@Smallies (Comment #90)
Apart from the fact dat ek nooit R50 vir ‘n $ gesê het nie, en die hondjie jok hieroor, to such extent that he is considered a disgrace for Boishaai and his jersey taken away, is sy normale MO om die aandag af te trek van hom deur leuens oor ander te versprei. 😃😃😃
Actually jammerenswaardige mensie!
@Smallies (Comment #90)Onder PW Botha, ten spyte van sanksies het ons 80c vir ‘n dollar en 98c vir een UK pond betaal. Kyk maar op die SARB WEBTUISTE.Swart meerderheids regering maak dit nie. Voor Verwoerd het minder as 10% swart kinders opvoeding van meer as twee jaar ontvang. Verwoerd was hul redder uit die Shepstone Engelsman klou. Verwoerd het gesorg vir die bes opgevoede, mees welvarende swart meerderheid op Aarde en niemand kan verby die stats kom nie. Cast in stone, en om die mees genocidal mense op Aarde se taal te gebruik.Actual kitchen Dutch, Beaowulf style, number 7 on the European IQ map lmao, as dumb as they come. Dutch no 1, Germans number 2, that before murdering 50% of our kids in concentration camps as the English men were to weak to take us on 25:1. Cowards. My one great grandmother was killed by the Nazis as she was a Jewess, the other one and 5 children were killed by the English speaking SANS AS THEY ARE COWARDS. Despicable people and English schools are despicable too. Rapist and murderers. Do they teach this in schools like Kearsney or Michaelhouse?? Plus the more than 100 000 black non enlisted soldiers the English used to rape boer women out of their houses into the camps. Ask me for references….to peer reviewed work. Fvck you Englishman. You wrote almost all apartheid laws. And worse against Afrikaners
Who is going to win the Southern Suburds challenge this year?
Bosch and Wynberg have good age groups, but Bishops like to bring in players at Grade 11. SACS making a comeback?
@Smallies (Comment #74)
You see, dis wat ek bedoel. Ou boerboel does not like it to be ignored and makes up lies in his imaginary world.
His coffee machine sees more action than his bed linnen 😃, so he has to make up a world that comes across as his own version of the truth 😃😃😃
Supersport Schools bring darem ‘n lekker dimensie aand sport. Kyk nou atletiek by Menlo. Baie geluk aan julle met die nuwe tartan baan, dit is next level
@Smallies (Comment #60)
ja hjs het vir Roos se pa n huis gekoop in die Paarl en hom die md van n pharma mpy in die Kaap gemaak? tyler bocks weet ek nie van nie-ai
A lot is being said by some individuals about EC/Border boys being poached by KZN Schools.
Real stats to back this would be nice please?
I’ve seen majority of KZN Schools trying to remain excatly that- a school for KZN boys as this longterm approach also secure involved old boys that’s more likely to be based near their school.
@Smallies (Comment #60)
‘n Mens redeneer nie met wat hulle idiote noem nie. Jy lag hom net uit, want hy kan dit nie handle nie.
Hy sal net aanhou nonsens praat want hy glo homself 😃😃
Hier gaan ons alweer. Wat is die persentasie van spelers wat in Top skole 1ste span speel wat Bokke word ? Antwoord ? Min.
In die Bokke se RWC final span was daar seker 3 of 4 uit Top skole.
Skole rugby is gesond, dis lekker en dit werk. As jy koop dan koop jy, as jy nie koop nie gaan huil by jou ma vettie. Ten minste doen die skole wat koop iets, daar is dryf en passie en coaching en bemarking, vra jouself hoeveel coaches het Garsfontein, Grey, Affies, Gim, Noordheuwel, Booishaai, Paul Roos. Al die goeie skole. Hoeveel is personeel ? Hoeveel is betaalde buite afrigters ? Hoeveel is studente ? Hoeveel is free volunteers ? Sodat die rugby program gedryf kan word ! Well done aan daai skole. Dit vat moerse organisering om dit te dryf.
Ja ander skole kom ons noem hulle klein skole/ plaas skole/ arm skole watokal, ja daar is ook by hulle n goeie Afrigter wat hard try en sy ure opgee, maar vra jouself hoekom het daai skool net 1 afrigter oor, en hoekom het hulle geen borge nie, en geen finansies nie. So wie se skuld is dit dan.
Rugby is n span sport, en geen briljante seun kan sy rugby geniet as hy elke week houe vat, en by elke oefening daag daar 12 seuns op, of elke 2de bal val op die grond nie. Dit is ook nie regverdig aan daai seun nie. Sommige ouers is lojaal en los die seun in daai skool en dis goed so, maar ander soek n beter 5 jaar vir sy seun of 2 jaar of 1 jaar, so what.
Kom ons vergeet van die klein handjie wat dit maak in rugby, kom ons wees eerder dankbaar vir die 90% wat geleenthede kry, wat finansiele druk van hulle ouers afhaal, wat elke dag 3 borde kos by die koshuis kry, wat lekker kit kry met nuwe truie en borge en oefen hempies, wat in toernooie speel en op tv sodat hulle ouers kan kyk, wat dalk so nou en dan vlieg of trein ry Pretoria toe vir rugby.
Ek se go for it. Koop manne koop. Gee daai laaities geleenthede, bele die geld in rugby en hou hulle uit die strate uit.
@beet (Comment #56)
There is also a question that that boy has to ask himself….do I stay at my local school and play first team for two years …..or do I go to a top school who is offering me a bursery based on my potential and find out exactly what that potential is and where it can lead me.Do I stay and dominate the local laaities or do I go to a top school and potentially test myself against the best players in the country in my position…..
@beet (Comment #56)
I think it happens in all so called makro schools….wich is not a bad thing ,just because you’re scouted and got offered a bursary to a top school does not automatically guarantee you a spot in the fisteam…
@Smallies (Comment #55)
Almost feels like you are describing a situation unique to Grey College
Many years back Grey played Maritzburg College on Goldstones. After the match a Grey 1st XV parent said to me that perhaps their new 1st XV flyhalf Michael Andrade, who had arrived from Sand du Plessis, should get demoted to the 3rd XV (Peaches I think) to get better acquainted with how Grey plays. It was not a disrespectful comment either, just a practical opinion offered. I remember thinking at the time – wow only at Grey. Andrade was a decent player.
I think a good number of gr8 bursary award winners end up missing the opportunity to play 1st XV. There are lots of examples of this. I’m not sure that many boys recruited half way through their u16 year or later miss out on this opportunity.
Die werf van spelers is was en sal altyd maar issue wees , dis n saak wat elke ouer maar vir homself moet uitsort….dit sal ook goed wees indien n seun hom dan commit tot daardie skool ,hetsy hy firsteam speel of nie….n groot getal gewefde seuns speel nooit eerstespan nie en ouers moet dit besef,net omdat boetie gewerf is deur n skool beteken dit nie hy gaan noodwendig die outjie wat tans eerstespan speel lig nie,inteendeel baie maal word n seun gewerf juis as backup vir n posisie aangesien due afrigtingspan voel dat hulle diepte kort op n sekere spot.
@Chronicle (Comment #7)
absolutee nonsense- they came on their own- not a single bursary- parents moving to paarl or on their way there- bursaries are for gr8s as far as i know
@beet (Comment #45)
I was pressurised to add that there are numerous financial transactions where the parents benefit directly as a result of their kids moving schools and in some instances the payments amount to significant values.
I know the Sharks have been on a buying spree of late, but i have seen that over the last few years they have focussed on recuiting their local talent as a priority. Many KZN High School boys in the Senior squad (Richardson, Mchunu, Mbatha, Labuschagne, Venter, Van Vuuren, Buthelezi, Hendrikse etc). And in the junior teams right now they can have 10 boys in a matchday 23 that went to KZN high schools. Thats great to see. They have just signed another 7 local boys in their new intake. So i think boys also know that getting into a KZN school can help to give them visibility with those coaches and the Sharks scouts as well. Many of the High School coaches know the Sharks coaches or once were Sharks coaches so it can help.
Very tough debate and often the deepest pockets win. From a KZN POV, the chance to play for the Sharks (despite current performances), is still a big drawcard for boys from outside of KZN. The union has also been very good at building its Next Gen programmes and identifying and working with boys from the KZN high schools already in the junior age groups. This exposure is key for young players, so many in EC or elsewhere will often jump at that chance because they can’t get that same opportunity in their own province. Even if they dont play Grant Khomo or Craven Week ultimately or get a professional contract – playing 1st team rugby can ensure bursaries for Tertiary education and a chance to play Varsity Cup etc. That must also not be forgotten. Many can get a chance to study further thanks to their rugby.
From time to time this comes up.
Outside forces / nepotism influences selection
A player often in a key position is in the 1st XV but not on merit and is keeping a player who could contribute more to the team out.
The favoured player almost always happens to be a relative of someone with influence at the school.
@4×4 (Comment #44)
99% of 1st XV players reach the peak of their rugby careers by playing 1st XV and only a handful go onto enjoy greater selection success post school. For those who do play post school rugby, my feeling is the results produced by a school they attended are not as important as the quality of rugby programme in terms of coaching and facilities it offered them as part of their development. In this regard St Alban’s and Pretoria BH, I feel they are right up there in what they offer a developing player.
To extend what I’m saying is that a player can still achieve huge success after school by not playing in a tier-1 competitive school league simply because his foundations are good. A Sharks official once told me a player can fall as far as four years behind in conditioning development if he is not in the right rugby environment while at high school. This includes nutrition and especially pays attention to what a player is or is not able to do or eat/consume during the school holidays which as you know form a large chunk of a calendar year.
The next question is can you ready a player to be competitive for the challenges of contributing to a successful Craven Week campaign simply by him having access to good coaching structures and facilities at his school? My tendency is to say no. His head and body might be in the right place to succeed but the short term catch-up in such a small window of time is too big. But here again I would say that playing in the fixtures that SAC and PBHS compete in, is more than adequate to battle harden players and expose them to elements like physicality, power, speed required to hold their own. There are Pretoria private and government schools in tiers below where this transition discussed above is too big a step unless the player is exceptional. Zibabalwa Booi who attended the township school Ndzondolelo near Gqeberha and held his own in that successful EP Craven Week team of 2023 would be a classic example of an odds defying player.
@Chronicle (Comment #43)
Yes, definitely the fees can amount to a massive investment.
I believe that with the competition to sign up kids, there is often more to the offer than just the normal school/boarding/ancillary fees. There is pocket money and in cases even the offer of paid for travel so that parents can visit their kids from time-to-time.
Biggest culprit in Gauteng that can be associated with schools in Pretoria, is the Blue Bulls Rugby Union. Due to Pretoria School being predominantly Afrikaans, it is easiers to scout children from the Western Cape and Northern Cape and place them by agreement in Pretoria Afrikaans Schools. The quota requirements in Pretoria is created artificially because their is a lack of quality Schools that can produce quota players.
It is fact that players of colour prefer English Schools to Afrikaans Schools and a such the only feeder school in Pretoria will be Boys High.
In the past the likes of Jenkins and Mbonambi was places a St Albans, but if you interrogate the 2 Schools performances over the last decade, one will understand why the need arise to created it artificially.
I seldom hear of any Johannesburg Schools that is associated with poaching, and I believe it is due to the fact that same is not required, referencing Park Town Boys, Jeppe, KES, St Johns
@beet (Comment #34)
I noted your reference to financial rewards as a carrot to move schools. Considering your story on school fees, it becomes a massive factor. 5 years of no school fees can easily tally to R250 000+ in government schools. When we talk private schools, it runs to close to the million mark. 😳😳
@beet (Comment #32)
I guess we will know when we see the team sheets.
I learned a new term, tho. Schools in the south call Boishaai the Buco Brugstreet Barbarians 😃😃😃 the latter word referring to them poaching from all over the country culminating in a Barbarian-like team.
@beet (Comment #37)
In my opinion the way the grade 11s and grade 12s “gel” plays a massive role! The previous year’s success also plays a role since successful players can sometimes become entitled, thinking they have made it!
@Kantman (Comment #39)
Jys reg, daar is meer faktore wat ‘n rol speel. In my opinie is die ageruitgang van die kleiner dorpe in ons land ook ‘n groot drywer! Mense op die platteland besef dat die skole in die kleiner dorpe se kwaliteit agteruit gaan. Kwaliteit in terme van onderwys en geleenthede. Soms besef hulle dit eers in graad 9 of graad 10. Dit gebeur al hoe meer! Lekker debateer… ek het my punt gemaak!
@Rugbyman (Comment #31)
Geen probleem as jy nie gaan deelneem aan die gesprek nie.
What is happening today is not the same as 10 or 5 years ago. There are more factors at play now – and I have a suspicion more is driven by agents who have different incentives than the longterm improvement of schoolboy rugby. If we weaken a region, because we offer ‘better opportunities’, then rugby will be worse off in the long term. Develop your own schoolboys or wait until they completed school – obviously that excludes movements that really benefits the player. And please spare me the exception stories – most talent is scouted at tournaments, not by driving through the country and watching games in the countryside and identifying rare talent. It is easy to compete for obvious talent – it is tough to spot talent that is “boiling under” – credit Gold Mine Effect
FACTORS INFLUENCING A CHANGE IN FORTUNES BETWEEN U16A & 1ST XV TWO YEARS LATER
I’m trying to come up with a list if anyone would like to contribute
1. The blend good players u17s to complement u18s
2. The availability of u19s (year 3 in the open age group)
3. Import/s – normally high quality players. Esp if introduced to replace a weaker player, this could be significant
4. Losing key player/s to poaching
5. Experience / confidence gained the year before in 1st XV rugby
6. Injuries or return of players injured who were injured during the u16 year
7. Players that haven’t grown since u16
8. Different or in some cases same coaching staff
9. Refereeing
10. Fixture list
11. Team dynamics / team spirit – may be should be higher up
@Palma (Comment #26)
One of my favourite comments of the blog was back in 2014 when Knight_CHS07 described Selborne as East London’s flagship team.
I really thought that of all the Border schools, Selborne would immune to poaching because they would have money of their own to counter the some of the offers made towards their juniors. Evidently not.
As a deterrent KZN is still a long way from EL and even Border but once the Msikaba bridge is completed (meant to be at the end of 2024), there will be more of an on the doorstep feel about the distance apart.
New faces in a team are not frowned upon like they once were.
In many circles they have gained acceptance.
I would however say that to maintain good relations in a local league it is vitally important to have a structured agreement in place. Taking players from other regions is not anywhere close to being as problematic as recruiting from the rival in one’s own region.
KZN had a pretty solid agreement in place up until a few years back. But with many of the headmasters who were party to having retired / moved on / got asked to leave, it has fallen apart. What’s needed is a new agreement that transcends the reign of an incumbent headmaster. Each region should have a similar agreement to govern their local league.
@OudAffie (Comment #18)
It’s definitely money rugby now.
Rugbyman isn’t wrong. There are kids who change school for all sorts of reasons and don’t necessary require a financial offer as motivation.
However I’m still convinced that the vast majority of moves involving good rugby players are inspired by financial rewards for moving. If those rewards were not on the table, the moves would not happen.
@RuggaFreak (Comment #30)
This is a very difficult situation for the Border region and unfortunately without a strong local high school league it will become even more difficult to attract decent sponsors. Vicious circle!
Amongst the difficulties is something Playa brought to my attention many years ago – many schools there consider their junior and high schools to be one-and-the-same. This is unique because in most other regions, gr.7 leavers are considered fair game for high schools and not regarded as part of the “poaching” process. In fact I even measure boys who arrive have been at high school since gr.8 as homegrowns. I’m not the only one. Many officials, parents, old boys are proud of their 1st XVs that consist almost entirely of boys who have been at their schools since gr.8
@Chronicle (Comment #19)
I have asked about Helpies boys moving to Boishaai a couple of times. First time when the story first broke. On both occasions I was told: NOT TRUE! by HMK insiders.
The migration to the Cape is a real thing tho so a little helping hand from affluent schools in the region will probably go a lot further than the same offers in other parts of SA
If memory serves I have been on this blog since 2011/12. Some of you might not have been here that long. Besides that I have been actively involved in high school rugby since 2000. One thing on the blog that has NEVER changed is the good old debate in Jan/Feb about players moving from one school to another. EVERY year the same old discussion is had, the same arguments for and against, new faces joining the debate thinking they add something new to it, people from schools with glass windows throwing stones thinking their school is not involved etc. This always makes me smile.
This debate will never die and boys will move schools not only for rugby but also for cricket, hockey, athletics. etc. Girls move schools for similar reasons. It is a fact that it remains a free country and no one can really dictate to parents or a scholar where they should start or finish their schooling career. People seem to forget that there is always a reason or reasons for a child to move from one school to another and it remains a choice. Sure in some cases a bursary might play a role, but I have seen in MANY occasions that the child moving schools already has a bursary at his/her current school. On many other occasions a bursary is not the reason why they move. There are MANY reasons for a move. Fact is, it is a personal choice. Who are we to judge that family for their decision?
My final remark is the following and will be seen as contentious. EVERY single top 20 rugby school in this country has been involved or still is involved in scouting for players even after grade 8. Just because your school did it until 2006 and then stopped doing it openly does not absolve you from the equation.
Right or wrong, moving schools for whatever reason will never stop. It remains a choice. Besides that, surely we have bigger issues in this country than to worry about a boy or girl moving from school A to B if the parents feel it is a better option for their child…
I won’t play any further part in this age old debate in the year 2024. I hope you guys enjoy a great schoolboy rugby season! I am sure it will have its highs and lows for all of us, each passionate about our own schools. May it be an exciting year and may we see our country’s schoolboy talent flourish and become the Boks of the future!
Also apparently Queen’s and St Andrew’s will no longer play each other cause of poaching. St Andrew’s allegedly poached 2 craven week boys from QCJ. Allegedly there’s an agreement between EC schools to not poach from each other so QC decided to end the long standing relationship between the two Colleges
@Palma (Comment #26)
I fear for the future of EC former model C schools. Kzn is ripping them apart. Not even poaching guys from poor communities anymore, you get taken from a good background/school and good enough system to another just to go boost a rugby program. Poach from the poor communities and give boys with little to no opportunities some opportunity.
@Rainier (Comment #17)
Selborne Primary and Dale Junior made the crucial mistake of going to a KZN tour, the tour turned into a huge shopping spree. Selborne and Dale 13A sides both only lost 1 game all season and it was against each other as they play each other twice. Long story short, they dominated KZN Primary schools posting huge scores and the poachers poached !
@RuggaFreak (Comment #16)
Well what can you do? The private kzn schools tear border apart (Selborne included) and we are left with our B team players. Yet so many people praise the likes Hilton for their successful “revival” of their rugby when all they have done is rape and pillage border primary schools and even high schools of their talent.
OudAffie is 100% right in his prediction. in a few years time their will be a national league set up where the top 10, maybe top 15 schools play each other and the traditional rugby be schools who don’t follow the trend will be left behind and forgotten about.
@OudAffie (Comment #21)
As jy Affies o16 A jol is jy laankal reeds gescout deur n hele paar provinsies ,hulle weet presies wat jou potensiaal is,n skuif na Boishaai of PRG gaan geen verskil maak nie ….die situasie is wesenlik anders as jy in bv Nico Malan is want jou blootstelling is dan eenvoudig nie so groot nie
My point, not that I particularly support the practice in any shape or form. But there is a difference Bursaries/Poaching/Buying/doing anything that gets your school/team ahead. And certain schools give bursaries for sport/academics and target certain communities, other schools poach players from rivals just to get ahead. Point being the line is very thin.
Wat happens to the 8 or so boys in the Boishaai under 16A team basically being told by the Schools Director of Rugby, well because you guys lost 7 games this year, and we cant have that, we are replacing half the team, Your options are continue playing rugby, probably B team in the hope that you wont be replaced by another boy from 550km away, but you know you will, or lose all interest and love for the game because you are effectively being dropped, as if you are not in a school but rather playing pro rugby. Just saying…
@Kantman (Comment #8)
I got confirmation.
Boishaai indeed poached the boy from Eldoraigne and 2 Helpmekaar boys.
Intetesting as they normally complain about schools in the north poaching boys from the south – although I must add, the schools in the north mostly buy from lesser known schools in the south, so they are no threat to Boishaai in itself.
@RuggaFreak (Comment #16)
I predict not too long into the future you will have a Super Money League of about 10-15 schools and then the rest of the country. Lets be honest, the top 5-7 school in SA in terms of money/buying players/recources are so far ahead no one is catching them. As soon as a school has a great year/team, the next year it will be poached to the bone the next year. Sad but true.
@Palma (Comment #11)
I was sad to hear what happened to Selborne Primary and Dale Junior 13A sides who were both special. It’s getting brutal. Dale lost all 15.
@Deon (Comment #14)
Meeste van vandag se o19s is op 8 skool toe was nie 13 jaar op skool nie….jong man Tom was soos 20 of 21 gewees,dis nogals snaaks gewees destyds
@boerboel (Comment #6)
1000 upvotes Boerboel. Garsies trying their best to match Affies in statute and prestige, and have no scruples buying a whole town in the Boland except its non sport playing stars. Garsfontein is officially the fifth and newest Winelands school. Garsies should play Boland Craven Week and people should stop worrying about the 4 Winelands schools that have played WP even before Boland existed. Garsies, Boland number 1.
@Chronicle (Comment #7)
Dis heel moontlik die waarheid ,veral met Sean Erasmus daar ,hy was veral baie aktief in die mark toe hy by Glenwood was…..soms het hy egter vergeet om laaities…..of kom ons se eerder jong mans se geboorte sertifikate the check🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣 …..
@Kantman (Comment #8)
Paul Roos poached one of Affies Under 16 stars (fullback) and Boishaai another (8). As such schoolboy rugby has become unpredictable and you will only have a guige at the start of each year after all tye shopping in completed. May the deepest pockets win!
QC 16A was very strong and Queen’s kept all its players so should be a good season. Hudson was strong too but unfortunately lost players to Kingswood and Durban schools.
@boerboel (Comment #6)
Are the stories true about Paarl Boishaai going on a shopping spree? Here in the south I hear they went shopping across the Vaal apart from the ones they collected from other southern schools.
Apparently they bought a player from Eldoraigne and a couple of Helpmekaar boys. I don’t know whether it is a rumour or not. Can you confirm?
@garsieboy (Comment #2)
I certainly hope NW do surprise a few this year. I am sure Garsfontein were happy, but NW were very sad to lose Thinus Oosthuizen to Garsies. He was part of the NW u15A and u16A team (with this group), and played KZN u16A as well. Sharks would have been licking their lips to have a young lock/loose forward of his size coming through, but I see he want back home to Pretoria last year and played in the Garsies 1st team already. A great team wow. Would have been great to have him in the NW pack though! All the best for the season
Garsfontein also narrowly lost 22-17 to a strong paul roos team at the wildeklawer in 2022. They had quite an up and down year that under 16 team. I’m really excited to see how that EG Jansen team will go this year. I think Northwood will surprise a few teams in KZN this year as well!! Really looking forward to this season, will be interesting to see how garsfontein go about their businesses after a stellar season last year!!
I have commented about this before in relation to Hilton. Will be interesting to see how the KZN 1st teams go in 2024, now that this age group is 1st team (Matrics). As mentioned, the merging of Grade 11 and Grade 12 pupils in the open age group can really help to bolster a weaker year, or strengthen a good one ever more, so will be watching with interest. NW should have a decent group, but looking at the strength of DHS, MBC, Kearsney etc. in 2022 as well and adding how strong Hilton, Westille, DHS, MBC were at u16 level last year (2023) – it may mean another average year unf for NW. I think it should be a very competitive year for sure either way in KZN.
@Chronicle (Comment #93)
k pratertjie
mmmm
@kantako (Comment #61)
100%
@boerboel (Comment #92)
As jy die briljante besluite wat ons regering maak in ag neem is R 50 tot die $ regtig nie so vergesog nie…
@Smallies (Comment #90)
Apart from the fact dat ek nooit R50 vir ‘n $ gesê het nie, en die hondjie jok hieroor, to such extent that he is considered a disgrace for Boishaai and his jersey taken away, is sy normale MO om die aandag af te trek van hom deur leuens oor ander te versprei. 😃😃😃
Actually jammerenswaardige mensie!
@Smallies (Comment #90)
stem 100p saam-investeer oorsee maar r50 teen die dollar?
@Smallies (Comment #90)Onder PW Botha, ten spyte van sanksies het ons 80c vir ‘n dollar en 98c vir een UK pond betaal. Kyk maar op die SARB WEBTUISTE.Swart meerderheids regering maak dit nie. Voor Verwoerd het minder as 10% swart kinders opvoeding van meer as twee jaar ontvang. Verwoerd was hul redder uit die Shepstone Engelsman klou. Verwoerd het gesorg vir die bes opgevoede, mees welvarende swart meerderheid op Aarde en niemand kan verby die stats kom nie. Cast in stone, en om die mees genocidal mense op Aarde se taal te gebruik.Actual kitchen Dutch, Beaowulf style, number 7 on the European IQ map lmao, as dumb as they come. Dutch no 1, Germans number 2, that before murdering 50% of our kids in concentration camps as the English men were to weak to take us on 25:1. Cowards. My one great grandmother was killed by the Nazis as she was a Jewess, the other one and 5 children were killed by the English speaking SANS AS THEY ARE COWARDS. Despicable people and English schools are despicable too. Rapist and murderers. Do they teach this in schools like Kearsney or Michaelhouse?? Plus the more than 100 000 black non enlisted soldiers the English used to rape boer women out of their houses into the camps. Ask me for references….to peer reviewed work. Fvck you Englishman. You wrote almost all apartheid laws. And worse against Afrikaners
@boerboel nie baie lank terug nie was $1 minder as R 10 ,hy wentel nou rondom R 20,as jy soos ek beleggings in die VSA het smile jy nou
@Smallies (Comment #85)
hou by die manne oppas
@Chronicle (Comment #86)
yip make ridicilous statements you get caught out
@Smallies (Comment #85)
Just ignore the dog! If you entertain him, you will have to pick up his poop.
😄😄😄
@boerboel (Comment #84)Daai R 50 to die Dollar kan baie maklik nog werklikheid word ….depending…..
@Chronicle (Comment #77)
r50 vs the dollar
@kantako (Comment #81)
🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣
Who is going to win the Southern Suburds challenge this year?
Bosch and Wynberg have good age groups, but Bishops like to bring in players at Grade 11. SACS making a comeback?
@Smallies (Comment #79)
Jy is te lank uit Brakpan uit. Jy word sag
@Smallies (Comment #79)
Love dit
Smallies gaan die jaar nice try wees
moet se hy het darrem sy foutjie erken,kom ons gee die man n kansie….
@Smallies (Comment #74)
You see, dis wat ek bedoel. Ou boerboel does not like it to be ignored and makes up lies in his imaginary world.
His coffee machine sees more action than his bed linnen 😃, so he has to make up a world that comes across as his own version of the truth 😃😃😃
Supersport Schools bring darem ‘n lekker dimensie aand sport. Kyk nou atletiek by Menlo. Baie geluk aan julle met die nuwe tartan baan, dit is next level
Verskoon maar vir ou Boela – hy is n verleentheid.
@boerboel (Comment #73)
👍👍
@Smallies (Comment #72)
my fout
@boerboel (Comment #70)
ROODE nie ROOS nie ,Begrips lees is duidelik nie jou sterkpunt nie ne ….ai ai 🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣
@Chronicle (Comment #63)
jy is mos die perd wat die rand 50 teen die dollar voorspel het- onthou jou nou
@Smallies (Comment #60)
tyler bocks weet ek nie van nie-ai
ja hjs het vir Roos se pa n huis gekoop in die Paarl en hom die md van n pharma mpy in die Kaap gemaak?
EC BOYS GOING TO KZN
Real stats to back this would be nice please?
I’ve seen majority of KZN Schools trying to remain excatly that- a school for KZN boys as this longterm approach also secure involved old boys that’s more likely to be based near their school.
@kantako (Comment #67)
Favourites this year, as I am informed, would be Helpmekaar, by a distance!
@Wonder (Comment #65)
Dankie, ek “wonder” wie die favourite is vir die Virsekerbeker die jaar. Sterkte vir julle manne. Ek volg graag julle rugby
@Smallies (Comment #62)
Dankie my vriend. Hoop dit gaan goed, lank terug van jou gehoor.
@kantako (Comment #61)
Great post
@Chronicle (Comment #63)
Ok so ja….
@Smallies (Comment #60)
‘n Mens redeneer nie met wat hulle idiote noem nie. Jy lag hom net uit, want hy kan dit nie handle nie.
Hy sal net aanhou nonsens praat want hy glo homself 😃😃
@kantako (Comment #61)
Ek dink jy som dit baie goed op👍👍👍👍
SO WHAT
In die Bokke se RWC final span was daar seker 3 of 4 uit Top skole.
Skole rugby is gesond, dis lekker en dit werk. As jy koop dan koop jy, as jy nie koop nie gaan huil by jou ma vettie. Ten minste doen die skole wat koop iets, daar is dryf en passie en coaching en bemarking, vra jouself hoeveel coaches het Garsfontein, Grey, Affies, Gim, Noordheuwel, Booishaai, Paul Roos. Al die goeie skole. Hoeveel is personeel ? Hoeveel is betaalde buite afrigters ? Hoeveel is studente ? Hoeveel is free volunteers ? Sodat die rugby program gedryf kan word ! Well done aan daai skole. Dit vat moerse organisering om dit te dryf.
Ja ander skole kom ons noem hulle klein skole/ plaas skole/ arm skole watokal, ja daar is ook by hulle n goeie Afrigter wat hard try en sy ure opgee, maar vra jouself hoekom het daai skool net 1 afrigter oor, en hoekom het hulle geen borge nie, en geen finansies nie. So wie se skuld is dit dan.
Rugby is n span sport, en geen briljante seun kan sy rugby geniet as hy elke week houe vat, en by elke oefening daag daar 12 seuns op, of elke 2de bal val op die grond nie. Dit is ook nie regverdig aan daai seun nie. Sommige ouers is lojaal en los die seun in daai skool en dis goed so, maar ander soek n beter 5 jaar vir sy seun of 2 jaar of 1 jaar, so what.
Kom ons vergeet van die klein handjie wat dit maak in rugby, kom ons wees eerder dankbaar vir die 90% wat geleenthede kry, wat finansiele druk van hulle ouers afhaal, wat elke dag 3 borde kos by die koshuis kry, wat lekker kit kry met nuwe truie en borge en oefen hempies, wat in toernooie speel en op tv sodat hulle ouers kan kyk, wat dalk so nou en dan vlieg of trein ry Pretoria toe vir rugby.
Ek se go for it. Koop manne koop. Gee daai laaities geleenthede, bele die geld in rugby en hou hulle uit die strate uit.
@Chronicle (Comment #59)
Vra hom bietjie hoe Tyler Bocks en Evan Rhoode in Boishaai geiendig het.
Almal maar almal werf
@boerboel (Comment #52)
Ha ha, in your own imaginary world.
I guess you had to go shopping after last year’s dismal performance.
@beet (Comment #56)
There is also a question that that boy has to ask himself….do I stay at my local school and play first team for two years …..or do I go to a top school who is offering me a bursery based on my potential and find out exactly what that potential is and where it can lead me.Do I stay and dominate the local laaities or do I go to a top school and potentially test myself against the best players in the country in my position…..
@beet (Comment #56)
I think it happens in all so called makro schools….wich is not a bad thing ,just because you’re scouted and got offered a bursary to a top school does not automatically guarantee you a spot in the fisteam…
@Smallies (Comment #55)
Almost feels like you are describing a situation unique to Grey College
Many years back Grey played Maritzburg College on Goldstones. After the match a Grey 1st XV parent said to me that perhaps their new 1st XV flyhalf Michael Andrade, who had arrived from Sand du Plessis, should get demoted to the 3rd XV (Peaches I think) to get better acquainted with how Grey plays. It was not a disrespectful comment either, just a practical opinion offered. I remember thinking at the time – wow only at Grey. Andrade was a decent player.
I think a good number of gr8 bursary award winners end up missing the opportunity to play 1st XV. There are lots of examples of this. I’m not sure that many boys recruited half way through their u16 year or later miss out on this opportunity.
Die werf van spelers is was en sal altyd maar issue wees , dis n saak wat elke ouer maar vir homself moet uitsort….dit sal ook goed wees indien n seun hom dan commit tot daardie skool ,hetsy hy firsteam speel of nie….n groot getal gewefde seuns speel nooit eerstespan nie en ouers moet dit besef,net omdat boetie gewerf is deur n skool beteken dit nie hy gaan noodwendig die outjie wat tans eerstespan speel lig nie,inteendeel baie maal word n seun gewerf juis as backup vir n posisie aangesien due afrigtingspan voel dat hulle diepte kort op n sekere spot.
@beet (Comment #32)
yip correct
@Chronicle (Comment #19)
nonsense
@Chronicle (Comment #7)
absolutee nonsense- they came on their own- not a single bursary- parents moving to paarl or on their way there- bursaries are for gr8s as far as i know
@beet (Comment #45)
I was pressurised to add that there are numerous financial transactions where the parents benefit directly as a result of their kids moving schools and in some instances the payments amount to significant values.
I know the Sharks have been on a buying spree of late, but i have seen that over the last few years they have focussed on recuiting their local talent as a priority. Many KZN High School boys in the Senior squad (Richardson, Mchunu, Mbatha, Labuschagne, Venter, Van Vuuren, Buthelezi, Hendrikse etc). And in the junior teams right now they can have 10 boys in a matchday 23 that went to KZN high schools. Thats great to see. They have just signed another 7 local boys in their new intake. So i think boys also know that getting into a KZN school can help to give them visibility with those coaches and the Sharks scouts as well. Many of the High School coaches know the Sharks coaches or once were Sharks coaches so it can help.
Very tough debate and often the deepest pockets win. From a KZN POV, the chance to play for the Sharks (despite current performances), is still a big drawcard for boys from outside of KZN. The union has also been very good at building its Next Gen programmes and identifying and working with boys from the KZN high schools already in the junior age groups. This exposure is key for young players, so many in EC or elsewhere will often jump at that chance because they can’t get that same opportunity in their own province. Even if they dont play Grant Khomo or Craven Week ultimately or get a professional contract – playing 1st team rugby can ensure bursaries for Tertiary education and a chance to play Varsity Cup etc. That must also not be forgotten. Many can get a chance to study further thanks to their rugby.
From time to time this comes up.
Outside forces / nepotism influences selection
A player often in a key position is in the 1st XV but not on merit and is keeping a player who could contribute more to the team out.
The favoured player almost always happens to be a relative of someone with influence at the school.
@Rugbyman (Comment #41)
Good point
@4×4 (Comment #44)
99% of 1st XV players reach the peak of their rugby careers by playing 1st XV and only a handful go onto enjoy greater selection success post school. For those who do play post school rugby, my feeling is the results produced by a school they attended are not as important as the quality of rugby programme in terms of coaching and facilities it offered them as part of their development. In this regard St Alban’s and Pretoria BH, I feel they are right up there in what they offer a developing player.
To extend what I’m saying is that a player can still achieve huge success after school by not playing in a tier-1 competitive school league simply because his foundations are good. A Sharks official once told me a player can fall as far as four years behind in conditioning development if he is not in the right rugby environment while at high school. This includes nutrition and especially pays attention to what a player is or is not able to do or eat/consume during the school holidays which as you know form a large chunk of a calendar year.
The next question is can you ready a player to be competitive for the challenges of contributing to a successful Craven Week campaign simply by him having access to good coaching structures and facilities at his school? My tendency is to say no. His head and body might be in the right place to succeed but the short term catch-up in such a small window of time is too big. But here again I would say that playing in the fixtures that SAC and PBHS compete in, is more than adequate to battle harden players and expose them to elements like physicality, power, speed required to hold their own. There are Pretoria private and government schools in tiers below where this transition discussed above is too big a step unless the player is exceptional. Zibabalwa Booi who attended the township school Ndzondolelo near Gqeberha and held his own in that successful EP Craven Week team of 2023 would be a classic example of an odds defying player.
@Chronicle (Comment #43)
Yes, definitely the fees can amount to a massive investment.
I believe that with the competition to sign up kids, there is often more to the offer than just the normal school/boarding/ancillary fees. There is pocket money and in cases even the offer of paid for travel so that parents can visit their kids from time-to-time.
Biggest culprit in Gauteng that can be associated with schools in Pretoria, is the Blue Bulls Rugby Union. Due to Pretoria School being predominantly Afrikaans, it is easiers to scout children from the Western Cape and Northern Cape and place them by agreement in Pretoria Afrikaans Schools. The quota requirements in Pretoria is created artificially because their is a lack of quality Schools that can produce quota players.
It is fact that players of colour prefer English Schools to Afrikaans Schools and a such the only feeder school in Pretoria will be Boys High.
In the past the likes of Jenkins and Mbonambi was places a St Albans, but if you interrogate the 2 Schools performances over the last decade, one will understand why the need arise to created it artificially.
I seldom hear of any Johannesburg Schools that is associated with poaching, and I believe it is due to the fact that same is not required, referencing Park Town Boys, Jeppe, KES, St Johns
@beet (Comment #34)
I noted your reference to financial rewards as a carrot to move schools. Considering your story on school fees, it becomes a massive factor. 5 years of no school fees can easily tally to R250 000+ in government schools. When we talk private schools, it runs to close to the million mark. 😳😳
@beet (Comment #32)
I guess we will know when we see the team sheets.
I learned a new term, tho. Schools in the south call Boishaai the Buco Brugstreet Barbarians 😃😃😃 the latter word referring to them poaching from all over the country culminating in a Barbarian-like team.
@beet (Comment #37)
In my opinion the way the grade 11s and grade 12s “gel” plays a massive role! The previous year’s success also plays a role since successful players can sometimes become entitled, thinking they have made it!
@Kantman (Comment #39)
Jys reg, daar is meer faktore wat ‘n rol speel. In my opinie is die ageruitgang van die kleiner dorpe in ons land ook ‘n groot drywer! Mense op die platteland besef dat die skole in die kleiner dorpe se kwaliteit agteruit gaan. Kwaliteit in terme van onderwys en geleenthede. Soms besef hulle dit eers in graad 9 of graad 10. Dit gebeur al hoe meer! Lekker debateer… ek het my punt gemaak!
@Rugbyman (Comment #31)
Geen probleem as jy nie gaan deelneem aan die gesprek nie.
What is happening today is not the same as 10 or 5 years ago. There are more factors at play now – and I have a suspicion more is driven by agents who have different incentives than the longterm improvement of schoolboy rugby. If we weaken a region, because we offer ‘better opportunities’, then rugby will be worse off in the long term. Develop your own schoolboys or wait until they completed school – obviously that excludes movements that really benefits the player. And please spare me the exception stories – most talent is scouted at tournaments, not by driving through the country and watching games in the countryside and identifying rare talent. It is easy to compete for obvious talent – it is tough to spot talent that is “boiling under” – credit Gold Mine Effect
@beet (Comment #37)
12. Someone pointed out that systems play a role as players settle in quicker thanks to the continuity.
FACTORS INFLUENCING A CHANGE IN FORTUNES BETWEEN U16A & 1ST XV TWO YEARS LATER
1. The blend good players u17s to complement u18s
2. The availability of u19s (year 3 in the open age group)
3. Import/s – normally high quality players. Esp if introduced to replace a weaker player, this could be significant
4. Losing key player/s to poaching
5. Experience / confidence gained the year before in 1st XV rugby
6. Injuries or return of players injured who were injured during the u16 year
7. Players that haven’t grown since u16
8. Different or in some cases same coaching staff
9. Refereeing
10. Fixture list
11. Team dynamics / team spirit – may be should be higher up
@Palma (Comment #26)
One of my favourite comments of the blog was back in 2014 when Knight_CHS07 described Selborne as East London’s flagship team.
I really thought that of all the Border schools, Selborne would immune to poaching because they would have money of their own to counter the some of the offers made towards their juniors. Evidently not.
As a deterrent KZN is still a long way from EL and even Border but once the Msikaba bridge is completed (meant to be at the end of 2024), there will be more of an on the doorstep feel about the distance apart.
The poaching scorecard is closing in on a 9th birthday but I think it still holds true.
http://schoolboyrugby.co.za/?p=10248
Its relevance is diminishing ever year tho.
New faces in a team are not frowned upon like they once were.
In many circles they have gained acceptance.
I would however say that to maintain good relations in a local league it is vitally important to have a structured agreement in place. Taking players from other regions is not anywhere close to being as problematic as recruiting from the rival in one’s own region.
KZN had a pretty solid agreement in place up until a few years back. But with many of the headmasters who were party to having retired / moved on / got asked to leave, it has fallen apart. What’s needed is a new agreement that transcends the reign of an incumbent headmaster. Each region should have a similar agreement to govern their local league.
@OudAffie (Comment #18)
It’s definitely money rugby now.
Rugbyman isn’t wrong. There are kids who change school for all sorts of reasons and don’t necessary require a financial offer as motivation.
However I’m still convinced that the vast majority of moves involving good rugby players are inspired by financial rewards for moving. If those rewards were not on the table, the moves would not happen.
@RuggaFreak (Comment #30)
This is a very difficult situation for the Border region and unfortunately without a strong local high school league it will become even more difficult to attract decent sponsors. Vicious circle!
Amongst the difficulties is something Playa brought to my attention many years ago – many schools there consider their junior and high schools to be one-and-the-same. This is unique because in most other regions, gr.7 leavers are considered fair game for high schools and not regarded as part of the “poaching” process. In fact I even measure boys who arrive have been at high school since gr.8 as homegrowns. I’m not the only one. Many officials, parents, old boys are proud of their 1st XVs that consist almost entirely of boys who have been at their schools since gr.8
@Chronicle (Comment #19)
I have asked about Helpies boys moving to Boishaai a couple of times. First time when the story first broke. On both occasions I was told: NOT TRUE! by HMK insiders.
The migration to the Cape is a real thing tho so a little helping hand from affluent schools in the region will probably go a lot further than the same offers in other parts of SA
Good evening all! May 2024 bring lots of joy!
If memory serves I have been on this blog since 2011/12. Some of you might not have been here that long. Besides that I have been actively involved in high school rugby since 2000. One thing on the blog that has NEVER changed is the good old debate in Jan/Feb about players moving from one school to another. EVERY year the same old discussion is had, the same arguments for and against, new faces joining the debate thinking they add something new to it, people from schools with glass windows throwing stones thinking their school is not involved etc. This always makes me smile.
This debate will never die and boys will move schools not only for rugby but also for cricket, hockey, athletics. etc. Girls move schools for similar reasons. It is a fact that it remains a free country and no one can really dictate to parents or a scholar where they should start or finish their schooling career. People seem to forget that there is always a reason or reasons for a child to move from one school to another and it remains a choice. Sure in some cases a bursary might play a role, but I have seen in MANY occasions that the child moving schools already has a bursary at his/her current school. On many other occasions a bursary is not the reason why they move. There are MANY reasons for a move. Fact is, it is a personal choice. Who are we to judge that family for their decision?
My final remark is the following and will be seen as contentious. EVERY single top 20 rugby school in this country has been involved or still is involved in scouting for players even after grade 8. Just because your school did it until 2006 and then stopped doing it openly does not absolve you from the equation.
Right or wrong, moving schools for whatever reason will never stop. It remains a choice. Besides that, surely we have bigger issues in this country than to worry about a boy or girl moving from school A to B if the parents feel it is a better option for their child…
I won’t play any further part in this age old debate in the year 2024. I hope you guys enjoy a great schoolboy rugby season! I am sure it will have its highs and lows for all of us, each passionate about our own schools. May it be an exciting year and may we see our country’s schoolboy talent flourish and become the Boks of the future!
Cheers!
Also apparently Queen’s and St Andrew’s will no longer play each other cause of poaching. St Andrew’s allegedly poached 2 craven week boys from QCJ. Allegedly there’s an agreement between EC schools to not poach from each other so QC decided to end the long standing relationship between the two Colleges
@Palma (Comment #26)
I fear for the future of EC former model C schools. Kzn is ripping them apart. Not even poaching guys from poor communities anymore, you get taken from a good background/school and good enough system to another just to go boost a rugby program. Poach from the poor communities and give boys with little to no opportunities some opportunity.
@OudAffie (Comment #18)
Unfortunately true
@Rainier (Comment #17)
Selborne Primary and Dale Junior made the crucial mistake of going to a KZN tour, the tour turned into a huge shopping spree. Selborne and Dale 13A sides both only lost 1 game all season and it was against each other as they play each other twice. Long story short, they dominated KZN Primary schools posting huge scores and the poachers poached !
@RuggaFreak (Comment #16)
Well what can you do? The private kzn schools tear border apart (Selborne included) and we are left with our B team players. Yet so many people praise the likes Hilton for their successful “revival” of their rugby when all they have done is rape and pillage border primary schools and even high schools of their talent.
OudAffie is 100% right in his prediction. in a few years time their will be a national league set up where the top 10, maybe top 15 schools play each other and the traditional rugby be schools who don’t follow the trend will be left behind and forgotten about.
@Smallies (Comment #24)
@Rainier (Comment #23)
Die uitsondering op die reel….met ALLE respek aan Nico Malan gese….
@Smallies (Comment #22)
Hey, Nico Malan het 2 SA Skole spelers die afgelope 2 jaar…
@OudAffie (Comment #21)
As jy Affies o16 A jol is jy laankal reeds gescout deur n hele paar provinsies ,hulle weet presies wat jou potensiaal is,n skuif na Boishaai of PRG gaan geen verskil maak nie ….die situasie is wesenlik anders as jy in bv Nico Malan is want jou blootstelling is dan eenvoudig nie so groot nie
My point, not that I particularly support the practice in any shape or form. But there is a difference Bursaries/Poaching/Buying/doing anything that gets your school/team ahead. And certain schools give bursaries for sport/academics and target certain communities, other schools poach players from rivals just to get ahead. Point being the line is very thin.
Wat happens to the 8 or so boys in the Boishaai under 16A team basically being told by the Schools Director of Rugby, well because you guys lost 7 games this year, and we cant have that, we are replacing half the team, Your options are continue playing rugby, probably B team in the hope that you wont be replaced by another boy from 550km away, but you know you will, or lose all interest and love for the game because you are effectively being dropped, as if you are not in a school but rather playing pro rugby. Just saying…
@Kantman (Comment #8)
I got confirmation.
Boishaai indeed poached the boy from Eldoraigne and 2 Helpmekaar boys.
Intetesting as they normally complain about schools in the north poaching boys from the south – although I must add, the schools in the north mostly buy from lesser known schools in the south, so they are no threat to Boishaai in itself.
@RuggaFreak (Comment #16)
I predict not too long into the future you will have a Super Money League of about 10-15 schools and then the rest of the country. Lets be honest, the top 5-7 school in SA in terms of money/buying players/recources are so far ahead no one is catching them. As soon as a school has a great year/team, the next year it will be poached to the bone the next year. Sad but true.
@RuggaFreak (Comment #16)
How is that even possible?
@Palma (Comment #11)
I was sad to hear what happened to Selborne Primary and Dale Junior 13A sides who were both special. It’s getting brutal. Dale lost all 15.
@Deon (Comment #14)
Meeste van vandag se o19s is op 8 skool toe was nie 13 jaar op skool nie….jong man Tom was soos 20 of 21 gewees,dis nogals snaaks gewees destyds
@Smallies (Comment #12)
Tegnies vergeet elke skool wat onder 19s speel in hul spanne, wat dus 13 jaar op skool is, om geboortesertifikate te kyk.
@boerboel (Comment #6)
1000 upvotes Boerboel. Garsies trying their best to match Affies in statute and prestige, and have no scruples buying a whole town in the Boland except its non sport playing stars. Garsfontein is officially the fifth and newest Winelands school. Garsies should play Boland Craven Week and people should stop worrying about the 4 Winelands schools that have played WP even before Boland existed. Garsies, Boland number 1.
@Chronicle (Comment #7)
Dis heel moontlik die waarheid ,veral met Sean Erasmus daar ,hy was veral baie aktief in die mark toe hy by Glenwood was…..soms het hy egter vergeet om laaities…..of kom ons se eerder jong mans se geboorte sertifikate the check🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣 …..
@4×4 (Comment #10)
It’s quite scary to think that not even the likes of Affies are safe.
@Kantman (Comment #8)
Paul Roos poached one of Affies Under 16 stars (fullback) and Boishaai another (8). As such schoolboy rugby has become unpredictable and you will only have a guige at the start of each year after all tye shopping in completed. May the deepest pockets win!
QC 16A was very strong and Queen’s kept all its players so should be a good season. Hudson was strong too but unfortunately lost players to Kingswood and Durban schools.
@Chronicle (Comment #7)
I would also like to know, but I don’t think he is close to the actual happenings in the school.
@boerboel (Comment #6)
Are the stories true about Paarl Boishaai going on a shopping spree? Here in the south I hear they went shopping across the Vaal apart from the ones they collected from other southern schools.
Apparently they bought a player from Eldoraigne and a couple of Helpmekaar boys. I don’t know whether it is a rumour or not. Can you confirm?
difficult to judge from u16- u 19- garsfontein you can never say- they buy n new team every year
Just a correction for your scoreboard.
Wynberg beat Paarl Gim, you have the scores wrong way around. I was at the game.
@garsieboy (Comment #2)
All the best for the season
I certainly hope NW do surprise a few this year. I am sure Garsfontein were happy, but NW were very sad to lose Thinus Oosthuizen to Garsies. He was part of the NW u15A and u16A team (with this group), and played KZN u16A as well. Sharks would have been licking their lips to have a young lock/loose forward of his size coming through, but I see he want back home to Pretoria last year and played in the Garsies 1st team already. A great team wow. Would have been great to have him in the NW pack though!
Grey, Affies, Paul Roos and EG Jansen are definite front runners. Good grade12 teams and good backup from grade11’s.
Garsfontein also narrowly lost 22-17 to a strong paul roos team at the wildeklawer in 2022. They had quite an up and down year that under 16 team. I’m really excited to see how that EG Jansen team will go this year. I think Northwood will surprise a few teams in KZN this year as well!! Really looking forward to this season, will be interesting to see how garsfontein go about their businesses after a stellar season last year!!
I have commented about this before in relation to Hilton. Will be interesting to see how the KZN 1st teams go in 2024, now that this age group is 1st team (Matrics). As mentioned, the merging of Grade 11 and Grade 12 pupils in the open age group can really help to bolster a weaker year, or strengthen a good one ever more, so will be watching with interest. NW should have a decent group, but looking at the strength of DHS, MBC, Kearsney etc. in 2022 as well and adding how strong Hilton, Westille, DHS, MBC were at u16 level last year (2023) – it may mean another average year unf for NW. I think it should be a very competitive year for sure either way in KZN.