The countdown to the start of the season of the 2023 regular season is very much underway. There is a nice hype building around a few talents wearing the no. 1 jersey for their respective KwaZulu-Natal schools.
The three top rated front-rankers heading into the season in no particular order are:
- Simphiwe Ngobese (Durban HS) – a nice sized prop with a good rugby brain and some silky skills
- Bunono Jabavu (Hilton) – a big ball-carrier of note
- Lithemba Mfupi (Glenwood) – versatile rock solid setpiece player
Thanks to Mfupi’s ability to play on the tighthead, Craven Week selectors’ headaches may be eased a bit, with opportunity to select all three for the premier youth week event during July.
Craven Week selectors won’t have it all that easy though. There are a few others of a high calibre frontrankers just waiting to show what they have to offer as well.
Just behind the top three in the depth chart are Sharks u17 Academy Week hopefuls:
- Reuben Vos (Northwood)
- Aphiwe Shelembe (Michaelhouse)
- Phiwayinkosi Kubheka (Maritzburg College)
Kearsney’s reliable Luca Veronesi can count on plenty of experience as he enters a second year of 1st XV rugby and who knows, may even graduate to play 6 Nations u20 rugby in a few years time.
Lots of talent omitted from the line-ups below, which contains a good number of the elite players turning 18, that are set to light up the stage once the season gets underway.
@ForeverHorseFly: Yes DHS have really upped the ante over the last few years. Took some schools by surprise I think after the 2 COVID years. Some great players across the board and a high quality coach at 1st team level. Glenwood may not want to reinstate the fixture right now
@Skywalker: Would love to have seen DHS vs Glenwood play this year, even last year as well. I think it is time the powers that be come together and bury the hatchet so we can get back to the biggest rivalry in Durban.
Also excited about DHS chances this year looking at the u18 players returning as well as a very good crop of u16 players turning 17 coming through(6 players in KZN GK team last year).
Going to be a great season. Looking forward to the tour as well especially the Northwood game against Paarl Boys at the KES festival.
I would think this should be quite a competitive season overall, with any team able to upset another on a given day. Good for KZN rugby. Will be very interesting to see who rises to the top. Based on above, DHS vs Glenwood would be a good game, sad they dont play each other anymore.