The University of Free State Kovies under-20’s are busy with a series of warm-up games ahead of their very testing Varsity Cup Young Guns opening match against powerful defending champions Tuks from Pretoria University on 18 February 2013. The Kovsies have assembled a nice array of talented students from across the country to do the job and will probably count on a few under-19’s to start as well. Former Bulls under-19 lock Philip du Preez of Monnas, will hope to recapture the form that earned him an SA Schools cap back in 2011. Also in the mix are high school stars Gilbert Chalmers of Noord-Kaap and Grey College’s Henco Greyling. Greyling is one of 10 Grey players in the 32-man squad, the most from any school. Glenwood, Noord-Kaap and Voortrekker Bethlehem all contribute three players to the UFS cause.
Kovsies squad:
| Position | Name | Surname | School |
|---|---|---|---|
| Prop | Hennie-Schalk | Theron | Grey College |
| Prop | Martin | Oosthuizen | Outeniqua |
| Prop | Rudolf | Botha | Grey College |
| Prop | Petrus | Senekal | Paul Roos |
| Prop | Ando | Booysens | Kroonstad |
| Hooker | Jacques | du Toit | Grey College |
| Hooker | Marco | Klopper | Voortrekker Bth |
| Lock | Gilbert | Chalmers | Noordkaap |
| Lock | Boela | Venter | Nylstroom |
| Lock | Henco | vd Westhuizen | Voortrekker Bth |
| Lock | Andre | Venter | Monnas |
| Lock | Philip | du Preez | Monnas |
| L/Forward | Tinnie | Burger | Grey College |
| L/Forward | Stefan | Gouws | Grey College |
| L/Forward | Sihle | Ngxabi | Glenwood |
| L/Forward | Francois | Jones | Centurion |
| L/Forward | Gerhard | Olivier | Grey College |
| L/Forward | Henco | Greyling | Grey College |
| Scrumhalf | Zee | Mkhabela | Glenwood |
| Scrumhalf | Louis | Venter | Affies |
| Flyhalf | Jannie | Strumpher | Grey College |
| Flyhalf | Warren | Potgieter | Glenwood |
| Wing | Don | Mlondobozi | Ben Vorster |
| Centre | Tertius | Kruger | Outeniqua |
| Utility Back | Renaldo | Meyer | Gill College |
| Centre | Johan | Peens | Paarl Boishaai |
| Centre | Nico | Lee | Affies |
| Centre | Francois | Pretorius | Grey College |
| Centre | Stef | Jv Rensburg | Grey College |
| Wing | Vuyani | Maqina | Noord-Kaap |
| Wing | Charlton | Koopman | Noord-Kaap |
| Fullback | Sheldon | Erasmus | Voortrekker Bth |
The Maties, UCT and Tukkies Young Guns squads can be viewed under the menu heading: u19s & u20s at the top of the page
@beet: You are correct with these Affies no 9’s.
Looking out for them this year on how their careers will further shape.
But ja they must start to put their hands in the air now and show what their senior ambisions are all about.
All 3 of them have showed that they got a lot of talent.
And also not to forget about Faasen & Snyman
@Woltrui: I think both are in a better place by not signing for the Bulls. The Bulls have signed the last 3 Affies scrumhalves before Louis – Lohan Jacobs, Poerie van Rooyen and Carlo Engelbrecht. Their overstock of junior centres is also crazy. Nico would struggle for game time.
@rugbyfan: A few years back we did look like there was a national shortage of quality locks but in recent years we have seen some good ones coming through. Lood de Jager (Cheetahs), Paul Willemse and Dennis Visser (Bulls), Willem van der Sluys and Ruan Botha (WP), PS du Toit and Marais bros (Sharks), Franco Mostert (Lions) all up and coming. Not to mention Eben Etzebeth – already arrived and then some.
I think we need better young scrumhalves to now start showing themselves. A lot of the big names out of school have fallen short of the mark. Looking around altho there are young guys coming thru none of them sort of captures attention in a way that suggests he has to be the next Bok 9.
Both the Affies players in the group extremely talented. Louis Venter, nephew of Kosie Venter who played scrumhalf for Northern Transvaal and Eastern Freestate in the 80’s. Nico Lee, big and strong, with very good feet and hands. Nico also captained the Affies 7’s side. Big slip up of the Bulls not to sign these players (If they came from the Paarl the Bulls would of course have signed them
)
Is this not the bread basket of SA rugby!
Hope some of these locks filter through to the senior side soon.
@BOG: You must be confusing him with Cobus Nel his partner in crime during the 2010 season. Cobus had an outstanding season with the WP u19s in 2011, so look out for him in their u21 side later this year.
Gerhard was a year younger and only finished in 2011. Like Cobus he shifted to the backrow after school. He captained FS u19 last year. Good to bring up coz I’m mentioning the Grey College lineout jumpers on the Night Series thread.
@beet: Did he not go to WP or am I confusing him with someone else?
@BOG: Bog also Gerhard Olivier. Fantastic work ethic and leadership qualities
I have been told to keep an eye on Tinie Burger, the L/Fwd. He played mostly lock at school and was in the bigger U20 SA squad. A long term prospect, earmarked for bigger things