Two Muir College students returned to their school in Uitenhage, Eastern Province last week after a short stay at Noord-Kaap in Kimberley did not live up to their expectations.
The two, a centre and a prop who had been part of the EP Under-17 High Performance squad, trained with their Muir colleagues right up until two days before the new school year started. They however did not pitch on the first day of school, with Muir neither receiving any kind of notification from their parents nor requests for academic transfer clearance from Noord-Kaap.
It was only after the parents were contacted that it was discovered the boys were in fact at Noord-Kaap.
A Muir official stated that attempts to get in touch with the Noord-Kaap headmaster were fruitless as their head did not take or return calls.
Then one of boys contacted the Muir College headmaster, stating that he was not happy with his situation at his new school. Various issues came to light and amongst the problems were that with Xhosa being his mother tongue and English his second language, he was finding it was difficult to adjust to his new environment. He admitted that he had made a big mistake and wanted out.
After consulting the parents, Muir arranged for transport to fetch the boys. However a Noord-Kaap official allegedly refused to allow the boys to leave the school premises. It’s assumed that his decision was based taking responsibility for the boys’ well-being but with the Noord-Kaap headmaster incommunicado issues, it seemed difficult for Muir to organise a proper request for release of the boys into their care.
Eventually the two students had to “escape” from Noord-Kaap via the kitchen, as this was described by them as the only exit that was not locked. They left without any of their belongings.
Up until now no one from Noord-Kaap has made contact with Muir College.
During 2013 Noord-Kaap also recruited three rugby players from Muir. Two players failed at the end of the year and don’t appear to have much of a rugby future to fall back on. The third youngster is still at the school. He helped with arrangements to have the belongings of the boys that returned to Muir sent back to Uitenhage.
Last year Kimberley rivals Diamantveld lodged a complaint against Noord-Kaap for fielding a post-matric player. Post matrics are not bona fide school students and are not permitted to play school rugby in just about all the main rugby regions in South Africa.
The Noord-Kaap headmaster has been their 1st XV coach up until the end of last season.
Over the past few years Noord-Kaap has won over quite a few admirers amongst neutrals based on their outstanding 1st XV rugby results. Some of what’s being revealed about the manner in which the school’s rugby programme is run might start to take the gloss off those achievements.
Unbelievable!!!
Things like this must be brought to light and schools must not take this lying down I wonder if the schools and Unions involved in these type of moves know what damages are done at the schools who are on the losing side of this type of thing.
Just looking at the Fortuin mess between the Bulls and Queens last year if Queens had him this year there forwards would have been awesome.
And look at Dale I am sure there supporters must have know hair left with the amount of boys that are poached from there.
@badboy: Agreed, who were Noord Kaap 5 years again? Same for Garsfontein…..they are not exactly old traditional schools. Bought in a 1st team and suddenly they on the radar….
@rugbyfan: I have heard some bad stories from people in Kimberly on simaler matters this has really made me lose all respect for them.
@rugbyfan: Funny thing is I was speaking to friend who was at Diamant Veldt and they say that Noord Kaap would stop at nothing to keep there 1st team competitive but this is taking it to far.
Well that’s a turn up for the books great that Muir got there boys back shows never take things lying down.
Noord Kaap shame on you.
Thanks Beet
@Roger: 2 years ago they had about 9 Under19’s playing in their side…..massive ‘boys’!
eish – and KES play these clowns at Wildeklawer this year – Mr Spilhaus needs to be very very careful we don’t end up playing an under 21 Barbarians team