The South African Rugby Union (SARU) on Friday named a reduced SA Under-20 training squad of 36 players for the remainder of the 2014 IRB Junior World Championship (JWC) training camp following two trial matches in Stellenbosch this week.An large group of almost 50 players were selected for the camp as SA Under-20 coach Dawie Theron opted to cast his net wide in search of the best players to represent the country at the JWC in Auckland, New Zealand, from May 27 to June 20. This will be the first time the country hosts the tournament.
The reduced squad will continue with their activities until April 16 and then enjoy a break over Easter. They will return to Stellenbosch on April 21, with SARU set to announce the official SA U20 JWC squad of 28 players on April 22.
The national selectors assisted Theron and his coaching team in the selection of the trimmed training group.
During their stay in Stellenbosch the expanded training group worked with several members of the SARU Mobi-Unit, while the SA U20 medical and conditioning team conducted a series of medical, fitness and conditioning tests on the players.
A handful of top players, including André Esterhuizen (Cell C Sharks), Handré Pollard and Jessie Kriel (Vodacom Bulls), did not participate in the trials due to Vodacom Super Rugby and Vodacom Cup commitments.
The intensive training and conditioning scheduled for the remainder of the camp aside, the training group will also play three international friendlies against Argentina. These matches are scheduled for May 2 at the Saldanha Rugby Club on the West Coast, May 6 at the Paul Roos Markotter Stadium in Stellenbosch and May 10 at City Park near Athlone in Cape Town.
Theron was satisfied with what he saw on offer during the first week of the training camp and said: “This was the first time we were able to get the wider trainer group together, so I would like to thank all the provincial unions for their excellent cooperation.
“I am very excited about the talent that our coaching staff and the national selectors spotted during the two trial matches. We have a lot of depth at Under-20 level, especially if you take into consideration that some players were unable to take part in the trials because of Vodacom Cup and Vodacom Super Rugby commitments,” said Theron.
The coach looked forward to the next phase of the training camp, and especially the tough series of matches against Argentina.
“We are extremely happy to keep the training group together for a bit longer, as it will enable us to monitor the players closely as we intensify our preparations for New Zealand,” explained Theron.
|
PLAYERS NOT RELEASED FROM SUPER RUGBY & VODACOM CUP |
||||
|
# |
Posi |
Name |
School |
Union |
|
1 |
Flyhalf |
Handre Pollard |
Paarl Gim |
Bulls |
|
2 |
Fullback |
Jesse Kriel |
M. College |
Bulls |
|
3 |
No.8 |
Aidon Davis |
Daniel Pienaar |
EP Kings |
|
4 |
Wing |
Sergeal Petersen |
Grey High |
EP Kings |
|
5 |
Centre |
Nicolaas Lee |
Affies |
Free State |
|
6 |
Flank |
Cyle Brink |
KES |
Lions |
|
7 |
Hooker |
Malcolm Marx |
KES |
Lions |
|
8 |
Flank |
Thabo Mabuza |
Centurion |
Lions |
|
9 |
Centre |
Andre Esterhuizen |
Klerksdorp |
Sharks |
|
10 |
Centre |
Neil Maritz |
HJS Paarl BH |
Sharks |
|
11 |
Prop |
Thomas du Toit |
HJS Paarl BH |
Sharks |
|
12 |
Centre |
Sandile Khubeka |
Kearsney |
Sharks |
|
13 |
Lock |
Jan Uys |
Paul Roos |
WP |
|
SQUAD OF 36 PLAYERS |
||||
|
# |
Posi |
Name |
School |
Union |
|
1 |
Lock |
Nicolaas Janse van Rensburg |
Affies |
Bulls |
|
2 |
Prop |
Pierre Schoeman |
Affies |
Bulls |
|
3 |
Wing |
Marcus Kleinbooi |
Affies |
Bulls |
|
4 |
Prop |
Dayan van der Westhuizen |
Centurion |
Bulls |
|
5 |
Prop |
Wilco Louw |
Drostdy |
Bulls |
|
6 |
Hooker |
Joseph Dweba |
Florida |
Free State |
|
7 |
Centre |
Marquit September |
Garsfontein |
Bulls |
|
8 |
Scrumhalf |
Mthokozisi Mkhabela |
Glenwood |
Free State |
|
9 |
Hooker |
Corniel Els |
Grey College |
Bulls |
|
10 |
Hooker |
Chris de Beer |
Hilton |
Sharks |
|
11 |
Scrumhalf |
Cameron Wright |
Hilton |
Sharks |
|
12 |
Flyhalf |
Jean-Luc Du Plessis |
HJS Paarl BH |
Sharks |
|
13 |
No.8 |
Jano Venter |
HTS Middelburg |
Lions |
|
14 |
Lock |
Gideon Koegelenberg |
Hugenote |
Sharks |
|
15 |
Flank |
Jean-Luc du Preez |
Kearsney |
Sharks |
|
16 |
Lock |
Daniel du Preez |
Kearsney |
Sharks |
|
17 |
No.8 |
Ayron Schramm |
Kearsney |
Sharks |
|
18 |
Prop |
Ox Nche |
Louis Botha |
Free State |
|
19 |
Centre |
Daniel Kriel |
M. College |
Bulls |
|
20 |
No.8 |
Chris Massyn |
Monument |
Bulls |
|
21 |
Flyhalf |
Jaco Van der Walt |
Monument |
Lions |
|
22 |
Prop |
Frans van Wyk |
Monument |
WP |
|
23 |
Wing |
Ganfried May |
Oudtshoorn |
Bulls |
|
24 |
Fullback |
Warrick Gelant |
Outeniqua |
Bulls |
|
25 |
Lock |
JD Schickerling |
Paarl Gim |
WP |
|
26 |
Flank |
Ramone Samuels |
Paul Roos |
Lions |
|
27 |
Centre |
Daniel du Plessis |
Paul Roos |
WP |
|
28 |
Hooker |
Chad Solomon |
Paul Roos |
WP |
|
29 |
Scrumhalf |
JP Smith |
Queen’s |
Bulls |
|
30 |
Lock |
Victor Sesekete |
Queens High |
Lions |
|
31 |
Lock |
Abongile Nonkontwana |
St Alban’s |
Bulls |
|
32 |
WIng |
Duncan Mathews |
Swartland |
Bulls |
|
33 |
Fullback |
Lloyd Greef |
Transvalia |
Leopards |
|
34 |
Prop |
Nqoba Mxoli |
Westville |
Bulls |
|
35 |
Centre |
Leighton van Wyk |
Wynberg |
Bulls |
|
36 |
Centre |
Jarryd Sage |
Wynberg |
WP |
|
PLAYERS EITHER INJURED OR CUT |
||||
|
# |
Posi |
Name |
School |
Union |
|
1 |
Flank |
Heinrich Viljoen |
Affies |
Bulls |
|
2 |
Lock |
RG Snyman |
Affies |
Bulls |
|
3 |
Wing |
Keagon Gordon |
Boland Landbou |
Bulls |
|
4 |
Lock |
Justin Basson |
Boland Landbou |
Bulls |
|
5 |
Hooker |
Arno van Wyk |
Boland Landbou |
Bulls |
|
6 |
Wing |
Duhan van der Merwe |
Outeniqua |
Bulls |
|
7 |
Centre |
Rohan Janse van Rensburg |
Waterkloof |
Bulls |
|
8 |
Flyhalf |
Kobus Marais |
Waterkloof |
Bulls |
|
9 |
No.8 |
Kevin Kaba |
Queens |
EP Kings |
|
10 |
Flank |
Jandre Slabbert |
Affies |
Free State |
|
11 |
Prop |
Marthinus Oosthuizen |
Outeniqua |
Free State |
|
12 |
Wing |
Hillford Clarke |
Noord-Kaap |
Griquas |
|
13 |
Wing |
Dean Stokes |
Brits |
Leopards |
|
14 |
Prop |
Jaco Botha |
Potch Volkskool |
Leopards |
|
15 |
Centre |
Kock Marx |
Alberton |
Lions |
|
16 |
Prop |
Pieter Scholtz |
Diamantveld |
Lions |
|
17 |
Lock |
JP du Preez |
EG Jansen |
Lions |
|
18 |
Scrumhalf |
Christiaan Meyer |
EG Jansen |
Lions |
|
19 |
Prop |
Dylan Smith |
KES |
Lions |
|
20 |
Flank |
Vincent Maropeng |
Louis Botha |
Lions |
|
21 |
Lock |
Stephan Vermeulen |
Monnas |
Lions |
|
22 |
Centre |
Michael Hazner |
Paul Roos |
Lions |
|
23 |
No.8 |
Ray Williams |
Framesby |
Sharks |
|
24 |
Flank |
Sias Koen |
Klerksdorp |
Sharks |
|
25 |
Wing |
Alrin Eksteen |
Robertson |
Sharks |
|
26 |
Flyhalf |
Ryno Eksteen |
Affies |
WP |
|
27 |
Flyhalf |
Ernst Stapelberg |
Framesby |
WP |
|
28 |
Fullback |
EW Viljoen |
Grey College |
WP |
|
29 |
Prop |
Wesley Adonis |
HJS Paarl BH |
WP |
|
30 |
Wing |
Dewald Naude |
HJS Paarl BH |
WP |
|
31 |
Wing |
Grant Hermanus |
Paarl Gim |
WP |
|
32 |
Flank |
Jacques Vermeulen |
Paarl Gim |
WP |
|
33 |
No.8 |
Rikus Bothma |
Paarl Gim |
WP |
|
34 |
Scrumhalf |
SP Ferreira |
Paul Roos |
WP |
|
35 |
Scrumhalf |
Justin Philips |
Waterkloof |
WP |
The training and events programme for the SA U20:
Camp One
Activation: Training Camp
When: 31 March – 16 April 2014
Where: Stellenbosch Academy of Sport (SAS), Stellenbosch
JWC Squad Announcement
When: 22 April 2014
Where: Cape Town
Camp Two Activation: Training Camp
When: 22 April – 15 May 2014
Where: Stellenbosch and Cape Town
SA Under-20 International friendlies vs Argentina Under-20:
02 May SA vs Argentina (Saldanha Rugby Club, Saldanha)
06 May SA vs Argentina (Paul Roos, Stellenbosch)
10 May SA vs Argentina (City Park, Cape Town)
Camp Three Activation: Holding Camp
When: 23 – 26 May 2014
Where: Stellenbosch Academy of Sport (SAS), Stellenbosch
Activation: Capping Ceremony
When: 25 May 2014
Where: Stellenbosch Academy of Sport (SAS), Stellenbosch
Activation: Squad Departure
When: 26 May 2014
Where: Cape Town International Airport
IRB Junior World Championship (JWC)
Activation: Tournament
When: 27 May – 21 June 2014
Where: Auckland, New Zealand
SA Under-20 IRB JWC Fixtures
02 June 2014 SA vs Scotland (North Harbour)
06 June 2014 SA vs New Zealand (North Harbour)
10 June 2014 SA vs Samoa (Pukekohe)
15 June 2014 Playoffs (TBC)
20 June 2014 Finals (Auckland)
Does anyone know the deal with regards to the S15 players, namely Pollard and Esterhuizen – will they go to the World Cup or not?
@Andre T: Daaroor het ek geen twyfel nie, terwyl die meeste op die lys hierbo, verdwyn het
@BOG: Bedoel jy van die Grey boytjies?
@Djou: I shall refrain from commenting. And I did until you mentioned it. Lets see how many in this squad are still playing rugby in five years from now?
Only one player from Grey College in a group of 36. Either Grey had a bad year two years ago (which was not the case) or the selectors did not do their job properly.
@BOG: He would actually do that. If he just knew how
@beet: I suggested that he changes it to poeppol, but he seems hard at hearing.
@Andre T: I will change it and email it to him
@beet: At last this thread has opened. It seems when the Sharks take a weekend off so does the administrator.
Mr Beyers still wants to know how to change that UUpdlHKNMOi password of his.
I’m surprised to see Rohan Jv Rensburg not included so have to assume that he is injured.