Melusi Mthethwe’s reward for his outstanding achievement of guiding Free State under-19 to the Currie Cup final last year came in the form of a promotion to the Free State under-21 head coaching position this year. It is definitely a step up but a nightmare post if one considers that Free State / Cheetahs participate in both the Pro14 and the senior Currie Cup while the under-21 champs are underway. It mean that senior pro rugby is where the Union’s priorities lie and junior rugby coaches have to work around this in terms of availability of players and match preparations.
Mthethwe’s assistant in 2017, CUT Varsity Cup head coach and former Springbok hooker Tiaan Liebenberg now takes over as under-19 coach. Free State have been very good at making their junior budget go really far. This year’s under-19 team could prove to be competitive and the cherry on top for youngsters is the potential for advancement and exposure thanks to the senior rugby opportunities and coaching cannot be bettered in anywhere else in SA.
Free State gets their season underway with a home match against the Leopards.
| FREE STATE u19 | SCHOOL | LEOPARDS | SCHOOL | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Cameron Dawson | Paul Roos | 1 | Beast Sangweni | Sarel Cilliers |
| 2 | Janus Venter | EG Jansen | 2 | Rory Leijdekkers | Noord Kaap |
| 3 | John-Henry Fincham | Grey College | 3 | Arno Gustafson | Potch Gim |
| 4 | Elrigh Louw | Transvalia | 4 | George van der Westhuizen | Potch Gim |
| 5 | Deon Van Niekerk | Noord-Kaap | 5 | MC Janse van Rensburg | |
| 6 | Ruben Roodt | Garsfontein | 6 | Humphries Du Randt | Monument |
| 7 | Johan Wilken | Grey College | 7 | Kagiso Woodbrigde | Pretoria BH |
| 8 | Ruwald Van Der Merwe | Rustenburg | 8 | Andries Fouche | Rustenburg |
| 9 | Jacques Van Biljon | Stellenberg | 9 | Sylvester Hassien | Outeniqua |
| 10 | Mark Morrison | KES | 10 | Tristan Oosthuizen | Helpmekaar |
| 11 | PJ Krugell | Waterkloof | 11 | Truimp Boloyi | Goudveld |
| 12 | James Mollentze | Outeniqua | 12 | Emilio Otto | Outeniqua |
| 13 | Ayabonga Matroos | Grey HS | 13 | Mitchell van der Merwe | Potch Gim |
| 14 | Juandre Sabbat | Brandwag | 14 | Reinard Jordaan | Transvalia |
| 15 | Charles Williams | Diamantveld | 15 | Heinrich Botha | Midstream |
| 16 | Nyiko Ntlemo | Ben Vorster | 16 | AJ Meyer | Marais Viljoen |
| 17 | Willem Marais | Grey College | 17 | Ruben Du Plessis | Rustenburg |
| 18 | Zean Augustyn | Duineveld | 18 | Craivian Smith | Lichtenburg |
| 19 | Steffan Schoeman | 19 | Handro Horn | Zwartkop | |
| 20 | Andre Hanekom | Stellenberg | 20 | Chris Vermaak | Zwartkop |
| 21 | Divan de Clerk | Garsfontein | 21 | Uys Du Preez | HTS Middelburg |
| 22 | Noko Malatji | Merensky | 22 | John Keevy | Helpmekaar |
| 23 | Luke Hertz | Oakdale | 23 | Bertru Jones | Lichtenburg |
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