A rugby coaching transformation took place at Paarl Boys’ High School – Hoër Jongenskool Paarl (HJS) at the start of this year. The good news is that Sean Erasmus, new man in charge of rugby affairs at the school has already formed a productive working relationship with well-respected coach Elmo Wolfaardt. Sean has taken charge of the forwards, while Elmo is responsible for the backs. It’s just what the doctor ordered because Boishaai has an extra busy season ahead of them. The reason being they have accepted the challenge to represent South Africa at the annual Sanix (under-18) World Youth Tournament in Japan from 26 April to 07 May 2014.
Apart from opting out of the two games at the Wildeklawer Super Skole in late April (due to the clash with Sanix), the Galpille will still honour all their other traditional annual commitments including attending the St John’s Festival in Gauteng over Easter just prior to leaving for Japan. It’s a tall order! Fortunately Boishaai are one of the elite rugby schools in the country and therefore possess the kind of depth required to pull off a task like this successfully.
Another part of their rugby transformation is a work in progress, as Sean and Elmo set out to introduce a brand of ultra-attacking go wide and then go direct rugby to compliment their already well-established style played at their Brug Street home ground.
Coming into the school rugby season, HJS may not have as many talked about “star players” as their two fiercest Western Cape rivals Paul Roos and Paarl Gymnasium but games are not won on paper, they are won on grass. Paarl Boys High players have tremendous school spirit and it’s often this love and pride that gets them over the finish line ahead of big opponents and has helped elevate the name Paarl Boys High to ‘SA powerhouse rugby school‘ status.
The coaches have identified a group of 30 under-18 players to travel to the Sanix tournament. Although excluded for Sanix, under-19 players will be in line for selection for the St John’s Festival and other local games. Included in this 30-player squad are talented Ruan Brits, Charl-Francois du Toit and promising young lock Ruben de Villiers. With so much quality about, as the season progresses other players are bound to put up their hands for Western Province under-18 recognition as well.
30-player Sanix Squad:
| # | Name | Position/s |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Derrick Marais | Prop |
| 2 | Wicus Groenewald | Prop |
| 3 | Leo Kruger | Prop |
| 4 | Darren September | Prop / Flank |
| 5 | Ruan Brits | Hooker |
| 6 | Carel van Zyl | Hooker / Flank |
| 7 | Thomas Corbett | Hooker |
| 8 | Wian Botha | Lock |
| 9 | Ruben de Villiers | Lock |
| 10 | Andre Gerstner | Lock / Flank |
| 11 | Dean Swartz | Lock / Loosefwd |
| 12 | Ruan Smit | Lock / Flank |
| 13 | Phillip Bester | Flank |
| 14 | Christo Mostert | Flank / Lock |
| 15 | Phillip Coetzee | Flank |
| 16 | Charl-Francois du Toit | No.8 |
| 17 | Paul de Wet | Scrumhalf / Flyhalf |
| 18 | Kyle Rinquest | Scrumhalf |
| 19 | Bradley Thain | Scrumhalf |
| 20 | Stefan Gouws | Flyhalf / Fullback |
| 21 | Juandre Grobler | Flyhalf / Centre |
| 22 | Aulente Losper | Centre |
| 23 | Jan Louis Le Grange | Centre |
| 24 | Heinrich Moller | Centre |
| 25 | Curtley Grain | Centre / Wing |
| 26 | Zak Snyman | Wing |
| 27 | Tyreeq Cassim | Wing |
| 28 | Wian Gouws | Wing |
| 29 | Rehaan Lombaard | Utility Back |
| 30 | Ryan Lafite | Fullback / Wing |
@BuffelsCM: Yes, its his younger brother. I would reckon that should be a pretty spot-on guess!
@BoishaaiPa: Is Thomas Corbett related to Craig ? Both players are hookers as well.
Speaking about hookers, I guess Ruan Brits is the captain of the side ?
@Grasshopper: I conveyed your message to some of the boys in the squad I saw this weekend..apparently they all read this blog as well!!…Your wellwishing is appreciated..even if coming from a Glewood OB!
Good luck Boishaai, do SA proud! Please kick some Pom, Aussie, Kiwi, Frog, Jap, Paddy, Scot etc ass! Bring the cup home!