The Eastern Province and Eastern Province Country Districts teams to play at Craven Week have been finalised.
Grey High School and Die Brandwag are well represented in the EP Schools team with 9 and 5 players respectively while the Country Districts team is predominantly made up of Marlow (8) and St Andrews (7) players.
Both captains CJ Velleman and Sintu Majezi will be vying for SA Schools places. In the EP team also keep an eye out for powerful lock Elandré van der Merwe, big ball-carrier Martin Groenewald, classy flyhalf Ernst Stapelberg and fullback Malcolm Jaer, who does as standout job at flyhalf for his school Die Brandwag. In the EPCD team flyhalf Jason Vers became an instant hit after Union’s narrow defeat to Boishaai earlier in the year. His progress at Craven Week is bound to draw a lot of interest.
| EP SCHOOLS | EPCD SCHOOLS | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| NAME | SCHOOL | # | NAME | SCHOOL | |
| 1 | Kaden Prince | Die Brandwag | 1 | NJ Ooosthuizen | Marlow |
| 2 | Justin Antonie | Pearson | 2 | Thomas Filmer | St Andrews |
| 3 | Erich De Jager | Die Brandwag | 3 | Ronnie Beyl | Marlow |
| 4 | Elandré Van Der Merwe | Die Brandwag | 4 | Tyler Paul | St Andrews |
| 5 | Stefan Ebersöhn | Grey HS | 5 | Sintu Majezi (c) | St Andrews |
| 6 | CJ Velleman (c) | Grey HS | 6 | Nelius Van Heerden | Marlow |
| 7 | Morney Moos | Die Brandwag | 7 | Stuart Stopforth | St Andrews |
| 8 | Martin Groenewaldt | Grey HS | 8 | Luigy Van Jaarsveld | Marlow |
| 9 | Luciano Daniels | Otto Du Plessis | 9 | Jason Baggot | St Andrews |
| 10 | Ernst Stapelberg | Framesby | 10 | Jason Vers | Union |
| 11 | Keanu Vers | Grey HS | 11 | Xhanti Sandi | Graeme |
| 12 | Luan Nieuwoudt | Nico Malan | 12 | Peet Schoeman | Marlow |
| 13 | Siya Lawu | Pearson | 13 | Robert Ball | St Andrews |
| 14 | Dylan Vermaak | Grey HS | 14 | Aphiwe Dinga | Aliwal North |
| 15 | Malcolm Jaer | Die Brandwag | 15 | Tshepo Mabitsela | Volkskool GR |
| 16 | Arno Lötter | Daniël Pienaar | 16 | Marco Blom | Marlow |
| 17 | Jodie Banbie | Newton | 17 | David Murray | St Andrews |
| 18 | Sipathu Pakomela | Grey HS | 18 | Hannes Viljoen | Marlow |
| 19 | Bathandwa Cafu | Grey HS | 19 | Ockert Du Preez | Marlow |
| 20 | Matthew Alborough | Grey HS | 20 | Qhama Masiza | Adelaide Gim |
| 21 | Jeremy Ward | Grey HS | 21 | Siposethu Pinini | Graeme |
| 22 | Renald King | Pearson | 22 | Gordon Wayne Plaatjies | Graeme |
Dalk moet daar weggedoen word met die naam Country Districts. Die Griekwa CD moet weer bekend staan as Noord Wes Kaap. Dink in hierdie geval gaan dit nie oor ontwikkeling nie ,maar wel om span vir ‘n streek wat strek van Kuruman verby Griekwastad om Prieska tot by Upington te kies.
Of course, I would be failing my duty if I did not point out that FS was also unbeaten at that week, just by the way. Im the last person who would disagree with merit being the only criteria for selection. I have expressed myself very strongly on the matter. In fact, I regard anything else as despicable and morally indefensible. But looking at the reason and justification for the existence for the teams ie Border CD, EC CD and Griquas CD in the first place, it would seem that they are renaging on their mandate. If that is so. it would be more appropriate to have a second team out of the “bigger” unions
@Mike: yes it was against that SWD side, I remember Peet Schoeman was very impressive, Stapelberg at 10 had a great game and Justin Antonie, the hooker had the game of his life, Man of the match that cold winter afternoon in Queenstown
The EP CD team and EP central teams combine at u16 level, so its always going to be up for debate.When these u18s were in u16 they won the unofficial final at Grant Khomo against SWD I think. If there is going to be development in EP rugby then it should not only happen in the Eastern Province. It should happen all over the country. And in my humble opinion you don’t ‘develop’ a rugby player by putting him in a spot he hasn’t earned or isn’t good enough to play in. Pick the best players and give them an opportunity to make a name for themselves. Most of us forget that the ‘privileged’ schools have done the role EP Rugby should have done in the first place by giving talented underprivileged kids bursaries. And I think it would be a great move for Queens to get out of the Border Rugby Union.
Only one boy from Framesby traditionally one of the strongest schools in the EP?
Ja 4 van die 8 voorspelers geen wonder hulle het Marlow ‘n goeie pak gegee nie. Geluk!
@Queenian: Why not Border CD then? Mind you, anything to get away from Border, would do, in my opinion. Otherwise NEC should be revived. Queens could slot in there quite nicely.@Ludz: That “excuse” could be applied to virtually any of the “bigger” unions, ie BBs, Lions, WC, KZN, FS. The only purpose of the CD sides is development and if its not used for that purpose, there is more justification for those “bigger” unions to have “secondary” sides@Kingcharles: Geographically I cannot deny that Grahamstown (a city by the way) is part of the country, but ito standard and level of development, its city. More justification for Grahamstown to be incorporated into EP than the Paarl into the WP
Don,t entirely agree with you BOG ,the Grahamstown Schools are in the country districts the same as Marlow ( Another school of privilage ) and the best should be picked no matter where you are ,country districts or in the city,s.What they should do is change the traditional setup and make it Eastern Cape Schools ( PE,GHSTN and ELN,KWT schools only )and Eastern Cape Country Districts ( all other schools outside these two area,s ) but the Border area will have a hernia,as it would mean they fall away,but so would the old Eastern Province.If this ever had to happen i would support it,as i believe it would serve development best.
@BOG: way too much quality to combine it into 1 team in the EP region, 2 teams required for sure
@Queenian: not that I’m aware, I just heard on Saturday that they had the trials last week and Mr Loest was going to be coaching them
@Ludz: Have the Border Teams being named yet.
@BOG: Strong possibilty of Queens being part of the EP Country Disricts setup next year.
If the purpose of an EP Country Districts side is to encourage development, it is being undone by the presence of the (privileged) Grahamstown schools. In my (humble of course) opinion, the latter should be incorporated with EP schools. Any opinion on this?
Ludz,i could also never understand why they played Ebersohn at prop, he is 195 metres tall and should always have been a lock and a very good one at that,Martin Groenewald is a no8 although he is playing lock for Grey,lets hope the use him at no 8.Velleman is brilliant i hope he keeps his form and makes the SA u18 side,i see they have Keanu Vers at wing,he plays full back for Grey,but very fast and nippy,but watch Dylen Vermaak, very fast ,I predict big things from him
Congratulations to all the Grey boys that made the Craven Week squad,a bit surprised not to see Joshua Mudrovic the Grey no 2 there,i see they have the Pearson player Justin Antonie at no 2,although i have not seen him play this year,i saw him last year when he also made Craven Week and was not impressed.Also dissapointed to see that Mathew Howes the Grey prop wasn,t even invited to the trials,the EP props must be world class if thats the case.Looking at the EP U 16 Grant Khomo week players i see 7 Grey players made this squad,however there are a couple that play Grey u16 B team,but i suppose the team needs some colour,just don,t agree with this,but congratulations to all.
Interesting to note that in the EP Central team there are 5 grade 11s who are u17 in the starting line up, and another 2 u17s in the rest. Starting line up grade 11s are Kaden Prince, Erich de Jager, Morney Moos, Keanu Vers, and Dylan Vermaak. And then Sipathu Pakomela and Jeremy Ward. Luigi van Jaarsveldis a fantastic player in the CD team, also grade 11.
@Ludz: Unfortunate for Davron Cameron not to make the EPCD team. From what’s been said about him he’s a decent player.
@Ludz: Okay Marlow no.8 Luigy Van Jaarsveld committed to memory.
@Ludz: I think Nieuwoudt who is just back from injury that kept him out of Nico Malan’s team for KERF amongst other games is definitely one to track. He played really well in the successful 2012 EP CW team.
@Ludz: Horne is u19
@Vleis: isn’t Ryan Horne eligible for Craven Week this year?
Tell you what, watch that Marlow no.8 Luigy Van Jaarsveld, very good. Sintu Manjezi an impressive young player at lock, not the bulkiest fellow, he’s a good ball carrier, very skillful and mobile. The makings of a very good blinside flanker. Dissapointed not to see Kingswood outside centre Davron Cameron in the squad, guess he has a chance again next year. Peet Schoeman another who impressed me 2 years ago at the Grant Khomo Week. Look forward to watching young Mr Vers at 10
In the EP Central side, I like the look of the loose trio, CJ Vellerman makes a huge difference at the breakdown. The workaholic in Martin Groenawald, surprise about Stefan Ebersohn is at lock, he started the season as a prop at Grey. Gonna be interesting watch Luan Niewoudt and Ernest Stapelberg combine again this year. Good squads
Anyone know why Union has only one player in the EPCD team? After losing away to Paarl Boys by only two points, I’d guess that there are a few stars in the team, as the school only has 150 boys, so. there must be some superstars to make up for lack of depth. How has the Union 1st team performed this year?
Congratulations to all these boys. Good represenation from the top schools in the region this year. SA Schools team will be very interesting – there are many standout candidates all around. Good luck!
Watched Velleman play against Wynberg, what a player! Very strong over the ball and all over the field
The “Vers” family seems to have an abundance of talent…One wing in Grey PE , one Flyhalf in Union and another Wing in Boishaai!…
Congrats to the Brandwag Boys..that must be a record presentation for them!