KZN

History has been made with Donald Ngwenya, the KZN Rugby Union Development Manager since 2007 being appointed as the Northwood Rugby Head Coach. Ngwenya beat out 21 other suitably qualified candidates that had applied for the position which became available overnight. He holds a Bachelors degree in Economics and a Sports Management Diploma from the University of Johannesburg but more importantly he has 23 years of coaching experience under the belt. He started his career in the classroom as a teacher, pretty much just like outgoing coach Swys de Bruin did.…

At the start of December 2012, Steve Botha the 2012 Backline Coach left College to take up a post at the brand new Sharks Academy in the United Arab Emirates. So although it appears as if Head Coach Ryan Strudwick has only been without an assistant for a month now, the truth of the matter is that he has not had any official assistant for a number of months.…

Neighbouring Durban schools Durban High School and Glenwood have a rich sports history filled with many great traditions and highlights. However late last year the DHS Governing Body made a decision to cancel all sports events against Glenwood for 2013. It was a seemingly harsh call but one which it’s members felt was totally justified and not taken lightly either. Like a few other off the field school rugby related problems in KwaZulu-Natal in 2012, the underlying reason for the Governing Body action was recruitment. …

Northwood is expected to announce the name their new 1st XV Head Coach during the first week of 2013. A few weeks ago Swys de Bruin, the then newly appointed Northwood Head Coach caught just about everyone by surprise when he broke the news that he was off to join the Golden Lions as the Backline Coach. The Durban North school looked to be in a spot of bother with their 2013 season kicking off earlier than most. …

Grant Kretzmann, the King Edward VII School (KES) forwards coach and assistant to Carl Spilhaus signed up earlier this week to be DHS’s new Head of Rugby. Kretzmann will be joining former KES headmaster Mike Fennell (DHS CEO) as new arrivals at the Durban school when the first term of 2013 starts.…

Well it feels like it was just yesterday when Swys de Bruin was being formally introduced as the new Head Coach at Northwood School. However today his Facebook page contained the following message:

Nog n era verby! Ek het die pos aanvaar by die Leeus as backline coach. Sien baie uit na die nuwe uitdaging!Ek glo die Here sal ons paaie gelyk maak!

Chris Luman has been named as the 15^th headmaster of the school. Luman, a Wynberg old boy who taught at both his alma mater and Queens before heading over to New Zealand, will take over the reigns during College’s milestone 150^th year.…

Steve Botha, the Maritzburg College Rugby Administrator and Backline Coach during the 2012 season has been snapped up by the Sharks Academy. Botha will head to the United Arab Emirates shortly to take up a brand new coaching position at one of the high performance academies that the Sharks are in the process of setting up. …

With a very eventful off the field rugby year almost behind them now, DHS’s main up and coming rugby related news story is meant to be and possibly still is the much anticipated public announcement of their new Head of Rugby.…

Sandile Kubeka the Kearsney College, KZN Schools and SA Schools rugby player has won Daily News School Sports Zone Hero of the Year award. He was chosen from a list of 36 school sports achievers.…

If it wasn’t official before, it is now. Northwood will be coached by Sharks Academy coach Swys de Bruin. Malcolm Kennedy is the new Head of Rugby and fitness guru Simon Vickers shifts to the position of Conditioning Coach. …

There is a lot said on these pages about schools who “buy” players – how about those parents who “sell” their kids – Cyndi

Your comments:-…

Information from a reliable source indicates that a meeting took earlier today (Tuesday 06 November) between the Glenwood and DHS heads. This was at the latter’s request. The meeting was to discuss the move of a prominent Grade 11 First XV rugby player from DHS to Glenwood.…

Although it’s been a couple of months since it was made public that current DHS Head of Rugby and First XV coach Deon Gericke will be moving to St Charles in Pietermaritzburg in 2013, there are still no clear indications about who his replacement will be…

Well I’m starting to get the feeling that come Friday there is such a positive energy build-up amongst KZNers because the weekend is near, that this invariably causes a low pressure cell to develop over the region and as a result by Saturday it’s raining cats and dogs. The KZN weather at this time of year is definitely not cricket friendly. Nevertheless there are a few games planned.

Maritzburg College vs Michaelhouse
Hilton vs Westville
DHS vs Glenwood
St Charles vs Clifton

(if anyone has waterpolo fixtures, please feel free to post a comment for inclusion here)…

School rugby supporters in Kwazulu-Natal are in for a real treat in 2013. Hats off to Maritzburg College for this one. Despite already having their plates full organising what is already building up to be a top notch Easter rugby festival as part of their 150th birthday celebrations, College has bravely accepted the massive task of hosting the 2013 Wildeklawer Superskole …

In early September, the Headmasters met once again to discuss various issues of concern.…

Looking at the demanding schedule young sportsman face these days, it’s very rare to find a young man that will excel in more than one sporting code. Tyler Smith is an exception to the norm. Tyler is in Grade 11 and represents his school, Kearsney College, in four 1st Teams: Cricket, Rugby,Soccer and Rugby 7s.…

Maritzburg College, winners of the Durban leg of the @lantic schools 7’s tournament are preparing for the Champions Tournament in November. The annual season ending school 7’s tournament is reserved for the schools that won their respective regional events. …

Glenwood’s annual Old Boys versus Schoolboys game for the James Dwyer* Memorial Cup will be played at Glenwood on Tuesday afternoon, 25 September from 2:30pm to 5:30pm…

According to newspaper reports, following a tragic accident that claimed the lives of 10 school children, all under the age of 13 in Bergville, KwaZulu-Natal on Saturday, the Provincial Education MEC Senzo Mchunu, announced on Sunday that all school trips in KZN have been suspended for the rest of the year.…

The 12-player KwaZulu-Natal 7’s team to take part in the national tournament was finalised earlier this week.

KZN will join 19 other Provincial teams at the annual @lantic Provincial u18 Sevens Tournament to be held at Tukkies in Pretoria on 4-5 October 2012.…

Hats off to the officials in KwaZulu-Natal. While other unions and their schools appear to either be turning a blind eye to this issue or trying to convince the world that the problem does not exist in their neck of the woods (when it does), at least in KZN there are ongoing efforts to rid the school rugby system of over-aged players.…

The 2013 Glenwood versus Westville rugby fixture has been scratched. It is uncertain whether or not the fixture will be reinstated before the start of next season. …

The first draft of the KwaZulu-Natal 2013 fixtures has been completed. Being early days it is subject to changes …

Looking at the two KwaZulu-Natal under-16 representative teams of 2011 alongside the Grant Khomo 2012, gives an indication of who to be on the lookout for in 2013 as far as individual talent is concerned. Going by the current batch of under-17 that played at either Craven Week or Academy rugby in 2012, Grant Khomo selection never quite tell the full story though.…

Marné Coetzee (Glenwood 2012) and Duan Coertzen (Westville 2010) will make their debuts against the Leopards for the Sharks under-19 and under-21 teams respectively…