Of the 10 different schools represented in the Eastern Province Craven Week team of 2023, the big surprise has to be Ndzondolelo, a township school just north of Gqeberha. St Andrew’s is the only main school without a player in either the Craven Week or Academy Week sides.
| # | EP CRAVEN WEEK | SCHOOL | # | EP ACADEMY WEEK | SCHOOL |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Zibabalwa Booi | Ndzondolelo | 1 | Kian Rademeyer | Pearson |
| 2 | Imaani Pemba | Grey HS | 2 | Ewald Mattheus | Otto du Plessis |
| 3 | Sean Vermaak | Framesby | 3 | Aiden Wilkenson | Grey HS |
| 4 | Francois vd Ryst | Marlow | 4 | Likhona Sodlaka | Grey HS |
| 5 | AC Mnandi | Graeme | 5 | Dillon Brent | Otto du Plessis |
| 6 | De Wet Fourie | Daniel Pienaar | 6 | Tapiwa Zanda | Kingswood |
| 7 | Batho Hlekani | Graeme | 7 | Sipho Nonyalela | Kingswood |
| 8 | Burrie van Heerden | Marlow | 8 | Jan-Theo van Tonder | Volkskool |
| 9 | Dempers Meyer | Marlow | 9 | Aza Ncula | Grey HS |
| 10 | Aiden de Villiers | Marlow | 10 | Praise Matsila | Kingswood |
| 11 | Leon Booysen | Marlow | 11 | Kaiden Titus | Grey HS |
| 12 | MC Strydom | Marlow | 12 | Ntandazo Mboniswa | Muir |
| 13 | Tadiwe Chikutiro | Kingswood | 13 | Taine Douw | Framesby |
| 14 | Sine Brawin | Kingswood | 14 | Lyle Meintjies | Muir |
| 15 | Jermaine Dampies | Brandwag | 15 | Likhona Kepe | Kingswood |
| 16 | Hein Terblanche | Framesby | 16 | Amazing Vheriwa | Kingswood |
| 17 | Phiko Petse | Kingswood | 17 | Andre Swanepoel | Otto du Plessis |
| 18 | Zama Nkonko | Gill | 18 | Remy Heymans | Brandwag |
| 19 | Jaco Pretorius | Framesby | 19 | Ayola Mali | Graeme |
| 20 | Abongile Golela | Graeme | 20 | Conrad Botha | Marlow |
| 21 | Lucrane Miggels | Brandwag | 21 | Virgil Grootboom | Daniel Pienaar |
| 22 | Joshua Bands | Grey HS | 22 | Logan Muller | Framesby |
| 23 | Dominic Malgas | Nico Malan | 23 | Caleb Friscken | Pearson |
@The Beast: Not sure why you think I’m pro SAC? I just said that they are well coached which they are.
@The Beast: KES Vs Queens. Eish – one of the more disappointing losses in the last few years for The Reds. I’ll put it down to the following:
1) over confidence
2) Terrible management of the playing conditions- never used the strong tailwind in 2nd half
3) very motivated opposition after their huge loss to Jeppe
4) Poor place kicking (easy conversion missed)
5) Festival games are 10 minutes shorter & KES were getting the upper hand toward the end.
6) I won’t mention the ref’s last decision…actually I will… an intentional knock down 5m out was changed from a penalty to a scrum & final whistle blown.
7) Queens played very well
8) KES looked flat after big games Vs Paarl, Selborne, PBHS & Jeppe & a 15 hour bus ride didn’t help.
@KES Oldboy: Hence your utter disdain of Kingswood and all the pro-SAC comments. You still did not answer directly though……..
@KES Oldboy: The old adage of anything said before “but” should be ignored……..like you said it’s a free world……well holding on by a thread of late it seems.
By the way…..on another note
How did KES lose to Queen’s after Jeppe gave Queen’s such a hiding at the Grey Festival? Some of the results of some schools do baffle the brain at times.
@The Beast: There were quite a few KES boys that did post matric at St. Andrew’s College in the 80s & 90s. What I can assure though is that theses guys were not scouted & paid full fees at SAC. There were also a few that went to Kingswood in the late 80s & 90s.
@The Beast: As I said, I don’t have a problem with KC offering kids bursaries & if the parents of those kids think it is in the kids’ best interests to move then by all means move. It’s a bit harsh taking 3 players from one school though (Hudson) – but I suppose it’s a fee world. I add one caveat- I hope the kids that moved weren’t initially on bursaries at Hudson with financial clauses about paying back the money. (I hear of too many stories like this where a kid moves & when the parents are asked to pay back the money they just ignore it & walk away).
@KES Oldboy: Did you perhaps do a Post Matric at St Andrews College in the bad old days when it was the in thing?
@KES Oldboy: So according to what you say, these kids were bought or as I understand what you saying Kingswood paid the kids to move to Kingswood or were they offered bursaries to attend Kingswood? Many private schools offer bursaries to children who are talented but may not have the affordability to attend these private schools if this was not the case. Very similar to kids moving from government schools to any other private school. Surely parents and children have the right to move somewhere if they think the situation at the new place will be beneficial to them in the long run. I equate it very much to somebody leaving one company to another.
@Wyvern: Thank you for this. I don’t have a problem with a small school like KC doing this. They need to bolster their age group teams to remain competitive. Of course you haven’t bought a team but 9,10 & 15 are a good place to start. Excellent season so far.
@KES Oldboy: After a quick google search, there are three names that were part of the ’22 Border GK team that were at Hudson and now at KC (9, 10, 15). Hudson had 7 players in GK last year. Not entirely sure this fits the bill of “buying” a team, but I understand the focus.
More years than not KC has weak age group sides (45 boys in each grade). This is where I’m glad to see the quality coaching and facilities shine through, that get the boys in good order by gr12. No doubt that u19s have helped in the past, having said that I’m interested to see how we go from here on in.
@Rainier: My comment was “tongue in cheek”. Grey will always be the strongest EC school. They draw the talented kids. Losing to Graeme is a surprise but no disgrace.
@The Beast: Rumour has it that KC bought a few of the very good Hudson Park U16 team from last year. Yes I know it’s only rumours & I’m not close to any of these schools but I do know that the Kingswood U16 team last year were weak & now they have a very good 1st team….So let’s hear from a Kingswood person – are there new recruits or not?
@KES Oldboy: Tell us more about the buying of a team……do you have the full info?
@KES Oldboy: Give the process a bit of time – I believe Grey had all the leading primary school coaches over for snacks to assist in identifying promising /13 rugby players. If you look at the amount of EC boys playing in the WC, KZN, Freestate and Gauteng it would be great if some of that talent can be retained and I salute Grey for the initiative.
@beet: Kingswood bought a team & Grey bought a director of rugby…… I know who’s happier with their purchase. And when Kingswood play St. Andrews in a few weeks, only the first team stands a chance.
@Kaya 85: Apparently the St.Andrews boys just weren’t selected. St.Andrews are very well coached & play clever rugby. Look how well they used the wind in the 2nd half – came back from 0-8 at HT to score 26 points in 2nd half. I don’t think they have any stars.
@beet: after seeng what Marlow did to Hudson and what happened to Grey high today the team selection suddenly makes sense😂😂😂
@Wyvern:
Half of me wants to tell you the jazz about one swallow and a summer and the other half saying can’t you employ your talents better and find out the result of your Methodist brother school up in Randburg 
Jokes. What a result for Graeme. Jonty van Meulen doing some great work there.
I’m sure Robbi Kempson won’t sleep to well tonight.
Makanda was not the place for visiting teams this weekend. Aggregate score of 70-21 to the host schools
@beet: EP CW vs Grey HS….think Graeme put this one to bed today :/
@Kaya 85: a bit closer for Cradock and a bit further for Graaff-Reinett but in that region
@ Knight…yeah Graeme got good representation too, I wonder what the story is with the St A situation….could they possibly have strong u19s? Someone mentioned that on the other comments thread, as a reason one school had fewer players in prov teams
@Smallies: Graaf-Reinett to Cradok = 150km…from either of those towns to PE/Gerberga about 250km…EP a proper Provincial team. Good luck all players selected.
Biggest surprise for me is the omission of SAC boys
@The Beast: Ironically I believe the 6 chosen are probably best in their positions.
You are doing Kingswood a disservice, they have only lost 1 game this year.
And that game was played 4 days after Marlow played GCB – a tall order for any team this year.
@Rainier: Considering they were pounded by little Kingswood 34-5 to have 6 reps seems a bad joke.
Some very interesting selections, if you have a look at the schools with most representatives, makes one wonder how come some of these teams don’t win more games seeing they have such quality players.
@beet: I am surprised that he did not even make the AW side. I still believe his best position is 12.
@beet: you normally expect 6+ Grey boys in the EP team
@Smallies: And its a decent Grey HS team as well. Top team in the province along with Kingswood.
It would set up a nice warm-up match. EP CW vs Grey HS.
@Rainier: No doubt some talent in that Marlow 1st XV.
If I think back to the start of the season Weideman at 13 also looked like a hot prospect for CW but has fallen out of contention.
@Rainier: Grey high 1 in die CW groep
6 Marlow boys – a nice return after a slightly disappointing season.
Slight surprise at loosehead.
@Kaya 85: Graaf Reinette
Wondering which Volkskool the AW 8 comes from