The Golden Lions Rugby Union underlined their importance to the continued well-being of the South African rugby with two good road wins against the Sharks on Friday. In the under-19 game, a 67th minute try by EG Jansen Old Boy Kyle van Dalen sealed the deal as the Lions triumphed 21-13, denying the Sharks a bonus point in the process. In the under-21 game the visitors from Jozi had matters under control from the first half, building up a 17-0 lead at one stage and then holding out to win it 24-17 against a fairly competent Sharks team.
The Lions lost their place in Super Rugby partly because of poor performances over the years and to some extent due to their financial woes, also not forgetting about politics rearing its ugly head in the matter as well. However at junior level the Ellis Park based outfit has maintained an outstanding level of competitiveness and has developed youngster who have gone on to do well at senior professional level with some even making it all the way to Green and Gold honours. The positive results against the Durban juniors prove the strength of the structures that are in place. The Sharks maintain that they will rely on a number of their own juniors to fill senior positions in the years to come. Looking at their current senior squad with the likes of Beast, Herbst, Cooper, Marais, Daniel, Coetzee, Reinach, Lambie, Zeilinga, Mvovo, Pietersen and even James plus Viljoen; it’s easy to understand what they are on about. Yet right here, right now the Lions are capable of putting age-group teams on the field that can still beat the Sharks, even with a far more uncertain future ahead.
One has to ask what will happen if the Lions are permanently downgraded from Super Rugby and as a consequence financial unable to maintain their good junior structures. This is where SARU hasn’t been smart at all. Surely the promotion of the Kings to Super Rugby for 2013 should have been coupled with similar automatic promotions of their senior and junior Currie Cup teams, if for no other reason but to ensure that the feeder system that gives SA rugby its prosperity is properly looked after. Giving the Kings a more of a solid foundation would have provided a huge boost to their junior programme and if the Lions were to become Super Rugby past tense then at least the Kings would have been ideally placed to fill the gap left in the market. Instead the Kings still have ground to make up and if there is to be a transition period, SA rugby might lose something that it never gains back. Right now both Unions sit with a high degree of uncertainty about what the futures hold and this impacts on up and coming rugby players too, who invariably have to take risks by signing with either Union.
The Lions will meet the Kings in a two-legged promotion-relegation playoff. The first match is Friday, 26 July at Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium in Port Elizabeth and the second game takes place at Ellis Park in Jozi on Friday 02 August. The winner earns the right to play in Super Rugby, the losers have to somehow survive the financial fallout that comes with not being part of a competition that is ever building on the lead it has over the traditional Currie Cup in terms of value and popularity.
For now the Lions supporters can be very proud of the under-19 and under-21 teams achievements in Durban.
| # | Lions under-21 | School | AgeG | CWu13 | GKu16 | CWu18/AWu18 | SAS/SAA u18 | JWCu20 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Devon Marthinus | Bredasdorp | u20 | – | Boland | – | – | 2013 |
| 2 | Mark Pretorius | Nelspruit | u21 | – | Pumas | Pumas CW | – | 2012 |
| 3 | Nico du Plessis | Florida | u20 | – | – | – | – | – |
| 4 | Ruan Venter | Monnas | u21 | Leopards | Lions | Lions CW | 2010 | 2011 |
| 5 | Jannie Stander | Monnas | u20 | Limpopo | Limpopo | Limp/Lions CW | – | 2013 |
| 6 | Stephan de Witt | Transvalia | u21 | – | Valke | Valke CW | – | |
| 7 | Fabian Booysen | Florida | u21 | Boland | Lions | Lions CW | 2010 | 2012 |
| 8 | Ruaan Lerm | EG Jansen | u21 | – | Valke | Valke CW | – | – |
| 9 | Vian van der Watt | Florida | u21 | – | Lions | Lions CW | – | 2012 |
| 10 | Jaco van der Walt | Monnas | u19 | Lions | Lions | Lions CW | 2011 | – |
| 11 | Damian Engledoe | New Orleans | u20 | – | – | Boland AW | 2011 | – |
| 12 | JP du Plessis | HTS Middelburg | u21 | – | – | Pumas CW | – | – |
| 13 | Harold Vorster | Frans du Toit | u20 | Limpopo | Limpopo | Limpopo CW | – | – |
| 14 | Jacques Nel | Brandwag (Benoni) | u20 | – | – | Valke CW | – | – |
| 15 | Marais Schmidt | Monnas | u21 | Lions | Lions | Lions CW | 2010 | 2012 |
| 16 | Rikus van Niekerk | Monnas | u21 | Lions | – | Lions CW | – | – |
| 17 | Henri Boshoff | Nelspruit | u21 | Pumas | Pumas | Pumas CW | – | |
| 18 | Stephan Vermeulen | Monnas | u19 | – | Lions | Lions CW | – | – |
| 19 | Kwagga Smith | HTS Middelburg | u20 | – | – | Pumas CW | – | 2013 |
| 20 | Percy Williams | Oudtshoorn | u20 | SWD | SWD | SWD CW | 2012 | 2013 |
| 21 | Ashton Davids | Schoonspruit | u20 | – | Boland | Boland CW | – | – |
| 22 | Gideon Meiring | Monnas | u20 | – | – | Lions CW | – | – |
| # | LIONS under-19 | School | Age | CWu13 | GKu16 | CWu18/AWu18 | SAS/SAA u18 | JWCu20 |
| 1 | Dylan Smith (c.) | KES | u19 | – | – | Lions CW | – | – |
| 2 | Malcolm Marx | KES | u19 | Lions | Lions | Lions CW | 2012 | – |
| 3 | Pieter Scholtz | Diamantveld | u19 | Griquas | Griquas | Griquas CW | – | – |
| 4 | Victor Sekekete | Queens High | u19 | – | – | Lions CW | – | – |
| 5 | JP Du Preez | EG Jansen | u19 | – | – | Valke CW | – | – |
| 6 | Sikhumbuzo Mabuza | Centurion | u19 | Pumas | Bulls | Bulls CW | 2011/2 | – |
| 7 | Cyle Brink | KES | u19 | – | – | Lions CW | – | – |
| 8 | Jano Venter | HTS Middelburg | u19 | Pumas | Pumas CW | 2012 | – | |
| 9 | Akhona Sihunu | Dale | u19 | Border CW | 2012 | – | ||
| 10 | Brandan Hewit | Centurion | u19 | Bulls AW | – | – | ||
| 11 | Chad McKay | Centurion | u19 | Boland | – | Bulls CW | – | – |
| 12 | Daniel Aries | Windhoek | u19 | Namibia CW | – | – | ||
| 13 | Koch Marx | Alberton | u19 | Lions CW | – | – | ||
| 14 | Calvin Smith | Hilton | u19 | KZN | KZN | – | – | – |
| 15 | Carlisle Nel | Paul Roos | u19 | WP | – | – | ||
| 16 | Rynard Snyman | Hentie Cilliers | u19 | Griffons | Griffons | Griffons CW | – | – |
| 17 | Francois van Heerden | Monnas | u19 | Lions | Lions | – | – | – |
| 18 | JJ Vorster | u19 | – | – | ||||
| 19 | Kyle van Dalen | EG Jansen | u19 | Valke CW | – | – | ||
| 20 | Christiaan Meyer | EG Jansen | u19 | Valke | Valke CW | – | – | |
| 21 | Steven du Plessis | Florida | u19 | – | – | |||
| 22 | Gabriel du Toit | u19 | – | – | ||||
| 23 | Quinton Terblanche | Alberton | u19 | Lions AW | – | – |
@Tjoppa: You said it!!!!!!!!
@Djou: And the change should start at home,
@Tjoppa: @Bog: Tjoppa, the key word you used is UFORTUNATELY. This is what should change, the exception should be the one in a million. This is where rugby still gets it wrong.
@BOG: Boggie unfortunately his story is one in a million.
@Djou: And Jannie Du Plessis is another good example. I read a nice little story about him awhile ago. Apparently. after a few years of (successful) studies at Kovsies, he was offered a contract by the Pumas to play professionally. He phoned his mom , who had been paying for his studies, with the news. Being very meticulous, she gave him a run down of expenses to that point of his studies and said that she would not stand in his way, providing either he or the Pumas reimburse her the expenses she had incurred. We all know that he completed his studies. Very convincing, is Mrs Du Plessis (I guess its not only me that would have appreciated her intervention in our own experiences)
@Beet: Good examples of 3 players serious obout their studies: Heinrich Brussouw – got his BCom (Hon) in economics in the prescribed period whilst playing full time, and Waltie Vermeulen, who is now a medical doctor. Callie Visagie also comes to mind being a management accountant.
@Beet: The problem with the studies, be it with the Sharks or any other academy, is that players study at different institutions e.g Varsity College, UKZN which makes co-ordination difficult. Some classes just can’t be shifted to accommodate practises. And no matter what the unions say, they don’t accommodate the students. The example I mentioned above – about classes at the stadium – emanates form the horse’s mouth – I know that some players, who were serious about their studies, left the academy as a result of the poor quality. I gather it will be difficicult to please and accommodate everyone. But there is always Unisa for those serious about their studies.
@Bog; Ja, het die wedstryd op TV gesien. Tienie is ‘n yster aan’t groei na vlekvrye staal.
@Gungets Tuft: Perhaps the WPRI have it right – their U19’s do not study in their first year.
The Lions and UJ (and OFS and Shimlas) seem to have a close working relationship even though the union contracted players are rarely able to play for the university unless they are coming back from injury. One young player that I know well has managed to get through a pretty decent BComm in four years notwithstanding full time training commitments. UJ are trying to accommodate him, at their suggestion, in an Honours course next year despite him being part of the senior squad.
@All Black: Eeisch. I must say that varsity seems a lot harder than when I studied, but then I was not a stellar student either, had to finish my degree via Unisa. I am amazed at how hard my daughter has to work, I remember being free to phuza almost every day from 3pm. That’s why when people talk about lowered standards I disagree.
Rhodes has a zero telerance approach as well though. You fail midyear, no supps then, you write again at the end of the year. Their rationale is that they prefer to put people (and parents wallets) out of their misery early, rather than have kids take 2 years to find out they are not going to cut it. Couple of my daughter’s friends excluded from certain courses where they failed. Harsh lessons … especially when us parents have to pony up R100K a year to get them there. That’s a lot of broken BMWs!!
@Gungets Tuft: Jesse not studying this year. Only one player in Bulls U19 squad still doing a degree after mid year exams. Some boys are still doing Sports Science but that is basically 2 subjects and at a very ‘standard’ level. One boy doing a major degree did not pass a subject. The problem comes in when Tutorials are missed and tests are missed due to games or important sessions. You dont get an assessed mark but 0. In reality it is just not working at U19 level as they basically have a 6 month pre season. Playing Varsity Cup etc would be easy. The U19 set up is certainly not conducive to studying.
@meadows: A friends daughters had hockey scholarships at Potch for hockey. One went on to play 35 tests for South Africa, the other played all the SA teams except the Test team. The test player took 5 years to do her degree and eventually had to stop hockey to get her degree done, the second has had to make herself unavailable for national selection to do her honours year – the training and other commitments were just to high. That’s ladies hockey, I can’t imagine how heavy the demands must be on the likes of Jesse Kriel et all at Tuks. Universities would have to make exceptions for them for “Duly Performed” certificates from lectures and tutorials.
My daughter (doing a BSC at Rhodes) is busy from 8:00am till 4pm 3 days a week with lectures and tuts, from 9am till 3pm the other two. That is just scheduled lectures and work. She plays hockey 2 days a week, practices after 7pm those nights. And then there are still the compulsary events at the Rat and Parrot ….
@beet: Yup – comment would have seemed a bit odd with the update in place
Venter, along with many other youngsters out there I suspect, is a good example of how injury setbacks can derail a career that was probably scheduled for the fast track.
@All Black: it is the same at any of the major unions that have a relationship with a big university. They all try and be accommodating but I agree that it is extremely difficult to be part of the pro set up and complete a serious degree which is a pity given how tenuous a rugby career can be for the majority of these young pros in the U19 -21 squads. It isn’t impossible though and I know a few youngsters who have managed( even if it takes a year longer) but an enormous amount of self discipline is required.
@beet: Not sure how the other Varsities work but at Tuks they do try and accommodate studying. The problem comes in if you have a Bulls contract. Morning, afternoon and evening practices mean you are going to miss practices or fail Varsity. The bottom line is that if you are doing a serious degree you cannot play serious rugby. The coaches try and be accepting but in reality they are trying to win a Currie Cup and that is the priority. Sad but true.
@Djou: Ek merk dat Tienie Burger verlede Saterdag, weer n goeie wedstryd gehad het, saam met Gerhard Olivier (8) en Henco ?
@HM: No he is definitely an Old Hiltonian. He represented Glenwood at Grant Khomo in 2010 before moving to Hilton.
One mistake on the u19 team sheet above; Calvin Smith is a Glenwood Old Boy.
@meadows: Steve just to let you and everyone else know so you don’t come off as a bit loony, that detail about Ruan has just been changed. In fact Slam who did a number of fix ups on the data mentioned that this morning. Ruan didn’t play in his u20 year due to being plagued by injury but he was on board during his u19 year.
@Djou: The way I understand it is that yes the Sharks Academy do have limited study opportunities but for what they do offer they give players a far better opportuntunity to succeed at studies due to the rugby training being structured around classes. At just about all universities this is impossible. I think Pukke are the only other institution where they go out of their way to cater for the players. But I could be mistaken.
Lions U21 lock Ruan Venter played SA U20 in 2011 in Italy when he was U19 – if memory serves Eben Etsebeth was his lock partner. At that stage he was ahead of 2012 SA U20 locks Paul Willemse and Ruan Botha at the Lions. He was injured at the World Cup and has spent most of the past two years out. If he is fully recovered and fit he is a very good prospect.
@Valke: Ek is nou nie Tjoppa nie, maar die Sharks Akademie het nie veel akademie nie. Outjies speel rugby en kry klas sommer op paviljoen of in losies. Dit is nou die studie vir hul graad, nie die rugbyklasse nie.
@Tjoppa: Dag jou kinders is lankal klaar met skool.
@Bog: Stat
@Tjoppa: Stem saam oor Tuks Akademie.
waar sou jy die Sharks Akademie plaas ?
Ek sou graag jou opinie wou hoor.
@Tjoppa: Well, they are in the dysfunctional “city” (stat met n “t”) of Tshwane, arent they?
Is this the future to come? Is the other unions to gain from the Bulls decision to contract most u/19 boys for only one year. I think so. Will rather send my boy to the Leopards with a rated Academy and two year contract with game time, than the Bulls with a one year contract with no guaranteed game time and a “dis functional” TUKS academy.
@JPS_10: Dankie Mnr JPS. Wow!! Groot verrasing.
Mnr JPS kan Mnr Beet nie maar vir U n Affies of Magtige Bulle avatar aantrek nie?
@Woltrui: Nee. Die Luiperds het teen die WP 0/19’s gewen 28 – 27.
Komplimente aan die Leeus wie duidelik daarin glo om hulle plaaslike kinders geleenthede te bied. Goed om te sien n unie vertrou hulle “eie” kinders.
Is die koerante reg dat die Luipaards 0/19’s die Leeus geklop het?