| # | NAME | SCHOOL |
| PR | Clement Makelele | 1 of 3 Kearsney |
| PR | Ziaan Slabbert | 1 of 9 Affies |
| PR | Thomas Meyer | 1 of 2 Paul Roos |
| PR | Lelethu Nono | 1 of 2 Grey HS |
| PR | Entle Nqcaba | 1 of 1 St Andrew’s |
| PR | Tunga Griffiths | 2 of 3 Kearsney |
| PR | Liam De Jager | 2 of 9 Affies |
| PR | Rossouw de Waal | 1 of 3 Grey College |
| HK | Iglesias Bruiners | 1 of 1 Noordheuwel |
| HK | Hendre Ehlers | 3 of 9 Affies |
| HK | Luka van der Westhuizen | 1 of 4 Paarl Gim |
| HK | Nyakallo Masiloene | 1 of 4 Durban HS |
| LK | Bulelani Cebani | 2 of 4 Durban HS |
| LK | Aobakwe Moeng | 3 of 4 Durban HS |
| LK | Werner de Bruin | 2 of 2 Paul Roos |
| LK | Alexander Muller | 4 of 9 Affies |
| LK | Franklin Stevens | 1 of 1 Diamantveld |
| LK | Derrick Groenewald | 2 of 4 Paarl Gim |
| LK | Mbala Ndima | 1 of 1 Pretoria BH |
| LF | Siphesihle Marule | 1 of 2 Uplands |
| LF | Thubelihle Marule | 2 of 2 Uplands |
| LF | Siyaya Menzi | 1 of 1 Middelburg |
| LF | Jaydon Jubber | 1 of 2 Michaelhouse |
| LF | Janu Pretorius | 1 of 1 Rondebosch |
| LF | Keegan Fourie | 5 of 9 Affies |
| LF | Henre Valentyn | 1 of 2 Paarl BH |
| LF | Amayo Egbujor | 1 of 1 Drostdy |
| LF | Caleb Pretorius | 6 of 9 Affies |
| LF | Corne Ferreira | 3 of 4 Paarl Gim |
| LF | Luniko Marivate | 2 of 2 Paarl BH |
| LF | Niel du Randt | 2 of 3 Grey College |
| LF | Lwango Ntantala | 1 of 1 Hilton |
| SH | Rufagon Hendricks | 1 of 3 Outeniqua |
| SH | Theuns van Rensburg | 1 of 1 Trio |
| SH | Ben Hughes | 2 of 2 Michaelhouse |
| SH | Jordan Forbes | 1 of 2 SACS |
| FH | Tanwill Onkers | 2 of 3 Outeniqua |
| FH | Daniel Miskey | 3 of 3 Kearsney |
| FH | Ndzalama Mbhalati | 1 of 1 Jeppe |
| FH | Reuben Smith | 7 of 9 Affies |
| CT | Anfred Jansen | 2 of 2 Grey HS |
| CT | Elgenio Oerson | 1 of 2 Glenwood |
| CT | James Sale | 2 of 2 SACS |
| CT | De Waal Vivier | 4 of 4 Paarl Gim |
| CT | Asa Mgwatyu | 1 of 1 KES |
| CT | Danre Brink | 8 of 9 Affies |
| WG | Rosco Williams | 2 of 2 Glenwood |
| WG | Kingsley Pule | 3 of 3 Grey College |
| WG | Blessing Manoreng | 1 of 2 Monument |
| WG | Darnell Delport | 3 of 3 Outeniqua |
| WG | Sterlin Padi | 4 of 4 Durban HS |
| WG | Rhandzu Mkhabela | 1 of 1 Nelspruit |
| FB | Ray-Nathin van Kolver | 2 of 2 Monument |
| FB | Kyle van Staden | 9 of 9 Affies |
| FB | Hadley Erasmus | 1 of 1 Durbanville |
@TheGoose (Comment #74)
There might have been a few others.
I think Rocco Buchanan the Stellies no.8 was amongst those not on the original list that attended in the end
TYLER VON CULLWITZ ADDED TO U16 EPD
https://www.facebook.com/QueensCollegeBoysHighSchool/photos/tyler-von-cullwitz-has-joined-the-sa-u16-elite-player-development-group-this-wee/1373622371432280/
@tzavosky (Comment #71)
In my opinion a lot changed since 2020 with Covid and bursaries at some schools, the top schools are getting stronger and are getting more players trying to “specialise” in Rugby and to make it a career.
I believe there were always be an opportunity for some other individuals to make it to the top, as the saying goes “cream will always rise to the top”, but it is getting more difficult as the stronger rugby schools have more craven week players and they get exposure at Noord-Suid and Wildeklaver.
Everybody is looking at the current springboks squad, but a lot of those players have been there for a while. Since 2020 there have been 31 new springbok capped players and if you use Schools participating at Noord-Suid, more than 70% of the new capped players are coming from those schools. There will always be opportunities for other players but it is really getting more difficult.
@tzavosky (Comment #71)
I often wonder if the massive pressure the boys are under in some of the SBR environments doesn’t “break” the game for them by the time they leave school. Mental toughness is as important as physical conditioning. I would not be surprised if many young talented boys are emotionally drained after 5 years in a brutally competitive environment, and once they catch a breather after matric, it may be difficult to get back that hunger. I’m no expert, just a thought. Don’t think there are many studies yet on the psychological impact of SBR in its current form on a teenager.
@beet (Comment #70)
The “hard work” part you mention, is (from what I heard) the biggest issue. Those players are in a transitional phase towards adulthood, with many distractions – there friends are chasing girls, party a lot, etc. There is not the hero worship of a whole school cheering them (they often play in front a crowd of 2 people and a dog), etc. It’s a tough life to the top.
I find it interesting that a large bulk of Boks come from not so prominent schools – maybe they learn early on to work harder, playing with kids not as talented, to carry their teams. There could be other reasons, as well, but from my personal experience playing koshuis rugby at varsity, it was luxurious to play with guys who understood their roles!
@tzavosky (Comment #68)
I tend to agree that u16 is still much closer to the start of a player’s journey than the finish. My concern, however, is that breaking through after school feels tougher now than it did in the mid-2010s. While there are no guarantees, being an elite player “on the radar” undeniably boosts a youngster’s chances of finding a clear pathway to the top.
From conversations I’ve had with post-school recruiters, they always emphasised hard work as the non-negotiable, but admitted luck often plays a role too. In today’s game, that luck can be as simple as Player A making an EPD list while Player B misses out.
We also can’t ignore how the dynamics of schoolboy rugby have shifted. Achievements like EPD selection carry weight in recruitment, marketing, and even in how coaches are judged. That’s why the process matters so much. From my own KZN experience, the High School Association has worked hard to make selections transparent and fair – to the point where it’s tough to argue simply because trying to come up with a better solution is very hard. They have gone all out! That’s exactly what we should aim for with EPD: a process built on transparency, fairness, and trust.
@tzavosky (Comment #68)
Soos altyd slaan jy die spyker 100% op sy kop….EPD is net windowdressing deur saru terwyl hull totaal boggerol doen in terme van die ontwikkeling van daardie seuns nie …saru ry skole rugby bloots en pluk net die vrugte van skole se harde werk .
@Smallies (Comment #50)
Man, ek volg hierdie debat met ‘n groot smaail op my gesig! Daar is absoluut geen waarborg dat enige een in die EPD-groep dit groot gaan maak nie.
Ek het ‘n bietjie gaan kyk na die 2013 SA Skolespan (daai span is op hierdie blog as iemand dit wil google). Daar is ‘n paar manne soos Thomas du Toit, Ox Nche, Duhan vd Merwe en die Du Preez tweeling wat dit gemaak het (op hierdie blog is erg gedebatteer of Ox in die span moes wees!). Opvallende weglatings was RG Snyman (later ingesluit na ‘n besering) en Jasper Wiese. Die superster van daai Cravenweek, Rikus Bothma, het dit nie gemaak nie (OK, beserings het sy loopbaan kortgeknip, but so it goes) – Bothma was saam met Wiese in Hoërskool Upington voor hy Paarl Gim toe geskuif het.
So, ‘n mens kan absoluut niks lees in die samestelling van die EPD-groep itv wat in die toekoms gaan gebeur nie, so hoekom jou kop breek daaroor – “exercise in futility” as jy my vra!
@Chronicle (Comment #60)
Nou toe nou. Most interesting.
@Chronicle (Comment #60)
Good news if Affies is nr 1 next year, they win all the various stats of best rugby school on paper, but have not been nr 1 in the last 16 years on grass.
@Grizzly (Comment #63)
Wat kan ek sê, ‘n goeie begryper het net ‘n halwe woord nodig..
@Wonder (Comment #62)
As jy van my seun praat..jy vermoed heeltemal verkeerd en ek het ook vermoed dat jy soos die ander Bere onderseuners redelik intelligent is…
@Wonder (Comment #61)
Anker was sarkasties. Hyt dit nie letterlik bedoel nie.Hyt baie respek vir die Bere. Jyt hom mis verstaan.
@Eden Park (Comment #59)
Ek vermoed sy seun is deel van groepie,daarom so fyn gevoelig.
@OUD ANKER (Comment #57)
Lekker man,daar kom die arrogance nou uit.Garsies kanseleer nie, net Affies doen dit wanneer hul bang is hul verloor.
Before someone again take me on about my language, I know it is sh.te.
Interesting how grown men are taking each other on. Just find out who the selectors are. That should not be a secret. Or maybe some want it to be a secret.
I just asked a good friend of mine who happens to be well informed what he knows. He said two of the selectors or recruiters or whatever they are called are Affies old boys. He did give me their names, but for now I am not going to mention them.
He also said Affies old boys who are coaching at Affies are heavily involved with coaching the Blue Bulls under nineteens.
Before the Affie gang jump on me again like the last time I posted here, just know I am the messenger relaying the information. It may not mean anything, but it can also mean everything.
@OUD ANKER (Comment #58)
Ek het jou al ‘n paar keer gesê ek betwyfel nie die kwaliteit vd affie seuns nie, dus is name oorbodig. Ek betwyfel die proses. Sjoe maar julle manne is touchy.
@Eden Park (Comment #54)
Ek vra weer watter van die Affies spelers hoort nie in die EPD groep nie…as jy stellings maak soos dat dit “fishy” is dat daar soveel Affies in die EPD span is moet jy tog ‘n idee hê van wie daar hoort en wie nie..?
@Wonder (Comment #51)
Ja, shame, julle moet sommer nou al die bepaling teen Affies kanselleer aangesien Affies met hulle 9 + 5 EPD spelers teen Garsies se zero julle gaan vermorsel.
@boerboel (Comment #52)
Garsies se afrigters is beste in die land, het nie EPD nodig nie. Net die beste van die WP kom Garsies toe🤪🤪
@boerboel (Comment #53) Jy mag nie so sê nie! Dis verkeerd. Jy moet net aanvaar.
@Asterix (Comment #49)
5 laasjaar. Eks bly julle kuier lekker. Jammer dat ek durf vrae vra oor ‘n proses wat my pla. My punt bly eenvoudig. Affies het heelwat meer verteenwoordiging as enige ander skool oor die laaste 2 jaar.
@OUD ANKER (Comment #48)
affies 016 ok niks wonderlik nie- dit lyk verkeerd
@Wonder (Comment #51)
wie weet wat in die busse v boland etc oppad is
Garsies gaan maar sukkel volgende jaar, geen spelers in die groep nie…Of geen spelers het ontwikkeling nodig nie!!!!
@Eden Park (Comment #47)
Daar is n moerse fout met die EPD gaan kyk hoe min van daai seuns word profsionele spelers….
@Eden Park (Comment #45)
So volgens jou somme se jy dat die 9 van affies van hierdie jaar plus die 4 van laas jaar nie een dieselfde posisie speel nie so al 13 gaan span kry, jy neem ook aan dat die 9 van hierdie jaar, wat volgende jaar nog o/17 is beter is as die o/18’s van die ander skole. Dit is duidelik jy probeer net aandag kry of is bietjie omgekrap oor iemand na aan jou.
Ek speel elke jaar baie lekker Gholf saam met die Gim manne by die interskole en baie van my vriende se kinders is in Garsfontein en kuier ons baie lekker saam, selfs by Klub 600 na die wedstryd tussen die twee skole, duidelik is jy dalk maar net ‘n uitsondering as dit by Gim ondersteuners kom.
@Eden Park (Comment #47)
Mens hoef nie ‘n keurder te wees om die basics te verstaan nie….score omte settle?? ek dink nie jy praat namens alle Gim ondersteuners/spelers/afrigters/ouers nie. Skole soos Gim/Booishaai/Grey/Affies/PRG en menige ander speel nie om “scores te settle” nie, maar as jou persoonlike ego baie gekrenk is omdat julle ster belaaide span nie in 2025 vir Affies kon stamp in die Paarl nie, voel vry om dan jou persoonlike score volgende jaar in Pretoria te settle (of nie)…dit blyk jyt ‘n groot probleem met 9 of 14 u16 Affies laaities ten spyte daarvan dat jy nogsteeds nie die name kon gee van die Affies wat in daardie span is wat dit volgens jou nie verdien nie.
@OUD ANKER (Comment #46)
Lyk my jys ‘n keurder by Affies. Bly om te hoor. As die 14 seuns nie plek kry in die Affies 23 nie dan is daar fout met die EPD keuses na my mening. Ons wag maar tot volgende jaar. Ek sien uit na die Gim vs Affies game. Ons het ‘n score om te settle teen die unbeatable span met die 14 EPD manne.
@Eden Park (Comment #45)
As jy SBR al solank volg soos jy verklaar sal jy seer sekerlik die komplekse dinamika verstaan van wat tussen u16 en 1e (oop spanne) gebeur. Die 5 u16 EPD spelers van Affies van 2024 het NIE die kern van die Affie 1e span van 2025 uitgemaak NIE, netso gaan die 9 u16 EPD Affies spelers van 2025 ook NIE die kern van die Affie 1e span van 2026 uitmaak NIE. Soos jy uit jou jare se SBR ondervinding behoort te weet werk dit nie so nie TENSY jy soos BOOISHAAI in 2024 “aspris” bereid is om 1e span knocks te vat omdat jy ‘n “klomp” graad 11s gebruik om dan die volgende jaar (soos Booishaai in 2025 bewys het) ‘n monster span in die veld te stoot en trust my jou Affie pelle is besig om jou die grootste poep ooit te voer as hulle die Affie 1e span van 2026 as “unbeatable” verklaar….
@OUD ANKER (Comment #44)
My tjom, tel mooi, daar is nie net 9 nie, maar 14. Laasjaar het hulle ook 5 in die o16 groep gehad plus die 9 van die jaar = 14. Ek tel nie die o17s wat in 2024 ook in die EPD squad was by nie. Tjomme met somme! Ek volg moontlik al langer as jy SBR en net omdat ek nou eers die blog gejoin het is nie te sê dat ek nie die blog al jare lank dophou nie. Ek betwyfel nie dat die seuns van Affies in die groep goeie spelers is nie. Ek wonder maar net oor die feit dat Affies se representation oor die laaste twee jaar heelwat meer is as enige ander skool in die land. Weereens, dis ‘n feit. Heelwat meer as enige wynland skool en Grey Bloem. Dit het my laat wonder. Met 14 manne in hulle geledere behoort hulle dus gemaklik almal te klop. Ek kan nie met jou saamstem dat die Affies 2026 span voilgens jou algemene kennis hul swakker span sal wees nie. My Affie pelle reken hulle gaan BAIE sterk wees! Unbeatable blykbaar. Tyd sal maar leer. Eks nie hier om met jou te baklei nie, bloot my perspektief te stel. Jy verskil daarvan and so be it.
@Eden Park (Comment #41)
My tjom, ek weet nie hoe lank volg jy nou al SBR nie, maar as jy die logiese afleiding wil maak dat Affies in 2026 gemaklik die Wynland skole en Grey College gaan klop bloot omdat hulle 9 spelers in ‘n u16 EPD span het maak jy een moerse gevaarlike aanname! Bitter selde tranlsate “super” 0/15,0/16 spanne in ‘n “super” 1e span die volgende jaar. As a matter of fact is dit redelike algemene kennis onder Affie supporters dat die Affie 2026, 1e span dalk een van hul “swakker” 1e spanne in die 5 jaar silkus gaan wees. En ek weet ook nie hoeveel die “heelwat” in jou Affie manne binnekring is nie, MAAR ek kan jou verseker Garsfontein is die een skool wat Affies nie “haat” nie. Daar is ‘n paar ander waarteen Affies veel minder teen sal wil verloor as teen Garsfontein, maar is die woord “haat” ook nie ‘n emosie wat teen daardie betrokke skole gevoel word nie. Netsoos julle nie van Booishaai hou nie, hou Affies van GEEN skool teen wie hulle op die betrokke dag speel nie en dink ek voel Garsfontein, Grey ens ens. presies dieselfe. Ek dink jy confuse “haat” met “respek” vir jou teenstander….maar jyt nogsteeds nie vir ons die name gegee van die Affie seuns wie jy dink dit NIE verdien om in die u16 EPD squad te wees NIE…
@Grizzly (Comment #42)
Ek het geen probleem met garsfontein nie. Ek ken wel heelwat affie manne, en hulle se nooit veel goed oor hulle nie. Seker maar oor die bere hulle challenge, wie sal weet. Persoonlik het ek baie respek vir garsfontein en hulle manier van speel. Ek merk ook op dat hulle juniors al hoe sterker word. Ons hou ook nie van boishaai nie, so ek aanvaar dis dieselfde rede hoekom affies nie die garsies geniet nie. Konteks rondom die EPD squad? Eks bloot ‘n neutrale, maar goeie waarnemer. Is daar Affie manne betrokke by die keuses van die squad? Die weet ek nou nie. Dalk kan iemand ons inlig? Ek het bloot ‘n stelling gemaak en boy, oh boy, did the fish start biting. Groetnis
@Eden Park (Comment #41)Ek dink nie Garsies en Affies gaan besties word nie maar glo ook nie Affies haat die Bere nie. Vernaam met Ryno daar wat by Garsfontein was. Hoekom gee jy nie konteks met jou post sodat ons/ek beter kan verstaan hoekom jy so om gekrap is nie. Speel jou seun vir Gim /16 en is nie genooi nie? As die pa van 2 klonge het nepotisme en onregverdigheid baie voor my af gespeel. Dit laat jou bedonnerd maar die gevoel van magteloosheid is die ergste.Indien die scenario so is, is my raad dat jou seun presies is waar hy moet wees. Ons beweeg al hoe nader waar dit baie meer gaan tel om die eerste en A spanne te maak van die top 5 skole as enige SARU spanne. So kan die top 5 plus Garsies, miskien DHS en Oakdale hulle onderskeie CW spanne klop. Daars ander ook soos Westville ens maar jy verstaan my punt.Ek sal net versigtig wees met die Affies ding voor jy al die feite het. Soos bv is daar ooit enige mense betrokke van Affies by die laas jaar /17 en /16 die jaar?Ek weet nie maar ek sal my nie verder te veel aan dit steur nie.
@OUD ANKER (Comment #40) I apologise for quoting you incorrectly. You did indeed say preference. Be that as it may, I never doubted the quality of the boys and will never do so. I said that Affies seems to have an inside lane over the last two years with FAR more representation than any other school in the country. Those are the facts. You cannot hide the facts nor deny it. If you do not believe me go and count it for yourself and see if any other school gets close, even half that. I find that “interesting”. I guess then that “preference” are given to Affies representation in the EPD squad, or at least that is what I can read into it. What I would also then read out of this is that the Affies side (with 14 EPD members in the senior ranks) in 2026 will comfortably beat all three winelands schools and Grey College who has far less representation. I mean, that is the logical outcome? Since Affies plays all of the above and that other school in Pretoria (hated by Affies) called Garsfontein we will test this theory. Lets wait and see. I am pretty sure you might be unpleasantly surprised by your prefered school.
Maybe @Beet can do a list of schools representation for 2024/2025 to indicate the numbers per school.
@Eden Park (Comment #39)
Don’t you think you should go and read carefully what I said…show me where I stated that the Winelands teams are OVER-REPRESENTED…your command of the English language seems up to high standards so I think you would appreciate that there is a difference between OVER REPRESENTED and PREFERENCE…so you tell us which of those 9 Affies boys in the 016EPD team does not deserve to be there?? and who argued the fact that for the last 2 years a Winelands school was the top 1st side in the country??
@OUD ANKER (Comment #38)
Read carefully. Not just this year. Last year as well for u16 and u17. I find it peculiar. Go look at the numbers for yourself. That was the lead up to this year. You stated that the wineland teams have been over represented in the SA schools setup. For your info, top side in the country last year was a winelands side, this year too.
@Kantman (Comment #36)
No my friend, I did not start this over-representation debate. You must ask @Eden Park that question, since he is the one claiming that Affies is over-represented in the u16 EPD team!
@Kantman (Comment #36)
Exactly!
@OUD ANKER (Comment #22)
Talking about facts, what are the facts on Winelands representation in SA Schools?
What would constitute over-representation in your opinion, say for the last 3 years?
@Grizzly (Comment #28)
Moet nie iemand op sy baadjie of truitjie takseer nie
@Grizzly (Comment #19)
Miskien goeie idee om vriende te maak?
@Grizzly (Comment #32)
Is ook weer waar
@Smallies (Comment #31)
Hy het nie tjommies nie!
@Grizzly (Comment #28)
Boerboel se chommie ….
@Eden Park (Comment #26)
And you know what they are saying about committing suicide by jumping from your ego to your IQ…
@Grizzly (Comment #28)
Jy vat die woorde so uit my mond…
@Eden Park (Comment #27)
Hiers n hele paar cowboys op die blog van PRG en PBH maar een ding van Gim se ondersteuners is hul nederigheid. Is jy hier om geskiedenis te maak?
@Snelvuur (Comment #25)
Couldn’t agree more
@OUD ANKER (Comment #22)
Tell you what. Pick a team out of the best three Northern schools and we will do the same out of Gim, Bois and PRG. We will smack you three times a week and twice on Sunday. Just maybe the SA schools team is less biased than the EPD squads over the past two years.
@HSBR (Comment #24)
I think “by far” is a biiiiiit of a stretch. Won by one point against a very average PRG u16 team at altitude – with a last minute penalty sealing the deal. The margins are always fine at the top.
@Eden Park (Comment #10)
I just think purely based on this year alone the comment made doesn’t hold much water. They were the best u/16 A team in the country by far, so why wouldn’t a lot of them make the team
@OUD ANKER (Comment #22)
Statistically, if you want to talk about having an inside lane for SA Schools, you should look to Bloem, not to the Winelands…
@Eden Park (Comment #16)
And don’t you find it funny that the Winelands region always gets preference when SA Schools teams are chosen?, if you are in one of the Paarl or Stellenbosch powerhouse schools, you dont only have the inside lane but also a 100m head start! You are right facts don’t lie….you don’t see us up north complain about those facts…
@Grizzly (Comment #19)
Jy gaan seker kom groet nou dat ek hier is.Ja hoekom nie daai skool nie?Jy was daar so jy ken die in’s en out’s.Sal hulle bietjie dop hou.
@Grizzly (Comment #19)
Labori-lyk na jou skool-
@4×4 (Comment #13)
Weet nie wats die hype omtrent Monnas 8 nie. Maar ja,met my nou hier in die Paarl moet ek nog vir my n skool kry om te ondersteun. My eerste naweek hier was daar blykbaar 7’s by Gim met Gim en die Bere in die final.Ek wag nou al 10 jaar om rugby hier te kyk maar niemand het my gese nie😡
I am obviously biased but Rosco Williams is something special. Let’s hope Glenwood can hold onto him, I bet many schools are in his and his parents ear….
@4×4 (Comment #13)
Interesting story that one. Paarlbois actually flew him down for an interview ended up being a tourist in Gim for a few days. Seems like he didn’t like it much.
@OUD ANKER (Comment #15)
Not sensitive at all! I just find it “interesting”
And there are other schools than affies as well. Over representation in this squad does beg a few questions and it is like that for a few years now. If I remember correctly they also had the most u17s in the 2024 year, 7 in all. Come on, you don’t find that funny? The facts don’t lie. Why does it bother me? Because something doesnt feel right. It seems the affies boys have an inside lane.
@Eden Park (Comment #10)
Why so super sensitive over a EPD squad? I guess you are not used to be overseen for a change. Contrary to popular believe, there are other schools outside Paarl and other provinces outside the Winelands region.
monnas nr 8 came this year- left back home wihin days
@Eden Park (Comment #10)
Is that perhaps also the reason why Gim is actively recruiting seniors for next season…the Under 16 8th man of Monnas comes to mind?
@tzavosky (Comment #8)
It is just school boy rugby…. people should not take it so personal…. when I was in school top players always used to disappear I remember in 2004 our star inside centre left us for Marias Viljoen it was devasting but we moved on…… Now kids drive past Marias Viljoen to come to Jeppe …. swings and roundabouts in the rugby landscape …. I will just busk in glory of our current purple patch ….. that 2016 side was my first love and I was at the park that day the field was too wide🤣🤣🤣 but now I think they are the fifth best Jeppe side I have seen think 2018, 2023,2024 and 2025 classes have been better…. been truly spoilt in the last 3 years and hope it is sustainable into the future and we so very lucky
@Eden Park (Comment #10)
Green squads is n mors van geld en tyd….
@HSBR (Comment #9)
I watched them yes, especially against Gim. By the way Gim only has 4 boys in here. Last year their u16 side lost a number of games but yet they had the most representation too, they (Affies) were NOT the best in the country last year. We will see next year if you are correct. I still doubt this. Inside track for sure with a process with little to no transparency. Someone at Affies seems to be very involved in the EPD sqausThe Affies 1st team will therefore be unbeatable in 2026 with 14 boys in the EPD squad, the most of any school by a big margin.
@Eden Park (Comment #7)
Did you watch any of Affies u/16 games this year? Their only loss came against Paarl Gim and expect for the other “top 5”, all of their wins were about at a margin of 20 points or more. I don’t think it’s something fishy or strange, they were the best u/16 group in the country this year. Next year will be a completely different story as their u/15 group is consider the “weaker” of the age groups this year
@Ringo (Comment #5)
Would that Limpopo school be the same one that beat Jeppe’s dreamteam in 2016 at Ellispark?
WOW
I wonder how player availability for these camps are impacted by participation in other sports. E.g., I know WP’s GK captain (who isn’t included in this squad) is a mighty fine waterpolo player too. I’m not making any case about him in particular – he might have missed it in any event – but my point is that between EPD camps late in the year and a first team season starting in mid-March it is becoming ever more difficult for kids to play more than one sport.
@Kaya 85 (Comment #3)
EPD = Early Potential Development ….. Uplands twins twins will be midlands next year my bet …. small schools hate their players being on these lists heard a rumour of Limpopo school who have declared WW3 on us because we might have lifted one or two players from them ….. but we gotta recruit to compete with our friends from Pretoria who do not offer bursaries 🤪😜🫡
Any info on the twins from Uplands? …. Will be interesting to see which Macro school offers them something…
@Beet what is EPD again? …
SARU structure?
Blessing Manoreng has incredible potential…Will be very interesting to see his progress… Saw that NV Cup final where Monnas came back from a huge Menlo lead to win…
Thanks Beet!
Looks like EPD selectors know a lot more than WP GK selectors, or maybe they are not as bounded by WP school politics.