u19, u20, u21 Rugby

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Bulls apply for blanket authority to talk to top WP school players

5 April, 2015 beet 8

From Pieter (translated from Afrikaans to English):

The WPRU has got their knickers in a Knot. Why? Because the proactive Blue Bulls have as always followed proper SARU procedure and informed WPRU in writing that the Blue Bulls have 62 talented Western Province school players in mind. …

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SA u20 Baby Boks squad reduced from 64 to 37 players

5 April, 2015 beet 95

From SARugby.net:

“The SARU national selectors have named a squad of 37 players for the Junior Springbok training camp in preparation for the 2015 World Rugby Under-20 Championship to be played during June in Italy. The group will assemble in Stellenbosch on Easter Monday.…

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NWU-Puk under 19 contracted players for 2015

12 November, 2014 beet 1

The Leopards have been very competitive at under-19 level over the years and its no longer that big a surprise when they beat one of the big unions during the junior Currie Cup, simply because they have good coaching, good facilities and they attract many talented players their way. This annual prosperity would not been possible if it were not for the close working relationship that the union has with the North-West University or Pukke as they are so often called.…

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Sharks under 19 contracted players for 2015

29 October, 2014 beet 40

Sharks CEO John Smit has changed a number of things during his first year in charge at Kings Park but one that looks likely to stay the same is the union’s approach to contracting junior players.  Only 12 junior contracts for 2015 have been awarded. 11 to schoolboys with the other going to current Sharks under-19 starter Chris Lines who is still under-18 this year. …

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Sharks u19 vs EP u19: do or die time!

25 September, 2014 beet 29

The Sharks and Eastern Province under-19 teams clash in a must win round-robin match at Kings Park on Saturday, 27 September 2014 (09h30).  Along with the Golden Lions, the the three teams find themselves battling it out for the last remaining semifinal spot in this year ABSA under-19 competition. The Lions have a bye this weekend but appear to have a slightly easier finish after that, so defeat for either of the other two will probably spell the end of their hopes of making the playoffs. …

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ABSA u19 Currie Cup – Week 6 teams & results

14 August, 2014 beet 24

Of interest this weekend is that HTS Middelburg’s reliable scrummy Rowan Gouws starts for the Sharks while regular captain Ayron Schramm is ruled out by injury and flu. The strong Free State team’s starting lineup includes Limpopo sprinter Arno van Staden who came off the bench last weekend to score two tries in the win against the Leopards. Glenwood’s Corne Vermaak who’s had off the field issues to take car of also finds a spot on the bench this weekend. Outeniqua’s powerful no.8 Dian Koen is at long last called on to be a reserve for WP. Two really good hookers go head to head when Pieter Jansen (EG Jansen, Golden Lions) takes on JP Jamieson (Kingswood/Grey PE, EP Kings). The Lions regular flyhalf Shaun Reynolds (Goudveld) is out meaning that Jameel Warnick of Garsfontein steps in. He will be up against the versatile Jason Baggott who usually plies his trade at scrumhalf…

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Free State u19 thumps the Sharks u19

1 July, 2014 beet 132

July marks the start of the annual provincial under-19 (and under-21) season. Free State u19 sent out a strong signal that they are ready for the action by beating the Sharks u19 42-5.…

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Baby Boks team for 2nd Argentina match

6 May, 2014 beet 15

SA Under-20 coach Dawie Theron made 11 changes from the team that overwhelmed Los Pumitas in the first encounter between the sides last Friday in Saldanha Bay on the West Coast.The SA U20 team to face their Argentinean counterparts on Tuesday at the Paul Roos Markötter Stadium in Stellenbosch at 15h00 on Tuesday, 6 May 2014:…

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SA-u20 prepare for 3 Argentina matches

2 May, 2014 beet 22

There is exactly one month to go until SA under-20’s first game against Scotland at the Junior World Championships in New Zealand. Helping to wrap up preparations for the tournament is the annual 3-match series against Argentina under-20. This year the matches will be held in South Africa.…

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Sharks Academy’s Kearsney Easter Rugby Festival bursary prize success rate

20 April, 2014 beet 11

Every year at the conclusion of the Kearsney Easter Rugby Festival selectors from The Sharks and Sharks Academy hand out bursary prizes to selected players. In 2014 there are three bursaries each valued at over R100 000 when including the contract with the Academy for 2015, accommodation and the tuition bursary with one of its education partners.

In terms of being a marketing tool, the concept is a huge success,  as it draws a lot of media attention. As a method of recruitment, well you can judge for yourself …

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Varsity Cup 2014 : UCT’s amazing comeback win! Unbelievable!

7 April, 2014 beet 33

What a final! UCT looked dead and buried and then some at 33-15 after 73-minutes. Pukke’s machine of a hooker Armand van der Merwe (Duhan’s older boet) looked all set to be the Man of the Match. The fat lady was warming up her vocal cords, the engraver was about to incise the letters “N-W-U” on the cup but then it happened. The dramatic and incredible comeback. UCT scored once, scored twice! Got the score back to 33-31 down with virtually no time left. Then Pukke had the ball game with time up, hooter gone and a deep pass to flyhalf Johnny Welthagen in the pocket. All he had to do was kick the ball into touch, knock it on or kill play somehow but instead he went for the drop goal, got charged down and possession was turned over to the Ikeys students. Huge BMT followed and via some excellent composed handling the Tiger stripes created some space on an inside line and the rest is history. UCT 39 Pukke 33. What a great final!…

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SA u20 training squad reduced to 36 players

6 April, 2014 beet 10
From the SARugby.net website
April 04, 2014

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.

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Butch James invites the KZN school coaches to discuss u19 rugby

28 February, 2014 beet 9

The correspondence from former Rugby World Cup winning Springbok flyhalf and Maritzburg College Old Boy, Butch James reads as follows: “please see attached invitation to join Jake White and Myself to a Cocktail Party to discuss U19 Rugby at the Sharks and other rugby matters going forward. Hope to see you there and to get your input.” …

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Top u19 recruiter Gavin Melvill leaves the Sharks

27 February, 2014 beet 32

Former Natal centre from the 1970’s Gavin Melvill makes up 17 years worth of a total of 227 years of coaching experience that will no longer be part of the Sharks set up as a result of personnel departures. Melvill has serviced in different roles at the rugby union but has always had a hands on approach with regards to the contracting of junior players. …

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Young Guns Varsity Cup squads 2014

24 February, 2014 beet 11

In an effort to get to grips with who is who in this year’s Young Guns competition, here is a start. An incomplete table containing many of the player’s names of six of the teams (Pukke & Wits missing) and where know, the schools they attended. …