The EP Kings under-19 team did incredibly well to earn themselves promotion this year after hitting form towards the end of the Currie Cup B-division season. They came from third on the log to win the title and then beat Border in the promotion-relegation play-off. This means that their under-19 team will be playing against all the big unions in the under-19 A-division championship in 2014.
It also means that Port Elizabeth is now the land of opportunity for ambitious school leavers who were overlooked by the big unions and are searching for a chance to prove themselves in a compo against all the top rated junior players in the country. With only 21 players contracted by Eastern Province, there are definitely going to be good prospects for juniors to play themselves into contention for selection and who knows maybe even a bright future as a professional rugby player.
Any player hoping to make the Baby Boks JWC team, has to get rated to stand a chance of selection. Many of these ratings are passed on to SA under-20 head coach Dawie Theron by the provincial coaches of the opposing teams after under-19 Currie Cup games. So one of the best ways to get rated is to play in the under-19 A-division Currie Cup. Sitting in the stand at a big union does not earn a player a rating!
As far as signings go EP has backed it’s local boys and managed to hold onto a few very promising young players like CJ Velleman and SA School’s fullback Malcolm Jaer.
Expect EP u19 to struggle next year, as all promoted teams have done in the past. The goal for next season is to improve over the course of the season and then to stay up for 2015. A good junior rugby programme is a fundamental for any professional team hoping to do well at higher levels.
EP under-19 contracted players:
| # | Name | Position | School |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Thembelihle Yase | Prop | Cambridge |
| 2 | David Murray | Prop | St Andrews |
| 3 | Matthew Jackson | Prop | Westville |
| 4 | Jason Reinecke | Hooker | Cambridge |
| 5 | Tyler Paul | Lock | St Andrews |
| 6 | Sintu Manjezi | Lock | St Andrews |
| 7 | Gerrit Huisamen | Lock | Grey HS |
| 8 | Kweku Borsah | Lock | Cambridge |
| 9 | Mihlali Nchukana | Loose Forward | Dale |
| 10 | Qhama Mvimbi | Loose Forward | Dale |
| 11 | CJ Velleman | Loose Forward | Grey HS |
| 12 | Bathandwa Cafu | Loose Forward | Grey HS |
| 13 | Justin Hollis | Loose Forward | Queens |
| 14 | Luke Houba | Scrumhalf | Rondebosch |
| 15 | Nick Beswick | Scrumhalf | Grey HS |
| 16 | Jason Baggott | Scrumhalf | St Andrews |
| 17 | Jason Vers | Flyhalf | Union |
| 18 | Luan Nieuwoudt | Centre | Nico Malan |
| 19 | Somila Jho | Centre | Kingswood (played for Dale in 2013) |
| 20 | Thabani Mgugudo | Wing | Grey HS |
| 21 | Malcolm Jaer | Fulback | Die Brandwag |
@Ludz: Only because he is a Queenian
otherwise he would be a bum specially if he came from Grey Bloem he would then be related to Oom Bog: 
@sacssupporter: He’s doing wonders at that Academy with limited finances. He’s hard working and set the standards high for the boys and expects nothing less. Quality chap (probably because he’s a Queenian :mrgreen:) who the Kings will do well to keep in the ranks for the next few years.
As far as I understand all contracted players need to study at NMMU and therefore make up the NMMU young guns and Varsity cup teams. Robbie Kempson is doing great things in the EP Kings academy – they have been improving each year – good luck to them!
Nice to see Matt Jackson on the list – could not hold down a 1st team spot at Westville last year but I guess if he works hard on his conditioning he will see more game time ! Always a powerful scrumager but not too mobile.
Strange to see the same number of props contracted as scrum half’s so I guess there is till some room for additions ! With this squad they cannot even have a spare front row on the bench !good luck to them going forward
@BOG: Who’s? My last date’s?
@Speartackle: Only 21 ? Hope that you are not referring to age.
Only 21? At least everyone will get game time…………unlike at the Bulls where some u/21’s last played a full game at school level