goeie blootstelling. Hoe meer kanse hierdie skole soos Secunda, Middelburg en Anker kry om teen die groot honde te speel, hoe beter. Hulle kry ongelukkig nie baie geleentheid nie aangesien die groot toernooie op uitnodiging werk. Baie dankie aan Paul Roos vir die uitnodiging. Dit was ‘n wonderlike ervaring vir die manne. Vir party van hulle was dit die eerste keer op ‘n vliegtuig.
@Mate: baie nice skooltjie net so 8 yster weg van Graceland Casino en golf course. Gaan bly een naweek daar oor, speel n rondte golf en kyk n game dan kan jy vir ons lekker terugvoering gee
Thank you Beet for showing me where Secunda is
I thought it was somewhere in the Congo