| SA SCHOOLS 2025 | SA SCHOOLS A 2025 | ||||||||
| 1 | SWD | Kai Pratt | u18 | 1 of 4 Oakdale | 1 | Lions | Andre Poulton | u18 | 1 of 1 Jeppe |
| 2 | WP | Altus Rabe | u18 | 1 of 3 Paul Roos | 2 | SWD | Keenan Myners | u18 | 1 of 1 Outeniqua |
| 3 | Bulls | Luan vd Berg | u18 | 1 of 3 Garsfontein | 3 | WP | Bernhard du Toit | u18 | 3 of 5 HJS Paarl BH |
| 4 | Sharks | Lwandile Mlaba | u17 | 1 of 3 Westville | 4 | SWD | Diaan Augustyn | u17 | 3 of 4 Oakdale |
| 5 | FS | AJ Meyer | u18 | 1 of 5 Grey College | 5 | WP | Juvan Burden | u17 | 1 of 2 Stellenberg |
| 6 | Lions | Chinedu Amadi | u18 | 1 of 1 KES | 6 | WP XV | Caleb Koeberg | u18 | 3 of 3 Paul Roos |
| 7 | WP | Josh Neill | u18 | 1 of 2 Rondebosch | 7 | WP | Quintin Potgieter | u18 | 2 of 4 Paarl Gim |
| 8 | SWD | Jacobus de Villiers | u17 | 2 of 4 Oakdale | 8 | Bulls | Stefan McDonald | u18 | 3 of 3 Affies |
| 9 | WP | Morne Noble | u18 | 1 of 1 Wynberg | 9 | WP | Jayden Brits | u18 | 1 of 2 Boland Landbou |
| 10 | Sharks | Liyema Nela | u18 | 1 of 1 Hilton | 10 | Lions | Jeandre Uithaler | u18 | 2 of 2 Noordheuwel |
| 11 | Sharks | Jadrian Afrikaner | u18 | 2 of 3 Westville | 11 | Border | Ncuthu Kepe | u17 | 1 of 1 Queen’s |
| 12 | WP | Markus Muller | u18 | 1 of 4 Paarl Gim | 12 | SWD | Christian Vorster | u18 | 4 of 4 Oakdale |
| 13 | FS | Ethan Adams | u18 | 2 of 5 Grey College | 13 | EP | Erin Nelson | u17 | 1 of 2 Graeme |
| 14 | Bulls | Junaide Stuart | u18 | 2 of 3 Garsfontein | 14 | EP | Lucritia Magau | u18 | 2 of 2 Graeme |
| 15 | Sharks | Zekhethelo Siyaya | u18 | 3 of 3 Westville | 15 | Bulls | Junaide Pasensie | u18 | 3 of 3 Garsfontein |
| 16 | Lions | Clinton Agu | u18 | 1 of 2 Noordheuwel | 16 | WP XV | Tommy Muller | u18 | 4 of 5 HJS Paarl BH |
| 17 | WP | Jordan Jooste | u18 | 1 of 5 HJS Paarl BH | 17 | Bulls | Jeffrey Singo | u18 | 1 of 1 Pretoria BH |
| 18 | WP | Matthew vd Merwe | u18 | 2 of 2 Rondebosch | 18 | FS | JG Badenhorst | u18 | 4 of 5 Grey College |
| 19 | WP | Jayden Joubert | u18 | 2 of 5 HJS Paarl BH | 19 | Sharks | Lian Terblanche | u18 | 1 of 1 Northwood |
| 20 | Sharks | Wasi Vyambwera | u18 | 1 of 1 Maritzburg Coll | 20 | WP | Briint Davids | u18 | 1 of 1 Milnerton |
| 21 | WP | Gert Kemp | u18 | 2 of 3 Paul Roos | 21 | WP XV | Mickyle Booise | u17 | 3 of 4 Paarl Gim |
| 22 | Bulls | Zirk Meyer | u18 | 1 of 3 Affies | 22 | WP | Ethan van Biljon | u17 | 2 of 2 Stellenberg |
| 23 | Bulls | Ruben Groenwald | u18 | 2 of 3 Affies | 23 | WP | Jeneal Davids | u18 | 5 of 5 HJS Paarl BH |
| 24 | Sharks | Nathan Aneke | u17 | 1 of 1 Durban HS | 24 | WP XV | Pieta Cilliers | u18 | 4 of 4 Paarl Gim |
@Slam (Comment #61)
Apologies – spot on… Potgieter is indeed included in the U18A squad.
Potgieter not excluded. he’s in the U18A squad.
@Overlooked lad (Comment #59)
To be fair to them, I think the selectors will only look stupid if they perform well at this level. If they do not, the selectors may well be vindicated. I’ve no dog in the fight (and I haven’t really seen either play that much), but I’d hold off making judgments on who looks foolish until the games have been played.
@TheGoose (Comment #58)
Sharks selectors are being made to look silly now. Overlooked Lizwe Mtetwa for Craven week and put Ndlovu at acedemy week who are now both in the SA A side. Bias towards westville players did not prove to be fruitful afterall
SA U18 SQUADS FOR AUGUST MATCHES
Props – JG Badenhorst comes up from SAS A, Matthew vd Merwe moves to SA U18A
Locks – Miqael Turner comes into U18 A squad
Loosies – Caleb Koeberg (SAS A) drops out, Andile Ndlovu and Franko Roussouw into U18 A. Quinton Potgieter excluded.
Scrumhalf – Jayden Brits swaps with Zirk Meyer
Centres – Christian Vorster swaps with Nathan Aneke, Randall-John Davids comes into U18A
Outside Backs – Reinhardt Viljoen comes in. Lucrita Magua, Schambreel and Ocks drop out
From SA Rubgy site:
South Africa U18 squad:
Props: JG Badenhorst (Cheetahs), Jordan Jooste (WP), Kai Pratt (SWD), Luan van der Berg (Bulls).
Hookers: Clinton Agu (Lions), Altus Rabie (WP).
Locks: AJ Meyer (Cheetahs), Lwandile Mlaba (Sharks), Jayden Joubert (WP).
Loose forwards: Chinedu Amadi (Lions), Jacobus de Villiers (SWD), Gert Kemp (WP), Josh Neill (WP), Wasi Vyambwera (Sharks).
Halfbacks: Jayden Brits (WP), Ruben Groenewald (Bulls), Liyema Nela (Sharks), Morne Noble (WP).
Centres: Ethan Adams (Cheetahs), Markus Muller (WP), Christian Vorster (SWD).
Outside backs: Jadriaan Afrikaner (Sharks), Lamla Mgedezi (Cheetahs), Thabiso Simelane (Bulls), Zekhethelo Siyaya (Sharks), Junaide Stuart (Bulls).
South Africa U18 ‘A’ squad:
Props: Bernhard du Toit (WP), Pieta Cilliers (WP), Jeffrey Singo (Bulls), Matthew van der Merwe (WP).
Hookers: Thomas Muller (WP), Keenan Myners (SWD).
Locks: Diaan Augustyn (SWD), Juvan Burden (WP), Lian Terblanche (Sharks), Migael Turner (WP).
Loose forwards: Briint Davids (WP), Andile Ndlovu (Sharks), Quintin Potgieter (WP), Franko Rossouw (Pumas).
Halfbacks: Mickyle Booise (WP), Zirk Meyer (Bulls), Jeandre Uithaler (Lions), Ethan van Biljon (WP).
Centres: Nathan Aneke (Sharks), Randall-John Davids (WP), Lizwe Mthethwa (Sharks), Erin Nelson (EP).
Outside backs: Jeneall Davids (WP), Ncuthu Kepe (Border), Junade Pasensie (Bulls), Reinhart Viljoen (SWD).
Die finale spanne is uit.
@Buthelezi2 (Comment #55)
You cannot coach the mentality it takes to dominate in the front row.
@Snelvuur (Comment #54)
Yes that’s why I rank them higher in terms of potential. Might need a visit to Daans farm, but you cannot coach the incredible feel for the game and natural skillset that Poulton has. That’s why he’s the top prop in South Africa for me.
@Buthelezi2 (Comment #53)
I think where Pratt’s got them both beat is technically in the scrums. Proppies took Poulton for a walk in the SA A game, but couldn’t get on top of Pratt in the Oakdale-Garsies game. Poulton and Jooste are excellent in the loose though.
@Snelvuur (Comment #52)
Based on potential not necessarily who’s better now. Poulton is the epitome of the modern prop for me and will only get better. Jooste also too good to leave out.
@Buthelezi2 (Comment #51)
Pratt’s a big omission. He had the SA A pack on roller skates yesterday.
BUTHELEZI’S TEAM
1. Andre Poulton
2. Clinton Agu
3. Luan vd Berg
4. Juvan Burden
5. AJ Meyer
6. Quinton Potgieter
7. Chinedu Amadi
8. Gert Kemp
9. Mickyle Booise
10. Liyema Nela
11. Jadrian Afrikaner
12. Christian Vorster
13. Markus Muller
14. Junaide Stuart
15. Zekhetelo Siyaya
16. Altus Rabe
17. Jordan Jooste
18. Matthew vd Merwe
19. Jayden Joubert
20. Jamie Wimble
21. Stefan Macdonald
22. Jayden Brits
23. Ruben Groenewald/Ethan van Biljon (couldn’t decide)
24. Ethan Adams (unlucky but Markus too good)
25. Nathan Aneke
26. Nchutu Kepe
So the KZN boys provided over 50 % of the SA Schools points. Not too shabby.
@Ystervark (Comment #48)
Two of the most exciting Gr 11 talents don’t become bad players just because of one bad game. It takes time to adjust to the intensity and structure as well as build cohesion with your teammates
@Ystervark (Comment #15)
After today’s game I rest my case…
@Slam (Comment #45)
Hopefully Lizwe and Lian are picked up by a decent province or club and rise through the ranks…
@buitestaander (Comment #42)
100% correct, a complete discgrace to the system.
Its a pity after 30 years we still select sides based on race.
The Sharks Craven Week looked weak in the centres. There were a few guys who should have been selected ahead of McGough, O’Sullivan and Ridl and one of them was Lizwe Mtetwa. Crazy he was overlooked. Sharks side also missed Joseph Udo-Idung at no 3. Also though both the Northwood (Mun-Gavin) and Glenwood (Lochner) 9s were better than Vorster and Simpkins. Overall Sharks side too Westville heavy!
@Vleis (Comment #41)
I think you are right – Thabiso Simelane. He is a real talent.
@buitestaander (Comment #42)
Hoe hy WP gemaak het is al klaar n grap.
SA SCHOOLS
I think that this list is incomplete, as an u17 St Alban’s student was selected for the SA Schools team this year. Either that, or the St Alban’s social media pages have made a huuge mistake.
@KatzRugga (Comment #39)
Go back 10 years and Glenwood was accused of the same, toys being thrown by the other schools BUT now it’s all fine to have no Glenwood coaching representation in the selectors panel, just a figure-head person without a say. Glenwood didn’t exactly get blown away by Westville on their patch, yet have no Craven Week reps, not even the B team…..I mean BS. Lizwe Mtetwa and Lian Lochner plus 2 others should have gone to that week…
@Overlooked lad (Comment #36)
100% Correct. The core was 8 Westwille boys selected by their own Coach, CW KZN coach too, to build a team around. Sometimes this can work. Nothing taken away for WV undefeated seaaon but they didnt really get tested against a top side. On the other hand, well done for WV for batting for their own lads. Without No15 their season would have been average altough a few others was really good too.
@Overlooked lad (Comment #36)
Unfortunately Simke from DHS and others from DHS in particular were ruled out because they are u19. Bongani Khumalo from NW makes things happen every game but was prob overlooked because he was seen as being too small to play 12 or 13. I thought the 12 from Kearsney looked good. The Michaelhouse backline never really fired, so maybe a few changes there may have helped.
@Bungee (Comment #33)
Potgieter moes van die begin daar gewees het.
@Raps (Comment #25)
Sharks craven week team was based on picking players who play for the best sides this year not actually the best individual players and it showed in the manner of thier losses. A few deserving u17s ended at academy week for some reasons and besides Aneke the centres were very dissapointing
@star (Comment #20)
Mlaba is u17,Afrikaner is U18
@Raps (Comment #25)
I’m pretty certain the Bulls were in the Craven Week final in 20219, 2022 & 2023. That’s 3 Craven Weeks in a row, in 2024 they lost out on a final spot narrowly to Free State. This year they were a huge let down but to say “when last did the Bulls have a good Craven Week” wouldn’t be fair when considering they have been the 2nd most consistent union in the past 5 Craven Weeks & producing the 2nd most SA Schools reps in that period.
Neill is injured, Potgieter called up to SAS, Elwin Janse van Rensburg (Bulls/Affies) called up to SAS A
@Buthelezi2 (Comment #30)
Actually DHS are 2nd best this year behind Westville. Northwood and Hilton prob 3rd or 4th. My points was simply you said KES would beat the majority of KZn teams and i was just pointing out that they already lost to Westville, were losing to Northwood and there is a good chance they wont beat DHS either. Thats already 3 teams. Also while they did beat Rondebosch which was a fantastic win, they also lost to teams that our other KZN teams beat, so you i dont think you could say with such confidence that they would beat the majority of KZN teams. They lost by over 100 to Paarl Gym and both DHS and NOrthwood scored over 20 points against Gym and kept them under 50 points. So it does paint a picture. Like is said, i am sure they have some good players still.
@Grizzly (Comment #26)
Dit hang af of jou span op meriete is. WP het glad nie goed gespeel in die finaal nie. As jy n WP span op meriete kies sal niemand hulle klop nie.
@Skywalker (Comment #19)
So they were in a very close game at halftime against the 2nd best side in KZN?
@Grizzly (Comment #26)
Ek stem 100%…gelukkig begin REGTE skole rugby weer binnekort wanneer die skole heropen na die vakansie.
@Raps (Comment #25)
Glenwood centre and captain, Liza Mtetwa should have been there at the week at least….
@Raps (Comment #25)
Ek het die Bulls en die Lions se treur mare op CW voorspel op n ander tread. Jy hoef nie Rassie te wees om dit te sien kom nie.
@Raps (Comment #25)
Jy weet wat die Bulls se probleem is. Ek kan tussen Affies, Garsies, Kloof en Menlo vir jou n span kies wat WP in die final sou speel. Nie wen nie, WP te goed hierdie jaar maar n game kon maak op die dag. Daars nog baie ander ongeslypte diamante in Pta maar sal moet proewe speel om hulle te sien. Die kanse om die Bulls weer in n final op CW te sien is baie skaars.
I’m baffled by most these names. Sherwin Buys, Wimble, Josh Grant, Erwee, Franko Roussow, Bulls 12 and Claude Steyn are really unlucky but I’m guessing it has to do with quotas. Noble, Cilliers and Shambreel are the biggest shockers for me. Also Sharks selectors tried being edgy and it cost them big time. How do you explain the exclusion of Carolus, Jordan Van Wyk, Salamousas, Moolman, Mthetwa, Mun-Gavin , Dankwah, Mholi Khuzwayo and Ndamase???
Free State very unlucky not to be in the final thanks to some shocking calls from the ref, SWD were worthy opponents tbf. Bulls need to start getting it right… when last did they have a good craven week? Expected Border to do way better but they were a massive let down. Lions were underwhelming as well.
Geluk aan die seuns wat die spanne gemaak het En jammer aan elke seun wat daar moes wees maar nie is nie wat ookal die rede.
@star (Comment #21)
Well done to those 4 boys and to Westville for the 3 in the squad. Reminds me of 2014 for Glenwood, who had Jaco Coetzee (No8 & Captain), Kenny Van Niekerk (prop) and Morne Joubert (No15), I think our best year for SA schools reps.
@Skywalker (Comment #19)
Exactly! KES are not a top 10 or even top 20 side this year, so this kid must have been standout. DHS, Westville, Northwood, College & Hilton all easily stronger than them….House, Glenwood and Kearsney would give them a good go….
So my two old schools Westville and Hilton have 4 players in the SA Schools team.
That is more than Paarl Gim (1) and Grey College(2) combined. We will have to wait and see what happens when they play each other on the 17th. Going to be an epic battle
@Overlooked lad (Comment #10)
I think both Afrikaner and Mlaba are in grade 11. Not sure if they are still U17.
@Buthelezi2 (Comment #17)
Majority of teams? This year KES lost to Westville 55:38 at home, and were losing at home as well to Northwood 12:7 in the 2nd half when lightning stopped play. Based on their form this season and the competitiveness of KZN teams this year, I do not see them beating DHS in August, but we will see. That leaves the likes of Hilton or Maritzburg College, who again on form this year could certainly match them. Glenwood, Michaelhouse and Kearsney would all put up a fight. In fact, Hilton, MBCollege and Kearsney all defeated Pretoria BH who KES lost to.
Having said that, it doesnt mean they dont have any good individuals and maybe even an SA schools quality player in the mix.
Maybe Koeberg will get a 1st team call up now that he’s in the SA Schools team?
@Grasshopper (Comment #13)
KES beat Rondebosch, Noordheuwel, Helpmekaar?? They would beat the majority of teams in KZN
@Ystervark (Comment #15)
The players that got injured early during the week (about half the Paarl Boys team) did not make it, may be due to the injury or the fact that they could not show their potential. Also think that Gershom Pieters is v unlucky not at least to make the bench, he almost beat the Lions on his own yesterday. Steph van der Merwe too, though the refs were hard on him art the breakdown.
These sides are clearly not based on Craven Week but rather EPD/reputation. Some of the players selected had really poor weeks. The 2 EP players that made it wow, no words! Erin Nelson I don’t think made a tackle all week.
@JongMatie (Comment #12)
Shambreel is nie hier op gelys nie maar is in die SAS A span
Caveat: I’m not close to this anymore & don’t know individual players BUT my gutfeel is this is very Paarl Gim & Boishaai light, both are sweeping sides away by big scores and only 9 across both teams in 48. KZN are lucky to have that many, considering they were well beaten by WP and Greystaat. KES with a player in there, gosh he must be exceptional as they have been poor this year.
Ek tel net 4 x GcB spelers, nie 5 nie.
Is daar reserwes wat ook deel van die ‘count’ is wat nie hier verskyn nie?
Selfde met Boland Landbou..
4 spelers uit die WP xv tal – dit spreek boekdele.
Wynlandwater.
CONGRATS
2.Caleb Kolberg paul roos 2nd team to SA represent story for the ages. Might have done enough to be in the first team now.
3.Biggest winner of the day, Ncuthu Kepe, what a talent and what an insparatinal story has balled out for Queens college the whole season he was carrying a knock at Craven week but still put in a valiant effort to make SA schools only U17 aswell more to come from him in green and gold.
@Warrior89 (Comment #4)
Who do you think should have been there from a smaller union?
@Rainier (Comment #3)
Adams moet erns 2 toe skuif, ek dink hy sal n baie dinamiese hakker maak
Daai sas voory is giftig,Altus Rabie is die top skole hakker in SA
Baie geluk aan al die jong manne met julle verkiesing, maat veral aan Affies en Garsies met julle 3 spelers elk in die spanne!!!
MISSING PLAYERS
Think that Stumke from Bulls and Matthew Abbey from Pumas were unlucky.
You don’t stand a chance if you’re from a smaller union…smaller unions can have their own week because they don’t stand a chance being picked…makes one think that this team was selected before the CW…
I would not be surprised if Muller plays senior rugby at 13 and Adams at 12.
COUPLE MISSING NAMES (AND SOME LUCKY ONES)
A few comments:
1. Nela must have been picked on form through the season as he had a horrible CW. To be fair, he wasn’t helped by the disastrous backline selections around him in the Sharks team. Ridl, O-Sullivan and mcGough were really poor, and the front row was going backwards far too often. Mlaba also a very lucky selection. I wouldn’t be surprised to see him earn a spot next season, but based on CW form, I didn’t expect to see him named in either SA squad.
2. Five #8s picked across the two squads and two selected as flanks – good decisions I think. So many stand out 8s, who need to be accommodated.
3. In spite of the above, I still would have found room for Wimble in one of the squads. I’m sure his time will come next year, but I think he may have the highest ceiling of all the loose forwards on show this year.
3. Vorster unlucky not to be in the SA Schools side, and Bulls 12 very unlucky to miss out, but will be back next year.
4. I’d expect Mdegezi and Simelane to work their way into the starting 15 over the next few months.