| Sharks u18 CW | Sharks u17 AW | ||||||
| 1 | Aphelele Chamane | 1 of 3 Michaelhouse | 1 | Aidan Du Plooy | 1 of 3 Hilton | ||
| 2 | Theo Boshoff | 1 of 3 Maritzburg Coll | 2 | Rorke Stirk | 1 of 2 Westville | ||
| 3 | Nic Salamousas | 2 of 3 Michaelhouse | 3 | Tunga Griffiths | 1 of 2 Kearsney | ||
| 4 | Lwandile Mlaba | 1 of 2 Westville | 4 | Bulelani Cebani | 1 of 6 Durban HS | ||
| 5 | Andrew Schnell | 1 of 2 Hilton | 5 | Lwango Ntantala | 2 of 3 Hilton | ||
| 6 | Zander Muller | 2 of 2 Hilton | 6 | Kevin van Vollenstee | 1 of 4 Northwood | ||
| 7 | Zion Smith | 1 of 5 Durban HS | 7 | Aobakwe Moeng | 2 of 6 Durban HS | ||
| 8 | Jamie Wimble | 1 of 4 Northwood | 8 | Jaydon Jubber | 1 of 3 Michaelhouse | ||
| 9 | Ludi van der Walt | 2 of 4 Northwood | 9 | Richaard Kriel | 3 of 6 Durban HS | ||
| 10 | Daniel Miskey | 1 of 4 Kearsney | 10 | Tanwill Onkers | 4 of 6 Durban HS | ||
| 11 | Anesu Kuzonyei | 3 of 4 Northwood | 11 | Lisa Sijadu | 2 of 2 Westville | ||
| 12 | Alex Jankowitz | 3 of 3 Michaelhouse | 12 | Elgenio Oersen | 1 of 2 Glenwood | ||
| 13 | Nathan Aneke | 2 of 5 Durban HS | 13 | Sterling Padi | 5 of 6 Durban HS | ||
| 14 | Amogeleng Mataboge | 3 of 5 Durban HS | 14 | Fabiano Fierro | 2 of 3 Michaelhouse | ||
| 15 | Luxolo Sonkononkono | 2 of 2 Westville | 15 | Rosco Williams | 2 of 2 Glenwood | ||
| 16 | Iglesias Bruiners | 4 of 5 Durban HS | 16 | Matthew Wilson | 2 of 2 Kearsney | ||
| 17 | Clement Makelele | 2 of 4 Kearsney | 17 | Awande Mthethwa | 2 of 4 Northwood | ||
| 18 | Priden Sibiya | 5 of 5 Durban HS | 18 | Phokuhle Hlatshwayo | 6 of 6 Durban HS | ||
| 19 | Tristan Parkinson | 4 of 4 Northwood | 19 | Sean Jansen | 1 of 1 Maritzburg Coll | ||
| 20 | Nhlanhla Ndlovu | 3 of 4 Kearsney | 20 | Nala Shabangu | 3 of 4 Northwood | ||
| 21 | Dominic du Toit | 2 of 3 Maritzburg Coll | 21 | Ben Hughes | 3 of 3 Michaelhouse | ||
| 22 | Olwethu Kosani | 3 of 3 Maritzburg Coll | 22 | Sondelani Sheleni | 4 of 4 Northwood | ||
| 23 | Lwazi Mbebe | 4 of 4 Kearsney | 23 | Ruan Mulder | 3 of 3 Hilton | ||
| Sharks u16 GK | Sharks u17B Afgri | ||||||
| 1 | Logan Van Wyk | 1 of 2 Michaelhouse | 1 | Triumso Mokoena | 1 of 3 Durban HS | ||
| 2 | Tiaan Van Der Heever | 1 of 9 Durban HS | 2 | Mcebisi Zulu | 1 of 3 Kearsney | ||
| 3 | Langelihle Mthethwa | 2 of 2 Michaelhouse | 3 | Zazi Msimango | 1 of 2 Glenwood | ||
| 4 | Ethan Griezel | 1 of 4 Hilton | 4 | Robert Gelderman | 2 of 3 Kearsney | ||
| 5 | Lincoln Burger | 2 of 4 Hilton | 5 | Jayden Wiehman | 1 of 4 Westville | ||
| 6 | Josua Badenhorst | 1 of 2 Maritzburg Coll | 6 | Levi Allen | 2 of 4 Westville | ||
| 7 | Mxolelwa Mtetwa | 1 of 5 Westville | 7 | Jed Reilly | 1 of 3 Michaelhouse | ||
| 8 | Liam Wilkin | 3 of 4 Hilton | 8 | Ezra Karolisin | 3 of 4 Westville | ||
| 9 | Aphiwe Ntamo | 4 of 4 Hilton | 9 | Karl Lubbe | 1 of 5 Maritzburg Coll | ||
| 10 | Simbone Siwa | 2 of 5 Westville | 10 | Luthando Dladla | 2 of 5 Maritzburg Coll | ||
| 11 | Phenyo Chisi | 3 of 5 Westville | 11 | Phinda Nkosi | 1 of 2 Northwood | ||
| 12 | Peyton Solomons | 1 of 1 St Charles | 12 | Curtis Fenton | 4 of 4 Westville | ||
| 13 | Tyler Gill | 2 of 9 Durban HS | 13 | Brent Smith | 3 of 5 Maritzburg Coll | ||
| 14 | Warona Modise | 3 of 9 Durban HS | 14 | Mojalefa Mogale | 4 of 5 Maritzburg Coll | ||
| 15 | Benitez Mickson | 4 of 9 Durban HS | 15 | Josh Mills | 2 of 2 Northwood | ||
| 16 | Zimi Ntantiso | 4 of 5 Westville | 16 | Nyakallo Masiloane | 2 of 3 Durban HS | ||
| 17 | Ambeswa Sotaka | 5 of 5 Westville | 17 | Alulutho Mini | 5 of 5 Maritzburg Coll | ||
| 18 | Qhayiya Mguzulwa | 5 of 9 Durban HS | 18 | Sphelo Mfazwe | 2 of 3 Michaelhouse | ||
| 19 | Kungawo Goduka | 6 of 9 Durban HS | 19 | Trezeguet Hawkins | 3 of 3 Michaelhouse | ||
| 20 | Zac Van Der Heever | 7 of 9 Durban HS | 20 | James Whatmore | 3 of 3 Kearsney | ||
| 21 | Eljay Alexander | 8 of 9 Durban HS | 21 | Hlomela Mbane | 3 of 3 Durban HS | ||
| 22 | Liam Jacobs | 9 of 9 Durban HS | 22 | Nico Davel | 1 of 1 Hilton | ||
| 23 | Lulama Mfekayi | 2 of 2 Maritzburg Coll | 23 | Cade Isaacs | 2 of 2 Glenwood |
@sbw_offload_99 (Comment #44)
Too many cooks can also spoil the broth..
I’m pretty sure between Paarl Gim and Stellenberg alone WP will be hard to beat. Throw in Boishaai and PRG and they will (again) be the favorites. And you are correct with Noordvaal, as the Bulls and Lions will (surprise surprise) cancel each other out on day 1 (again)
WINNING THE CRAVEN WEEK
@Westville_Boy (Comment #42)
Yet, DHS get 3x coaches in the main team. That was not made clear anywhere, unless you have an official public doc to show this. Until there is this, it’s all cloak and dagger….
@Grasshopper (Comment #41)
Not sure what you dont understand that each school has one selector???
@Westville_Boy (Comment #40)
With no clout as only has one vote, so a figurehead. Compared to the other schools with multiple selectors and coaches….
@Grasshopper (Comment #39)
Incorrect he is a selector!! And this is as per sharks document. Just incase you wondering where I get this info from.
@Westville_Boy (Comment #38)
I’m aware of that and Pyoos is a figure-head, not a selector or coach. I mean Kershaw was even involved in selection previously, just wrong…..
@Grasshopper (Comment #37)
Selectors and coaches are two different things!! At the trials you a selector not a coach.
@Westville_Boy (Comment #34) Nope, once again you are incorrect, last year Glenwood had no A team coach or manager, we got a B team assistant. This year we got a token assistant coach in the Afgriweek. https://schoolboyrugby.co.za/?p=47960. In 2025 our best player, Lizwe Mtetwa wasn’t even selected for KZN but went on to be selected for SA U18. Weird how he couldn’t make his province team but made the country team. Glenwood has been squeezed out.
@Westville_Boy (Comment #34)
So officially each “Tier 1” school that played at Sharks’ day nominates a selector so they all have representation. Historically it was the 1st XV coach or the Director of Rugby – however a few years ago, DHS put their headmaster into the mix as their nominated selector. I am not sure if that is still the case – now it sounds like Glenwood have taken a similar approach.
Schools are very traditional so even with the onset of professional coaches, most of them will defer out of respect to a headmaster in the room….that does conflate things, and I’m not sure that’s “right.” That said, it seems like this year, the selections are spread across the schools.
The added complication is the plethora of coaches that each Sharks side now has – I think CW have a head coach and FOUR assistant coaches and an S&C (last year the S&C was the Ville head coach, so almost a 5th coach.) I believe each of these coaches also act as selectors so now the selection meeting is probably a room of 20+ individuals. BUT The head coach carries the can for the results so surely he has the veto right at the end of the day.
This year the CW coaching contingent is made up of 3 from DHS (head and 2 x assistants), 1 from Kearsney and 1 from College. So did that mean, It gets even more interesting when you consider they usually select the AW week and Afgri week (U17) sides in the same meeting as they come from the same pool of players. If you look at those coaches, then some schools could have had 6 attendees at the selection meeting.
If we believe that selections actually take place through the season (and personally I do and think this is right) then at what point do we go with a proper selection committee that meets weekly after attending games in person on rotation or watching the streamed versions? Certainly, for CW/AW, they have already had a few “alignment sessions” in January/February on a Sunday at King’s Park or Pmb – so they’re starting with a pencilled in side based on history.
Nothing simple about schoolboy rugger in SA!!!
@Skywalker (Comment #27)
i agree with you Wimble right up there.
@Grasshopper (Comment #28)
You see once again you cant get your facts straight because you a havent a clue whats happening in Sa because you left along time ago and things have simply changed.. Each school gets one u18 selector for each of the different provincial teams… Gwd have put Mr Pyoos as their choice of selector.. bare in mind he selects for Sa schoools aswell so he is more than likely the most senior selector! if you want i can mention every single selector from each team? These are facts
@beet (Comment #32)
Let’s just say paying R200k a year+ isn’t really an option outside of the top 1%, so your claim of easy filling paying places I would debate. I saw an ad on Linkedin today, Head of Marketing in Cape Town paying R87k a month cost to company, that would leave nothing left after bills, let alone private school fees. I bet DHS & College have the most selectors….
@Grasshopper (Comment #30)
I don’t know much about their finances but I don’t think filling the desks and fees collection are a big issues there. Getting the right budget support for rugby and then attracting rugby boys are challenges. As things stand they have not been good at holding on to talent they have/had.
@Skywalker (Comment #27)
Wimble would also be my choice.
There is plenty of leadership in the CW team.
And I think Moeng of the AW team even led DHS in Smith’s absence on the weekend.
Wimble, Du Toit and Smith are headboys
Wimble, Smith, Mlaba, Ndlovu, Salamousas and Schnell are all 1st XV captains.
@beet (Comment #29)
Very hard to keep paying parents in Dirtbin! Probably at best 3rd team at a tier one level.
@Skywalker (Comment #26)
The writing was on the wall. Clifton lost to Suid-Natal a few weeks back.
They were making great progress up to a few years back.
The Sharks High Schools Association is probably the most proactive in SA at the moment. I’m sure they will come up with a solution next year but I will be surprised if CC retains its seat at the table in terms of being classed as a “tier-1” school.
@Skywalker (Comment #26)
I think even Glenwood could beat them by 50! Actually make that 25. People are still avoiding the elephant in the room, where all these players attended primary school. My guess is 50% were out of KZN. KZN the expert talent recruiters….and no Glenwood representation is selection…..just wrong…
@Westville_Boy (Comment #13)
I would think Wimble would also be in the running for captain or vice. Will be interesting to see what they do
@beet (Comment #24)
On that note, what the heck is happening at Clifton. They nearly caught 100 points from St Charles on the weekend! It’s actually crazy. They may need to make way for another school in tier 1 soon which would be insane considering the relative competitiveness of their other sports.
@beet (Comment #24)
Really, who is that for Glenwood?
@Grasshopper (Comment #23)
I think each school including Clifton still has one u18/u17 selector
@Crashball (Comment #21)
Not saying Glenwood deserved more, their results clearly show they didn’t, BUT I still have an issue with no Glenwood coach on the coaching staff and none in selection, just a figure-head position for Gerald Pyoos, unless this has changed from last year.
@beet (Comment #17)
That’s an interesting idea, and has merit. Unless he continues to grow, he’s not going to be tall enough to play lock at pro senior level, but what a physical unit and effective player he is! I had wondered whether intense focus on conditioning and explosive speed could see him play blindside flank, but I think you may be onto something with the idea of converting him to a prop. Apart from his ball carrying, defense and breakdown work, I really rate Jansen’s ball retention in contact. It’s also pretty amazing that he’s listed in the Academy Week squad as the bench lock. I realise that may change before the AW starts, but given that he’s arguably the most effective #4 lock in the province on current form, it would be incredible if he doesn’t automatically start for the u17sz
@TJ (Comment #19)
The change in coaching personnel seems to have restored some common sense to selections. Last year there was a policy that if a player couldn’t play in the Sharks day trials, then they could not even be considered. The reality is the side is 95% picked before the day anyway so I am glad that common sense has prevailed with regards Salamousas’ selection. There may have been boys from previous years that weren’t as fortunate ;)
Although I do think the local schools are more evenly matched this season, a more representative spread amongst schools as far as selections go, could also be attributed to the changes.
As always, there will be some unlucky boys, and you could probably select a Sharks “A” side from those left out that would be very competitive with the Craven Week side. The trick is keeping schools, parents and boys happy whilst still producing results at CW
@beet (Comment #15)
Was he not injured for the trials??
@Westville_Boy (Comment #13)
The non-selection of Salamousas last year was an absolute travesty. His attendance at Academy Week would have enhanced his development and benefited the union this year, but due to the vagaries inherent in the Sharks system, he was left out. I personally am glad he has been selected as he is one of the better front-rankers the Sharks Schools system has produced over the past few years.
@Bungee (Comment #16)
Its Afgri Week. Not sure if it replaced Rhino Week due to title sponsor name.
@Couchcoach (Comment #12)
And looking at how the selection equation worked out in the end, Sean Jansen could easily have been factored in as well. I know he has another chance next year but with that strength he has, I wonder if scouts see him as a player who can transition to prop after school and do well there.
What is the Afgri team?
@Westville_Boy (Comment #13)
I think you have to start with how Salamousas was overlooked last year – that was just a bad call.
I don’t think Lux had an inside track based on 2025. If anything it’s easier to make the AW team than the CW due to u18s being excluded from AW but u17s being included in the CW consideration.
Here is the AW team from last year
Sibusiso Hlongwa Westville
Theo Boshoff Maritzburg College
Omphile Kola Durban HS
Sambesiwe Ndamase Glenwood
Andrew Schnell Hilton College
Rory Stanton Maritzburg College
Zion Smith Durban HS
Nhlanhla Ndlovu Kearsney College
Johannes van der Walt Northwood
Cilermo Carolus Durban HS
Lwandle Mkhize Kearsney College
Olwethu Kosani Maritzburg College
Milisuthando George Durban HS
Amogelang Mataboge Durban HS
Luxolo Sonkonokono Westville
Duhan du Plessis Durban HS
Likho Khoza Durban HS
Janco Visagie Northwood
Daniel Fwita Durban HS
Ambesiwe Sipango Durban HS
Iwan Slabbert Durban HS
Keanu Williamson Kearsney College
Lwazi Mbebe Kearsney College
A lot of active players that missed the CW boat
@Couchcoach (Comment #11)
100% agree. For post school a lot comes down to a player’s own self determination to succeed. If its good, it normally allows him to thrive in a HP environment. Mbebe certainly has a lot going for himself and just needs to channel it correctly, humble himself to the coaching processes and hopefully whoever takes charge of him has success in improving his decision-making on the ball. Very rarely does post school coaching cater for creativity, which is a the big attraction in Mbebe’s play at high school, so that progression will be interesting to see as well.
People want to argue this all the time but in pro rugby size does matter. Aside from scrumhalf, the smaller a player is the more extraordinary their abilities on the park have to be. So any player who is below the size generally accepted for a position has his work cut out for him.
At most Unions, the Youth Week targets often work against a number of players. In a sense a player like Grubb was competing to be the starter but also to be a bigger value add than the next player within the applicable quota target limit of 11. One sees it often at WP when it comes to scrumhalf. Players tick one box but not the other and end up losing out on A team and sometimes even B-team selection.
Very interesting call for salamouses being selected he didnt play and he wasnt last year in the Academy team so i wonder how they justified that selection and he hasnt played much games for his school either.. especially it being a serious injury… Lux being selected in the u16 Epd u17 Epd it was not going to be easy for them not to select him and like you all have said he covers 10 aswell! I can see Mlaba being selected as the captain this year and possible even further honours in the national side! Otherwise every player there is the inform player in his position and credit to the selectors in putting the sharks first!
@beet (Comment #7) The more I think about this, the more I feel Steyn would have been a better option, and based on performances this season, probably more deserving. With Parkinson and Ndlovu in the squad, do you really need two mobile, slightly lightweight loose forward options? I think having a bigger ball carrier like Steyn or the physicality of Cebani would have been more useful. Parkinson is a talent for sure, and I’d love to eat my words, but just based squad balance and on consistency and volume of performance, I’d have gone with Steyn. Having said that, I think the selectors have done a far better job this season than last, and have picked a really good group.
@beet (Comment #8) Based on the order in which the squad was released, the selectors seem to agree with you. Both excellent players, and I’m sure rotation and positional cover will ensure they both get plenty of game time. I think Mbebe’s ceiling may just be a bit higher, partly due to his physical profile, and partly because the errors he sometimes makes tend to come from extreme confidence and backing himself to keep the ball alive and make things happen. As he matures, I can see him becoming a really special player. You’re right that Lux’s versatility is a bonus for the selectors – probably cost Grubb a spot.
@stent99 (Comment #3)
Yeah I was thinking same. Hilton ideally needed a clash like the match against Nudgee to have a good scrap in the forwards and show the effectiveness of their pack in a forward based confrontational game.
The physicality of the MC vs DHS was special and the NW vs Wvl game not far behind. It’s much easier to appreciate the effort of big forwards in those sort of matchups.
To me a lot of players built their reputations at Wildeklawer where it proved to be very physical and demanding up front. And obviously it didn’t hurt MHS’s cause to show up against Affies.
@Grasshopper (Comment #6)
I thought Oerson was good value on Saturday. He showed up and he is versatile. Definitely a good prospect
@Couchcoach (Comment #2)
I feel that Lux was a stronger candidate than Mbembe. He has hardly put a foot wrong all season. Plus he covers 10. But agree the decisions for wing must have been fine margins.
NW wing Bones should up big time in recent weeks and really made his size matter against Wvl on Saturday. I think he looked like a genuinely exciting post school prospect based on that performance.
@Skywalker (Comment #1)
Yeah Parkinson was the biggest selection surprise to me. He is a lively player who does bring skill, mobility and a lineout option but the thought process behind his selection over bigger framed candidates like Ross Steyn and Bulelani Cebane would be interesting to hear.
Between the ankle injury and playing centre and flyhalf before that, I wonder how much game time Tristan has had as a loosie.
For Trevor v V, I think if he had been able to play 13 for a few games and proved himself in that role, it could have boosted his chances. Very good player but in a position with healthy compo.
Glenwood unsurprisingly only 4 players in the 4 teams & none in the main teams, gosh how times have changed! Only 10 years ago there were like 30 picks. Well done to all those selected. What would be super interesting to know is what primary school each attended, that will show if they are KZN local or not….
Clarification – the reference I make to tier 2 schools was about that representative team, maybe Beet can give more info.
Excellent
More teams than I’ve seen before. The Sharks investing in expanding their youth pathway is very smart. I’m especially pleased to see a decent opportunity for the tier 2 schools… I bet that team with some time together will be bl**dy good too.
The top 7 KZN schools this year are particularly strong as evidenced by their high quality performance across the country.
Interesting how Hilton only have 2 players in the main team – their pack is well drilled with the hooker and blindside being unlucky to miss out. But they have yet to play College and DHS so perhaps the selectors have considered that when deciding who to pick.
@Skywalker (Comment #1) Trevor VV is one of a number of excellent players who would not have been out of place at CW by any means, but there’s not really anyone in the squad who doesn’t deserve to be there. I’m also a bit surprised by Parkinson’s inclusion – simply because it’s off the back of a relatively small number of games at flank, and there are guys like Steyn and Stanton who have been outstanding. Not selecting a specialist lock on the bench is an interesting call, but I think a good one, as Smith will be as good in that position as anyone else in the province if needed. Apart from those mentioned above, I think Mabanga, Khuzwayo and Grubb are all honourable mentions, and it must have been a bit of a coin toss between Sonkonkono and Mataboge over guys like Gyamfi, Hamilton-Brown, Peattie, Mkhize and Hadebe. All said, this is a strong, balanced squad, stacked with leaders and not short on quality. All of the guys I felt were clearly first choice are there, and in the hotly-contested spots, I can’t strongly disagree with where the selectors landed. Looking forward to watching this group.
Well done to the NW boys! Some good reward for their performances. Bit surprised by Parkinsons inclusion, he is a great player but didn’t think he would Crack the nod for CW. Think Trevor Van Vollenstee would have been good still at Fullback, but cant win them all. Mostly what people thought it seems. Miskey at 10. Shew big opportunity for the laitjie.