Grey College ready to put their 770kg pack to the test against Trio

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

Leave a Reply

12 Comments

  1. avatar
    #12 garsieboy

    @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…

    ReplyReply
    27 February, 2024 at 09:27
  2. avatar
    #11 beet

    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

    ReplyReply
    26 February, 2024 at 23:36
  3. avatar
    #10 Kantman

    @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.

    ReplyReply
    26 February, 2024 at 23:03
  4. avatar
    #9 Kantman

    @garsieboy (Comment #7)Wat dink jy?

    ReplyReply
    26 February, 2024 at 22:57
  5. avatar
    #8 Smallies

    @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

    ReplyReply
    26 February, 2024 at 16:14
  6. avatar
    #7 garsieboy

    So what did we think of grey’s game on the weekend?👀Anybody dare to make some early predictions for the season?

    ReplyReply
    26 February, 2024 at 15:32
  7. avatar
    #6 Grasshopper

    @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

    ReplyReply
    25 February, 2024 at 09:12
  8. avatar
    #5 Kaya 85

    @Grasshopper (Comment #2)
    Very big + powerful+ skillful..
    2022 Grey lock Van Heerden already played senior pro rugby with the Bulls (2m, 115kg)…

    ReplyReply
    24 February, 2024 at 16:56
  9. avatar
    #4 Rainier

    That backline will be must-watch entertainment this year.

    ReplyReply
    24 February, 2024 at 10:26
  10. avatar
    #3 beet

    @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.

    ReplyReply
    24 February, 2024 at 10:12
  11. avatar
    #2 Grasshopper

    @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…

    ReplyReply
    24 February, 2024 at 08:59
  12. avatar
    #1 Kaya 85

    PREDICTION

    Trio 14 – 32 Grey
    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.
    ReplyReply
    24 February, 2024 at 06:10