The Lions look set to travel to George for the u18 Craven Week 2023 with a very strong team. They will be in action in a warm-up against the Leopards on Tuesday 30 May 2023.
| # | LIONS XV | SCHOOL | # | LIONS XV | SCHOOL |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Boela de Wet | Helpmekaar | 1 | Muller van Reenen | Monument |
| 2 | Ruan Welman | Helpmekaar | 2 | Stefan Uys | Monument |
| 3 | Ulrich vd Merwe | Helpmekaar | 3 | Joshua Aube | KES |
| 4 | Jacques Botha | Monument | 4 | RJ Barnard | Monument |
| 5 | Ulrich vd Westhuizen | Monument | 5 | Juan Fourie | Noordheuwel |
| 6 | Jamaal Feldman | Monument | 6 | Risima Khosi | Jeppe |
| 7 | Thandolwethu Biyela | KES | 7 | Ulrich Swart | Helpmekaar |
| 8 | Christiaan Steyn | Helpmekaar | 8 | Henrico Germishuizen | Marais Viljoen |
| 9 | Ceano Everson | Monument | 9 | Bryce Samuel | Jeppe |
| 10 | JT Kapank | Noordheuwel | 10 | Junayden Seffier | KES |
| 11 | Kelvin van Wyk | Monument | 11 | Khotadzo Rashivanga | Jeppe |
| 12 | McMillen Mongwana | Jeppe | 12 | Juandre Theron | Marais Viljoen |
| 13 | Rynhardt vd Linden | Helpmekaar | 13 | Christie Botes | Monument |
| 14 | Cheswill Jooste | Noordheuwel | 14 | T Oluwole | KES |
| 15 | Jody Schambreel | Monument | 15 | Lindsay Jansen | Noordheuwel |
| 16 | Siphosethu Mndebelele | KES | 16 | Juandre Schoeman | Noordheuwel |
| 17 | Jandre Labuschagne | Helpmekaar | 17 | L Moloi | KES |
| 18 | Ricardo du Plessis | Monument | 18 | Joseph Zulu | Jeppe |
| 19 | Cephas van Biljon | Marais Viljoen | 19 | Rudolph Coetzee | Noordheuwel |
| 20 | Kebotile Maake | KES | 20 | Lesedi Masimole | Jeppe |
| 21 | Daylon Meyners | Monument | 21 | R van Rensburg | KES |
| 22 | Caleb Lombard | KES | 22 | O Mehlomakulu | KES |
| 23 | Exauce Kevani | Jeppe | 23 | Jade Muller | Noordheuwel |
| 24 | Tirhani Masondo | KES | 24 | Christian Tonkon | Helpmekaar |
| 25 | Vusi Moyo | KES |
@Kaya 85:
@Grizzly: @Mate: and the great Bok lock Louis Moolman apparently played 2nd team fullback at school
@Rainier: and then they took their stuff and trekked
@Roger: yes you are correct. I loved that team.
@beet: yes sorry, Chris Rogers was the Transvaal hooker mid 80s (Harry Roberts came a bit later)
@beet: Sorry then ’88.
@Grizzly: The 1987 CW Final was Natal vs Transvaal. Draw.
@beet: Didnt he played in the 87 final CW,Freestate vs Province.Ruben and kie..
@Grizzly: @Mate: Pieter “Slaptjips” Rossouw is the same.
He was 2nd XV at Paarl Gim so didn’t ever play in the Interskole main game.
Hendrik Truter het 2/3de span slot gespeel op Linden
Die Cloete broers van OVS, Andre en Maruis het 3de span vir Wesvalia van Klerksdorp gespeel
@Kaya 85: Jaques Olivier het net 2des gespeel vir Menlo in HS.Eers toe hy koshuis rugby gespeel het us hy raak gesien en op getrek TUKS toe deur die ranks.
@Rainier: kan net dink wat se sirkus dit was 😂😂😂
@Smallies: Dit is ‘n lekker deli en eetplek.
In die 90’s het die klub Grand Challenge rugby gespeel, was ‘n moeilike game op hulle veld gewees.
Die hele span was Ferreiras gewees.
@Ploegskaar: Rhodesia had a more that decent team those days. Other players who I remember are Rob Stewart, Ian Buchanan, Ian Robertson, Kevin Schlachter, LeRoy Duberleigh, Danny Delport, to name a few!
@Rainier: O wow, het voor Covid nog op sy plaas by hom gebraai. Ja, goeie mens.
@Vleis: Yes, really sad!
@Rainier: Patensie is n gawe plek ,het nie lank terug nie daar by padlangs ge lunch
@Djou: Scheepers is nou die bestuurder van Patensie Golf Klub – fantastiese mens.
@Djou: Conrad De Beer is n diep suksesvolle aartappel boer in die Christiana omgewing ,baie goeie gholfer ook
@Djou: Very sadly, the lock of that 80/81 GCB team passed away suddenly, earlier this year.
@Kaya 85: @Ploegskaar: @beet: good memories guys! Chris Rogers preceded Harry Roberts – tough as teak Rhodie! Remember when good ‘ol Louis Luyt “bought” Carel and Michael Du Plessis up from WP!? Schalk Naude was another TVL legend – could kick like a mule !
@beet: Ex Rhodesia with Ray Mordt and David Smith
Another name I came across was Chris Rogers.
@Kaya 85: Charles Pieterse is another good name. Bartman and Breedt were obviously superstars that will always be remembered by that generation but Pieterse had his moments for sure.
@beet: 11, good memory buddy
@KES Oldboy: And before JJ it was Hendrik Kruger. Family of Naas if I remember correctly. Got run over by Niel Burger a few times
@Kaya 85: Somewhere in there was Naas Botha’s cousin Hendrik Kruger. He was a Bulls wing but might have been a right wing
@theblackandwhite: Jeppe put up lots of jam tart. KES played Monnas a lot more than Jeppe in the ‘80’s and early 90’s as far as I remember, not Jeppe. Probably because of Jeppe’s lack of strength then 😂😬KES have a very good record against Monnas but not in the modern era. Jeppe looking good for next two to three years if one looks at age group results. As does KES. But that is because we play the likes of Affies , Garsies Monnas et al at the various Easter tournaments in Gauteng , with specific reference to the Under 15 Affies tourno as well as your U 16 weekend at Jeppe. Gap is definitely closing. I think it depends what the “ powers that be” at both schools want for their respective rugby programmes and their status as rugby schools. Not an easy task.
@Roger: @beet:
And the forwards in those days: Piet Kruger, Harry Roberts, Barabas Venter, Daan Badenhorst, Andre Skinner, Lappies Labuschagne, Wahl Bartman, Charles Pieterse, Jannie Breedt…mid to late 80s
@Vleis: Bulls left wing…maybe Jaques Olivier?
@Roger: Pietr Hendriks now sells jewelry on youtube…
@BoishaaiPa: ja maar onthou ek was n voory,almal was vinnig vir my
@beet: John Robbie was 1980’s wasn’t he? I remember – Garth Wright, Cameron Oliver (good old Natal boy and tragically killed in a car accident) Warren McCann, James Small and Gav Lawless – Hugo Van As, Hempas Rademeyer, Henrik Truter, Dries Maritz and then after McCann came Pieter Hendricks – properly fast as well!
Liaan Kirkham was brilliant – fearless tackler!
@Roger: I remember the Transvaal backline from the mid 1990s.
It was John Robbie, Robbie Blair, wing, Hugo van As, Dries Maritz, Hempies Rademeyer, the Great Liaan Kirkham who was one of my favourites.
There was a prop with a great name – Barabas Venter
Harry Roberts – nice blast from the past name
@KES Oldboy: yes I’m sure it came up in a live rugby broadcast when Small came on the scene that he ran 10.5s for the 100m
@Smallies: @Die Ken: These days Errol Stewart is the chairman of the Durban Country Club
@Smallies: Do you remember that McCann didn’t have the best hands? Then he was selected for the SA relay team – I kid you not, he dropped the baton!
@Vleis: Agreed – he only slowed down after school. In my last conversation with James, I asked him if he ran 10.4 for 100m in matric. He said “10.37, and if you were a sprinter you would understand the difference”
@Vleis: Before Jacques Olivier came on the scene it was JJ van der Walt.
@Vleis: he did play 2nd team scrum-half. Mars Vorster was the 1st team scrum half & captain of N.Tvl schools.
@Grant: It could go either way – and judging by the 2nd team we could be in for 2 close encounters next season too. I like it this way, its nice when either team could win. This derby has also become a lot more enjoyable of late, it was a little “hot-headed” for a while not so long ago.
@theblackandwhite: correct BnW but of the games played, three were against Boys High to make up fixtures. I’m VERY worried about 28 July …..
@Grant: Correct – Jeppe won 5 games with 1 draw in 16 games. I was surprised that the scores were as close as they were in the lower age groups, there were no real “blow outs” compared to the Affies fixture.
Does anyone know why Monnas and Jeppe don’t play annually – I understand that 15 years ago Jeppe may not have been competitive enough, but it appears that has changed in the last 7 or 8 years.
The only thing that I can assume is that it is difficult to get a weekend that suits both schools. The boys schools generally have to fill a Saturday with 18 rugby teams as well as 18 hockey teams which could get tricky. Also Monument have a lot of tournament and festival commitments.
Gouws played flyhalf for EP, the rest for Free State, except for Botha, who went into athletics and became the SA long-jump champ.
@Die Ken: Jeppe won 3 out of 16 games against Monnas. But if one checks the scores of the losses against Monnas compared to Affies it’s day and night.
@Die Ken: daarsy nou ,ek het gaan lees ,Steward was n merkwaardige sportman gewees SA skole in Rugby en Krieket asook natal kleure in hokkie,en atletiek….
@Grant: I think Jeppe only won the u/19 A game out of 16 or 18 matches earlier this year vs Monnas?
@Smallies: Korrek. Natal krieket gespeel. Jeremy Thompson is die man wat sy hare so wit gekleur het op n stadium
@Die Ken: Steward was wicket keeper vir natal ook nie waar nie ,sulke geperokside wit hare gehad
@Die Ken: Make that 100%! James Small played wing and Errol Stewart centre in the same SAS team
@Roger: I’m 90% sure both played SAS
@beet: Ja. Johhny also played for the Rhinos (SA Rugby League team) after school. He, Brendan Venter and James Small were in the Tvl team that played in the CW final
@Kaya 85: Agree and disagree with you Kaya , if that makes sense. When it comes to beker rugby the Afrikaans schools are on another level compared to the friendliest. A bit like the FACup in Ingleland. I think ( and it is just an opinion that Jeppe and Kes would be very competitive against the traditional Afrikaans schools you mentioned in the greater JHB area ( not Pretoria). Agree with blackandwhite here. What I found interesting where the lower age group results of Jeppe and KES in the Easter tournaments against Helpmekaar , Garsies , Monnas Nelspruit and EGJ in the U14/15and 16 groups.
@Rainier: ek kan sy ongelooflike SA junior 100m en 200m wenne goed onthou…
Playing for UPE we had Glen Elferink at wing – had a 100m PB of around 10.3 and was not much slower on the rugby field.
Could run around most other players but the crazy soutie used to love trying to Lomu his opponents – he loved contact.
@Smallies: Agreed…very elusive.
@Vleis: he was one hell of a wing….
@Smallies: Of course. Apparently, he played 2nd team rugby at Menlo Park, but maybe AbsolutMenlo can confirm?
@Roger: Jaques Olivier🤣🤣🤣🤣had to google it
@Vleis: a big dark haired fellow his first name was Jaques, but the surname ….fok
@Smallies: I remember the TVL team when Dries Maritz and Hendrik Truter were the only Duchies in the backline and Harry Roberts the only Soutie in the forward pack 🤣
@Smallies: I can remember most of the Bulls backline from that era but not the other wing.
9. Robert du Preez, 10. Naas Botha, 11. ?, 12. Pieter Nel, 13. Jannie Claasens, 14. Deon Oosthuizen, 15. Gerbrand Grobler
@Smallies: sy partner in crime by die Bille was ?
@Grizzly: hoe kon ek hom vergeet,SA het nig al die jare uitmuntende vleuls geproduseer
@Roger: In those days there was a try of the month award, so one thing I will never forget about that game is a Transvaal Craven Week centre named Johnny Asher who was nominated for try of the month. His try aired quite often on TV.
@Smallies: Deon Oosthuizen
@Vleis: he was a speedy customer ,him ,Kabous vd Weshuizen,McCann, Tony Watson ,and Chris Baardenhorst were some of the quickest palyers of their generation
@Smallies: In those early days, Small was lightning fast. Then, he gained mass and slowed down – he was still a very quick wing, but not as fast as when he was 18 to 20 years old.
@Roger: I remember a TVL team with Small and Warren Mccann in it …
@Vleis: and Helgaard was not a slow dude in his younger days…
@KES Oldboy: if you’re good enough you’re old enough or big enough mate simple as that
@Kaya 85: Maybe historically but results this year would indicate that any top 10 team in Noordvaal could probably beat each other on any given day. Garsfontein are probably the stand out team this year, but saying that Jeppe were very unfortunate to lose to Garsfontein earlier this season.
I remember the Tvl Schools Craven Week team in 1987 playing against Natal in the “final” with (apparently) two of the fastest schoolboys ever seen – James Small and Errol Stewart – in opposing teams. I was a lightie and because my sister was dating an ex Westville boy who was big mates with Errol Stewart it was the first time I really paid attention to Craven Week – did either of them make SA Schools that year?
@Kaya 85: Very interesting that you mention those English speaking schools, I finished in the mid 90’s and I didn’t know that these schools were so strong. I do recall in my first year of high school rugby matches against Athlone Boys and Highlands North were an experience.
@tzavosky:
@beet: Yes, I remember him running around Helgard Muller like the latter was standing in molasses!
@Vleis: If I remember correctly Small debuted as a 19yo fullback for Transvaal,so it did not take him long to make the step up from schoolboy player to provincial Currie Cup starter.
@Vleis: The great Serge Blanco smoked 80 cigarettes per day, played 93 times for France and still holds the record for the most tries scored for France.
BUT, he did suffer a heart attack in 2009, had bypass surgery and made a full recovery. I don’t know if he’s still smoking!
@KES Oldboy: I finished school in ’85 and was in CT from ’86 to ’90, so I don’t have first hand knowledge of the story below…but my mates tell me:
James left Greenside in ’86 to follow his girlfriend to Eden College, so I’m not even sure if he played rugby in ’86, as Eden didn’t play rugby. Remember that Greenside had a very poor rugby season in ’85, and James was a phenomenal soccer player (could’ve turned pro), so I’m not convinced that he would’ve missed rugby too much.
Then, the deputy head of Greenside (and 1st team coach) invited James into his office in late ’86 (or early ’87) and asked him to return in ’87 to repeat matric. James declined, as he said that he would struggle to adapt to Greenside’s strict discipline because he’d grown accustomed to Eden College – i.e. grow hair, no uniform, slack discipline, etc.
The 1st team coach then tried to convince James that rugby would turn pro soon and that he had a chance of making it as a pro, which swayed James, but he was not yet convinced.
Finally, he asked James to close his office door and offered him a cigarette – it was at that point that James knew that he would be treated differently and agreed to return….and the rest is history.
It just goes to show that sometimes cigarettes are good for you!
@Grant: Re Jeppe …although ‘Gauteng’ also includes Valke Union (E.G. Jansen could beat Jeppe,…) and the Pta schools where at least 3 schools could take Jeppe down (Affies only narrowly 33-31, but Garsfontein wiped out Affies…Waterkloof would be close depending on who hosted). + Helpmekaar, even Noordheuwel could beat them too. Jeppe narrowly beat Monnas…So if it’s Gauteng you’re talking about Jeppe propbably in top 6 – 8, neither KES nor Jeppe definitively top 5…
Years ago a Craven Week strength team could be selected from:
Greenside, Roosevelt, Bryanston, Northcliff, Sandown, Sandringham, Hyde Park, Randpark Ridge, Westridge, Krugersdorp High, St Davids….+ a few others (excluding the big English medium Boys’ schools)
@Smallies: Seeing as there is an interesting article by Beet about U19 players, it’s worth talking about James Small here. I knew James quite well. James was supposed to matriculate in 1986. For some reason or another he repeated & matriculated in 1987. He was born in February and therefore turned 18 at the beginning of his repeat year so was still U18 in matric. I’m not making my point clear here – but basically he was still U18 & could have still played another year even though he should have actually matriculated as an U17 which is what 50% of matriculants were in those days (July -June with half the class having their 17th birthday in the fist 6 months of matric & the other half turning 18 in the last 6 months of matric). However, James became a star only in his repeat year. He had not made the Tvl A or B team in 86 but made it in 87 & played SA Schools. This catapulted his career & he made his debut for Tvl men’s team before he had even played for Wits 1st team. Just an interesting point considering the other article…..
@Grant: im sure of that
@Smallies: His laaitie isn’t too shabby.
@Smallies: indeed Smallies. Had the privilege of watching him over two years. Gone way too soon.
@KES Oldboy: I know been on this web and Rugby 365 in the old days with Bog, Ande/Speartackle and the boys for over 11 years. Always enjoy Vleis’s comments. What year did you matriculate ? I am class of ‘87.
@Grant: I’m being serious. @Vleis doesn’t come with an agenda or bias to any particular school. He just loves schoolboy rugby & has an encyclopaedic knowledge of it.
@Grant: James Daggapit Small truly was a legend of SA rugby….at one stage he was actually was my favorite springbok….gone way to soon
@KES Oldboy: moenie lelik wees nie 🧐😂
@Vleis: Nobody knows his schoolboy rugby as well as Vleis! Probably because he is not biased to his old school (who barely play anymore) or to his son’s school (who have fallen off quite badly)…….
@Grant: Good to hear.
@Vleis: great memories there. Yes James’ son is at KEPS this year playing first team. Going to KES next year thanks I believe to some old boy benefactors. Looks a great laaitie.
@Grant: He was the year below me, so I played a bit of rugby and soccer (for Parkhurst) with him. I was at UCT when Greenside toured the Cape, so I watched the Wynberg game – I think we won by 21 to 10. That same year, I watched Bishops give Maritzburg College (who had about 5 SA Schools players) a big hiding (41 to 9, I think) as revenge for the hiding that they received from Maritzburg (44 to 0, I think) at Saints in ’85.
I think that James’ son is the captain of the u13A at KEPS this year (KES Old Boy can perhaps confirm) and looks like the spitting image of his dad.
@Vleis: then you played with the late great J Small. I remember watching the 87 KES game against you guys. I think it was at Greenside. The pace of JS. Unbelievable.
@Grant: Yebbo!
@Vleis: correct. I believe Craven Week is no longer the holy grail of schoolboy rugby. North/South and Wildeklawer are the premier tournaments where strength v strength is shown.
@Vleis: Vleis is that your alma mater !!🤨😳?
@theblackandwhite: As is often the case with CW selections, some kids are very unlucky from both the top tier schools and the overlooked diamonds from the lower tier schools. Due to the short nature of the trials, many weaknesses and strengths of a player can be missed. Thus, it’s understandable that a coach will opt for the tried and tested players who he’s seen more regularly, as you can’t chop and change at CW – i.e. each player must play at least half the games. These players have a much better chance after school, where a coach can assess them over many months of pre-season training, warm up matches, etc…all with the knowledge that said players can be substituted, dropped to the 2nds, etc while their weaknesses can be addressed over time.
@Grant:
…and to think that we beat Wynberg and drew with SACS on tour in ’87! 
@Vleis: Vleis I don’t even know if Greenside still play rugby
@theblackandwhite: Back in the day, there was a much more even spread of talent, as most kids (including good rugby players) went to the school in the area where they grew up. Now; however, talented rugby players move to the top rugby schools, which have the best facilities, coaches, programs, fixture lists, etc, etc. This is partly due to rugby now being a professional sport.
In my day, Greenside and KES had very close games. Now, the 7th team of KES would probably beat the Greenside 1st team…and this is not a unique situation. As such, it’s hard to assess the ability of a kid who is playing in a lower tier, as the rugby standard is much lower – i.e. it’s easy to look good when you’re playing against weak opposition. To be fair to the Lions union, they do pick a Lions President team, which is made up of pupils from the lesser-known rugby schools. The Presidents team plays at the St John’s festival against some stronger schools, so the selectors can get an idea how these boys perform at a higher level. The odd kid has made it through from the President’s team to the Lions CW or AW – I think that the Tshituka brothers from Northcliff are an example.
Like you, I was confused about the current situation, until I started watching high school rugby…and then it all became very clear.
@theblackandwhite: looking at the KZN and FS teams I would say so. A considerable decline in boys playing rugby in most schools from what I have seen.
No worries Beet. Thank you for the lists. Think the teams should do reasonably well. Jeppe for me the strongest school in the greater Jhb area even though I’m ex KES. 28 July will be another cracker game.
I have not watched a lot of school boy rugby for a long time, is it really that in a province like Gauteng that has so many schools – the best 50 players in Gauteng come from 5 schools?
I remember in the 90’s when the Lions craven week team would have a squad of 20 derived by 10/11 schools. Is this concentration of talent to only a handful of teams across all the provincial teams?
@Grant: Apologies. I have seen Bryce play a number of times this season. I really enjoy what he offers.
Interesting to see Mcmillen M getting the nod at 12. When I went to the match at Westville, he was a big miss for Jeppe, esp in the first half when the midfield was unsettled and leaky.
Exuace Kevani is an awesome talent with ball in hand in my opinion and would have loved to see him team up with Helpies Rynhardt vd Linde at 12 but good stuff for McMillen.
Bryce Samuel is from Jeppe
@Beet
I think Junayden Seffier might be from Helpmekaar