Two worlds collide when Garfontein of Pretoria meets Grey College from Bloemfontein in a rematch of the epic clash of 2023 that ultimately determined the national champions of that year.
Grey is South Africa’s rugby factory. It’s not a well-kept secret that apart from having the talent, their success is based on their high levels of coaching and player development from grade-8 to grade-12 and from A-team to bottom team per age-group. So it comes as little wonder that all XV first choice players in this year’s first team are 100% homebrewed. All have been at Grey from day one of grade-8. In fact there were even nine former Grey Junior players in their team that did duty against Maritzburg College on Day 2 of the Absa Wildeklawer tournament 2024.
Garsfontein is fairly well-known for being the exact opposite. Their success is partly built around creating opportunities for promising rugby players from other high schools to join their ranks in the older age-groups (u16 and after). This provides their rugby programme with a huge boost at 1st XV level. To describe them as the market leaders in this field is not out of place. There are many other schools who are engaged in the same approach and accomplish far less in term of ranking achievement.
Boland has always stood out as a region where Garsies have acquired players who have gone on to enjoy great success representing while the Bere. This 2024 year is no exception. The likes of Brooklyn Newman (Drostdy), Junade Pasensie (Hermanus) and Junaid Steward (Bredasdorp) were all Boland Grant Khomo players.
What is intriguing is how much of the power of the standout Garsies pack of 2024 is derived from big boys who have come in from schools other than the Boland.
Props: Ethan van Wyk (Trio, Griffons GK u16) and Luan van der Berg (Grey College, Free State GK u16)
Locks: James Schnetler (Bethlehem Voortrekker, Griffons GK u16) and Jacques Swarts (Nelspruit)
Blindside: Thinus Oosthuizen (Northwood, Sharks GKu16)
All incredible forwards! Big and strong! It is one thing to acquire talent of this calibre. Blending them into a successful unit with pride in the jersey and a desire to play well not just for themselves but for their new school is something that also takes expertise.
Since Garsies u17 prop Luan is up against some of his old teammates when he takes to the field against Grey, it’s worth noting that the two years in a row Free State Grant Khomo frontranker has had some noteworthy accolades bestowed on him. From Grey’s side he’s been described as a generational player (that places him in Coenie Oosthuizen territory). From the Garsies side, scrumming guru Kevin Buys has described him as the strongest schoolboy prop he has ever worked with. It goes without saying that at scrumtime he is a handful.
En toe begin die stert die hond swaai!!!
@Kaya 85 (Comment #58)
What’s wrong with your spine?
Great article, seem as if the writer do have spot on info, weldone to the schools with your different approaches to your rugby programmes.@Djou (Comment #4) What are you trying to justify?. the writer just stated facts, with no negativity???
Great article, seem as if the writer do have spot on info, weldone to the schools with your different approaches to your rugby programmes.
@Kaya 85 (Comment #58)
I went to Stoffberg u 14 proewe ,got hit on the knee at silly point ,dislocated it,I said there and then Im done with this shit….🤣🤣🤣that bloody ball doesn’t hurt you it assaults you
@Smallies (Comment #56)
Talented family…if I could play cricket I would’ve saved my spine and not bothered with the rakbie
@kantako (Comment #49)
klink amper of jy inside info het? watter skole se seuns nogal? 👀
@Kaya 85 (Comment #54)
That Grey 9,s dad played for the Proteas Ryan McLaren ,that bit of useless information aside he is ridiculously fast at clearing the ball from the ruck ,you’ll do well to be wide awake when playing next to him….
@Smallies (Comment #53)
Been there…:)
Grey’s number 9 is very impressive. Class! Together with Paarl Gim’s Markus those are the classiest two players I’ve seen in a long time…
@Kaya 85 (Comment #52)
He will meet the wrong nr7 very early in his club career🤣🤣🤣
But that reserve scrummie needs talking to…he looks like a very good player, but screaming in a guy’s face, pushing heads down on the ground, touching the other scrummie’s bum etc. when he plays a bit of club rugby next year he might get taught respect the hard way.
Must say, that Luan at prop does look blerry good, and if Kevin Buys can mentor him…because Buys knows from scrumming a lot!!! When the Lions were bad in 2010 he still scrummed the sh#+ out of the Stormers that time. Meneer Buys ken van!
@kantako (Comment #49)
Nuwe pistons en ringe 🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣
Julle manne gaan almal lekker spyt wees as die 4 seuns van ander skole na WK ook by Garsies aansluit omdat hulle ouers verhuis. Dan stamp Garsies weer almal in NV. Hulle het net stadig begin die jaar.
@Grizzly (Comment #15)
That sounds lekker, but I live in CT now, so it’s unlikely that I’ll make it to Bere Park this year. I might make it to Loftus for the Bok v Ireland game, but Garsies aren’t playing that weekend.
@Smallies (Comment #46)
Ja, dis of 1 van daai silinders misfire op hierdie stadium, maar eks seker die “mechanics” werk hard met die diagnostics om die probleem op te spoor.
@Garsieoldboy (Comment #44)
Garsfontein is vir my op die staduim soos n V8 masjien wat se timing uit is….
@Grizzly (Comment #41)
Kan ek vra wat jy bedoel met jou stelling wat betref ‘n Brakpan parkie?…iets ruik na snobisme..help my reg asb?
Baie geluk aan die Grey manne op die blog. Julle was manet uit en uit die beter span op die veld vanaand. Impressed met Garsfontein se verdediging in die algemene spel vanaand, Grey ons gedominate in die lynstane en ek voel dis waar die verskil was. Baie baie trots op daai onder 14 span. En dan rakende die manne wat so “debateer” oor Wie gekoop is en Wie nie, julle is welkom om my te vra. Ek was in 2021 matriek gewees en is nog baie betrokke by die skool en selfs by die onder 14s. Daar gelaat, trots op hoe die onder 15s en 14s vandag gespeel het en ek sê weer baie geluk aan die grey manne met al hulle spanne vandag! Lekker om jouself teen die beste te meet.
@Grizzly (Comment #41)
“Diep” seun, weet jy wat gepeupel beteken? Platvloersheid en semi-geletterheid is ‘n nare kombinasie.
Skitterende werwing van Garsies Onder 14. Baie geluk met julle wen oor Grey. Laat my herhinner aan die Affies Onder 14 span van 2015 (Evan Roos was in daai span totdat sy pa verplaas is Kaapstad toe). Helfde van daai span het teen Onder 16 by ander skole in die land opgeindig. Garsies se uitdaging gaan nou begin om daai span by mekaar te hou
@Deon (Comment #38)
Sien jys vroeg op die papsak vandag.Gaan jy ons veder straf om na jou onsamehangende gepeupel te moet lees.Gaan eet jou dagwood in n Brakpan parkie.More as jy bang babelas het kom huil jy weer oor alles wat jy vandag kwyt geraak het.
@Grizzly (Comment #34)
Nee wat. Julle is met julle span steeds die groot gunstelinge om die NV cup te vat. Ons is happy om met ons home grown talent te speel.
@Grizzly (Comment #30)
Look, I’m not a hater, still a lover. Your son had a good experience, but as a cricketer primarily it was OK for him to still play rugby and make some 1st team appearances. But what about all those other lads whose hearts are set on playing firsts, who’ve given their all for their school in decent junior teams (and Garsies junior teams ARE very good), but then for the school to STILL recruit 8 more players with provincial experience. Loyalty goes both ways.
@Snelvuur (Comment #17)
Seker weer die ou storie van sy pa het van werk verander, of hy het opgeskuif boontoe vir surfing of iets in der voege. F….. bisar om die minste te sê.
Executive Outcomes Hoërskool, previously known as Garsfontein Hoër bloggers using excuses, deflections, straw man arguments etc. and proving there is indeed life after decapitation. When in a hole, stop digging. Lees die berig, bo blink, onder…….
Fantasties gedoen Boland Landbou!!!!!
@Snelvuur (Comment #35)
Ek het gaan lees en jys reg.Dis wat gese is.Maar daar staan nie Garsies gee nie krieket beurse nie.Verder in die konteks glo ek al wat hy bedoel het is dat krieket nie soveel aftrek kry as rugby nie.Onder Malan Morkel was krieket groot by die Bere.My seun se matriek jaar het hulle die GM cup vir NV gewen.Dit was masive gewees.Ek kan jou belowe daar was heelwat beurse vir krieket in my tyd.Beyers Swanepoel onder andere,as jy nog nie gehoor het van hom nie gaan jy,vra vir Vleis.
@Grizzly (Comment #32)
Hy het in sy kommentaar op 11 April 2024 (kommentaar #26 op “Affies out of the flying pan, into the fire”) gesê dat: “As jy rerig daai krieketstorie glo, dan is dit verby met jou. Ek lag regtig daaroor, want deur net common sense te gebruik, vertel dit jou dat dit lagwekkend is.” Toe BoishaaiPa hom vra wat sy stories meer kredietwaardig as myne maak, toe sê hy daar is ‘n massiewe verskil (in kommentaar #42) aangesien “Garsies is nie juis into cricket nie”.
@BlouLou (Comment #33)
Vol bravade na n dekade se 50 plus elke game.Geluk met julle goeie span die jaar maar NV het nou net begin,nog nie gewen deur Kloof nie,relax.
@Wonder (Comment #24)
@Grizzly (Comment #30)
Soos ek gesê het, selfde argumente bla bla bla. Moet net nie weer sê julle ontwikkel spelers nie. Daai rumour is darem nou vir eens en vir altyd verkeerd bewys.
@Snelvuur (Comment #31)
Waar het hy dit gese??Ek lees elke comment op hierdie blog.Hyt wel gese dat Garsies beurse vir veel meer as rugby bied.Tot skaak as ek reg onthou.Soos ek laas gese het maar jyt nog nie reply nie,hoop ons speel volgende jaar dan kyk julle of julle dit 1 elk kan maak.
@Grizzly (Comment #30)
Interessant om te hoor dat iemand op ‘n krieketbeurs by Garsies was. Toe ek voorheen ‘n storie gedeel het oor ‘n speler van HJS wat na ‘n krieketwedstryd ‘n beurs aangebied is, het Djou gesê dis onwaar en sal nooit gebeur nie, want Garsies is nie juis groot op krieket nie. Wil jy nou meer…
@BlouLou (Comment #22)
My klong was op n krieket beurs by Garsies in 2015.2016 begin hy by /16 c en maak die nr9 trui by die A span syne.Sy gr 11 jaar speel hy 12 vir imo die beste 2de span in die land.Garsies het nie teen Grey gespeel nie maar vir Gim gewen wat die Cherries daai jaar gewen het,ek weet,ek weet maar daars nie ander baro meter nie.Hulle was onoorwone daai seisoen.In sy matriek jaar gaan hy terug 9 toe en is die derde keuse agter die SAS 9 en die SAS akedemie 9.Hoes daai vir luck?Rugbyman het hom n paar runs gegee van die bench af in die eerste paar games tot hy beseer was en basies deur sy krieket afrigter veder rugby belet was.Hy sou in enige ander span in Pta gestap het.Hy sal dunge nie anders wou doen as hy weer die kans kan oor he nie.Beide daai 9’s speel vandag prof.Een by Bulle ander een by die Lions.So ek weet dis moeilik vir mense soos jy,Kaya 85 en al die ander haters om uitnemendheid te verstaan maar dis al waaroor Garsfontein gaan.Die hek is altyd oop vir die wat wil in kom sowel as die wat wil uit gaan.Weet egter as jy binne is en jy het daai keuse gemaak dat jy gaann kompeteer teen die beste van die beste en geen gunste gaan ontvang nie.Baie soos Kloof onder Becker was.
@beet (Comment #23)
Can add for HJS the hooker (now injured?)
@Grizzly (Comment #26)
There’s no way Grey went to Hatfield the night before and stayed out late.
Sport is full of upsets and underdogs pulling off unlikely wins, plenty of movies about this theme too (Mighty Ducks, Hardball, Facing the Giants etc.) As someone said earlier, Garsies has a great relationship with Grey. Grey says, ‘Lie down’…Garsies say ‘Ja meneer!’
I very seldom get involved in this argument, but here is my take. Absolutely no problem in very aggressive scouting at u13 level. All the schools do it. Then you have u14 and u15 to fill the gaps through targeted scouting. Very few schools have the luxury to not have to do it (ie. Tradisional boys powerhouses). My feeling is that once you get to u16 you back the players you have.
@Grasshopper (Comment #10)
Never ever take anything from Jeppe,as stated before nothing will top the Grey win in 24 but think Grey went to Hatfield the night before and had a very late night.Theres just no other xplenation.As for the game today the Bere is up against it.Those near misses is going to show today.Undercooked and lack of play time will add to the misery.In saying all this,if Jeppe ……
@BlouLou (Comment #22)
There is no doubt, that a talented, hardworking under 16 lad in a decent Garsfontein A team feels frustrated, annoyed, confused, and betrayed when the school he represented with distinction for 3 years, goes and ‘recruited/bought/poached’ (delete what words you feel are inappropriate) 8 or 9 star players from other provinces to make sure their first XV wins more. If I lived across the road from a school like that I wouldn’t send my kids there. (BTW I can’t afford to live across the road from Garsies).
@BlouLou (Comment #22)
Grasfontein? Grassies? Rerig FlouLou
@Grizzly (Comment #21)
No school official is ever going to share that info. All there is to go by is the youth week lists and a few school supporters who comment on players that have left their schools.
In terms of feite its really hard to dispute that a player was at another school if his name appears on an u16 Grant Khomo team list of another province.
So I’ve done the booster for KZN.
In the Top 5 I can think of the LH for Gim, the fullback for PRG, the prop for Wynberg, the flank for Affies as acquired players who didn’t start gr.8.
@Djou (Comment #6)
@Wonder (Comment #18)
@Grizzly (Comment #21)
Selfde argumente as in verlede. Selfde patroon van werwing as in verlede.
En weereens waarsku ek Grasfontein. Julle vervreem julle plaaslike spelers. Julle kinders loop na ander skole soos julle hulle vertel hulle is nie goed genoeg nie. Ander leerders bly maar, hulle is net nie lojaal teenoor hulle skool nie. (En ja daar is n klomp kinders wat gelukkig is maak nie saak wat nie).
Grassies skop hulle plaaslike spelers in die mond. Ons was daar en probeer nog die leerders wat benadeel was betrokke kry as alumni. Amper n onmoontlike taak. Maar hou so aan. Tyd sal leer.
P.S. Ek dink wel julle was bietjie ingedoen teen Stellies
@beet (Comment #9)
Sal jy asb n analitiese ondersoek doen na die ander top 20 skole se eerste span spelers wat nie in gr 8 in die betrokke skole was nie soos met Garsies en Grey.Dink Affies was een so dit los ons met 17 ander.Sal intresant wees.Dan as jy enige inligting oor Garsies soek,die feite,kontak hulle hoof van werwing,sy besonderhede is op die web.Hy sal weet wie jy is.
@Wonder (Comment #18)
Of Grey se ster vleul wat van Menlo na /15 Grey toe is en gate deur die Bere gehardloop het op Bere Park in 2019.
@Wonder (Comment #18)
Op ‘n individuele vlak kan mens dit miskien regverdig, maar ek dink op ‘n meer makro-skaal, sal mens dan vrede daarmee moet maak dat talent gaan sentraliseer in ‘n paar skole en dat die gaping tussen daai 10 tot 15 skole en die res net al hoe groter gaan word. Amper soos die verskil tussen die ryk sokkerklubs in Engeland en die meer gemiddelde klubs. Elke nou en dan sal jy een merkwaardige klein span hê wat kan kompeteer, maar grootendeels gaan dit dieselfde top 10 jaar na jaar wees. Ek dink by no means dat dit net Garsies is wat werf nie – PRG doen dit ook – ek is net gekant teen die praktyk as geheel. Dit versmoor die klein skole in die Boland, wat as gevolg van die feit dat hulle niks van hulle goeie spelers kan hou nie, glad nie met enige groot (of selfs groter) skole kan kompeteer nie. Dit is sleg vir die skole op daardie dorpe (meeste ouers met geld stuur hulle kinders dan weg) en dan, by extension, sleg vir die ander leerders van daardie skole, aangesien die skole stukkie vir stukkie agteruit gaan.
@Grizzly (Comment #15)
So 4/5 jaar gelede, by die Noord/Suid,is Menlo halftyd vêr voor teen Grey. Tweede helfte stamp Grey vir Menlo. Na die skoolvakansie is Menlo se ster losskakel Grey toe.
Ek het geen probleem daarmee nie, ouers se besluit en ek is seker dit het die seun se rugby net verbeter.
Can also add Derek Kühn, who was in PRG until last year. Of course, I don’t know why he moved, so Djou might have the full picture, but it is another one of Garsfontein’s team that was in another school until last year.
@Djou (Comment #5)
Garsies and Grey has a very good relationship. Grey contacted Garsies regarding the player in question. What an endorsement! Nobody will say no to a such a quality player.
@Wonder (Comment #13)
Hulle weet nie wat ons weet nie.@Vleis (Comment #11)
Howzit Vleis,if ever in the vicinity of Pta when Garsies is playing at Bere Park let me know so we can meet up.
@Djou (Comment #6)
Baie geluk aan elke leerder wat besluit het om ‘n Garsie te word, hetsy van graad 8 of later,puik skool op alle gebiede.
Oor die jare het Garsies soveel geleenthede aan leerders gebied daarom dat ouers besluit om hulle kinders na graad 8 by Garsies in te skryf, sonder beurse of finansiele ondersteuning. Garsies sal ook nie nee sê vir nuwe leerders nie.
Garsies hoef ook nie verskoning te maak dat ouers hulle kinders na graad 8 Garsies toe stuur nie, dis elke ouer se reg en plig om te doen wat die beste vir sy kind is.
@Vleis (Comment #11)
Thanks for the great post. I wish there were more bloggers like you.
@Kaya 85 (Comment #8) From now on I will call Garsies the Hoërskool Executive Outcomes. Love this shocking article. Clarity. No doubt the normal tedious excuses will flow ad infinitum. Same old same old.
The key point is that the boys choose to move to Garsfontein – they aren’t being kidnapped. Moreover, they seem to be looked after very well at Garsfontein. My son spoke to an ex-Garsie pupil (now a pro player) who said that:
a) he loved his time there;
b) he is very appreciative of his rugby development there;
c) they continued to support him after he completed his schooling; and
d) no matter where he lands up living in SA, he will send his children to Garsfontein.
.
If that is not a ringing endorsement of the school then I don’t know what is?
I fear for Garsies, for Maritzburg College to cop 46, this Grey side is special. Outeniqua took 90! If Garsies to keep it below 30 they would have done well. Jeppe caught a sleeping Bear & it’s now awake & not happy.
@Djou (Comment #4)
Sorry Djou but the word used was “acquired” There is no attempt to sensational the matter or misrepresent the facts. It is you who is interpreting this in a negative way and conveniently misusing the information to suit your own agenda.
The point remains that Grey has an all-grade 8 first team, something that is extremely rare in this day and age. Garsies has a team that is expected to give Grey a good game today and there is no doubt that the players who have come in are quality and have boosted their chances of success.
@Loubser (Comment #3)
We must acknowledge that ambitious parents are part of the issue… should that be ‘highly ambitious’ or ‘extremely ambitious’, or even ‘desperately ambitious’ parents?
@Djou (Comment #6)
I’m open to hearing all the facts…where can I get the objective facts? The discussions here go back and forth over and over…in the end it’s hard for us layfolk to know what really went down…not that I want or need to know gossip, but the recruitment vs poaching thing is a matter of interest to parents, players and SBR community.
@Kaya 85 (Comment #2)
Don’t believe everything you read here. Misinformation is rife. Even spooks verify information from various sources.
Reasons for the misinformation?
Jealousy maybe? Dislike? I don’t know!
Interesting, though, that people feel the urge to comment without first checking the facts.
@Loubser (Comment #3)
You are not well informed.
Garsies always said they recruit from the Cape. Please highlight the post stating they don’t recruit from the Cape.
And your info on the prop is way off. Ask the well informed Affie supporters for the correct facts.
But you are right in one way, Garsies did not recruit him – although Beet attempted to create that impression.
However, I am looking forward to good rugby.
Beet, you fail to mention that 4 of the players you listed moved for reasons not attributable to recruitment.
Here are the correct facts.
Parents relocated to Pretoria!
Originally and still from Pretoria, but received bursaries from other schools outside of Pretoria, but now returned to Pretoria for reasons other than recruitment.
Pity that you try and spread misinformation – disobeying your own house rules.
@KAYA 85 (COMMENT #1)
@Deon (Comment #1)
I’m also quite shocked…I know this has been discussed ad infinitum. Winelands + Griffons + FS + Lowveld team. So Noordheuwel, Monnas, Jansen also seem to use this model of recruiting, not to mention DHS, Glenwood…. but buying 8 guys in Grade 10??…after GK do they arrive in term 4 or only Grade 11? It’s not like they are leaving impoverished schools to attend a well resourced school. All the schools mentioned are good institutions of learning. Why would a GK player leave his very good school and province at the end of his gr 10? He’s already put the hard work in to achieve GK, + on the selectors’ radar for CW, now leaves for a ‘bursary’ 1000 km away? How is the rugby opportunity at Garsies better than Grey College?
Dr Edwards was 100% spot on, hence zero depth. Weird-ass lot, Winelands team number 5, and plenty hollow victories. But to Grey, well done, exceptional. Ek haal my hoed af vir julle.
Fantasties Stellenberg.