Grey College will kick-off their 2024 campaign in Bloemfontein against Kroonstad’s Trio at the President Steyn Sportdag on Saturday, 24 February 2024.
Grey went unbeaten in 2023 and welcome back dependable regulars Liam van Wyk, Philip McLaren, Pieter van der Merwe and top athlete as well as highly rated lock Heinrich Theron.
Grey never seems short of quality siblings and for this season two under-17’s AJ Meyer and Xander Smit will be looking to emulate the successes and positive aggression of their high-workrate looseforward brothers Lukas Meyer (2022) and Jean-Henri Smit (2023). Pretorius Ekeji is the brother of former 1st XV wing Paschal (2020).
Another u17 player on the rise, Toriq Schambreel is the younger brother of former Monument standout fullback/centre Jody Schambreel.
| TEAM | TRIO | TEAM | GREY COLLEGE | |||
| 1 | Hanco Geel | 1 | Dian Venter | u18 | ||
| 2 | Heindrich Loubscher | 2 | Liam van Wyk | u18 | ||
| 3 | Sebastian Du Preez | 3 | Danie Kruger | u18 | ||
| 4 | Dian Serfontein | 4 | Juliun Cosmo | u18 | ||
| 5 | Danie Fourie | 5 | AJ Meyer | u17 | ||
| 6 | JP Botha | 6 | Xander Smit | u17 | ||
| 7 | Tapiwa Mundeta | 7 | David du Toit | u18 | ||
| 8 | Keanu Swanepoel | 8 | Marcel Coetzee | u18 | ||
| 9 | Ethan Smith | 9 | Philip McLaren | u18 | ||
| 10 | Byron Biennas | 10 | Alzeadon Felix | u18 | ||
| 11 | Aaron Kriek | 11 | Ruben Cilliers | u18 | ||
| 12 | Tyron Adams | 12 | Pieter vd Merwe | u18 | ||
| 13 | Franco De Wet | 13 | Ethan Adams | u17 | ||
| 14 | Thuto Kekane | 14 | Pretorius Ekeji | u18 | ||
| 15 | Byron Maggerman | 15 | Thristan Maree | u17 | ||
| 16 | Killian Kriek | 16 | Heinrich Theron | u18 | ||
| 17 | Cade Swanepoel | 17 | ||||
| 18 | 18 | |||||
| 19 | Dilian Pretoruis | 19 | ||||
| 20 | Altus Van Schalkwyk | 20 | ||||
| 21 | Johan Kruger | 21 | ||||
| 22 | Jayden Windvogel | 22 | Toriq Schambreel | u17 | ||
| 23 | Gerrit Engelbreacht | 23 | Jan Hendrik vd Linden | u17 | ||
| 24 | 24 | |||||
| 25 | 25 | |||||
| Coach | QUINTIN GELDENHUYS | Coach | JANNIE GELDENHUYS |
@Kantman (Comment #9)
Ek dink grey sal soos altyd n great jaar he en ek weet dit was maar net die eerste wedstryd van die seisoen maar hulle lyk reeds besonders goed. Maar ek dink nie hulle gaan n onoorwonne seisoen he nie. Ek dink wel hulle kan onoorwonne gaan tot hulle laaste wedstryd van die seisoen…
I must say apart from the usual suspects, the player that really caught my eye was Juliun Cosmo. I think he might be one to watch this season
@Smallies (Comment #8)
Die seisoen gaan brutal wees – wie ook al einde Mei nog in die running is het goeie kans om aan die einde bo te wees. Maar ek dink ‘n paar goeie spanne gaan ‘n verloor of 2 vat die jaar.
@garsieboy (Comment #7)Wat dink jy?
@garsieboy (Comment #7)
Soos verlede jaar dink ek die Paarl gim game gaan hulle hele seisoen bepaal,twee unbeaten seisoene sal befok wees ….maar ek dink dit gaan taaier wees die jaar
So what did we think of grey’s game on the weekend?👀Anybody dare to make some early predictions for the season?
@Kaya 85 (Comment #5)
Times have changed then. I do remember George Cronje being a beast. 2m & 115kg is quite light by modern standards but big for schoolboy. KZN has always lacked the 2m guys, usually only 190cm locks. Looking forward to seeing how the Grey season pans out, just glad Glenwood are not playing them anymore….slaughter
@Grasshopper (Comment #2)
Very big + powerful+ skillful..
2022 Grey lock Van Heerden already played senior pro rugby with the Bulls (2m, 115kg)…
That backline will be must-watch entertainment this year.
@Grasshopper (Comment #2)
When Wessel took over from Ingo during the 2010s, my feeling was he initially tried to evolve Grey rugby in a more rounded approach. When he returned to their then trademark brand of high tempo with the five type mobile loosies in the pack as you mentioned and aided by the superior conditioning, Wessel achieved his best successes and will be remembered as an outstanding coach. I remember a few games against Monnas who had the reputation for being big and physical back then and how the clash of styles made for absorbing matches.
Current coach Jannie has really moved Grey into new style of rugby based on powerful forward domination. They have been blessed with big locks the last few years. JF, Merwe and now the top prospect Heinrich Theron all tall and powerful. They are a big collisions muscle pack nowadays. Not that they don’t have X and penetration out wide.
1 Dian Venter 96kg 181cm
2 Liam van Wyk 90kg 178cm
3 Danie Kruger 110kg 185cm
4 Juliun Cosmo 96kg 191cm
5 AJ Meyer 96kg 197cm
6 Xander Smit 88kg 173cm
7 David du Toit 94kg 186cm
8 Marcel Coetzee 97kg 191cm
4 Heinrich Theron 115kg 197cm
Heinrich is a top field athlete and will be a starter once athletics ends. That will beef up the pack. He is very physical as well.
@beet what is the make-up of the 770kg pack? Weight & height per player? Seems a biggish pack, Grey are not known for their massive players, more powerful & skilled. It’s something I’ve noticed over the years, no 2m plus locks, more like 5 loose forwards…
PREDICTION
Trio to start with a lot of determination and ‘gees’, they show a lot of potential too….Grey will start slowly, keep it measured and pick up as game progresses. Not a big hiding, but satisfactory start to the season. Trio school managers very smart to secure such an early fixture v Grey. You want to play them before their combinations are too settled and while fitness and skill levels still catching up.