Monnas boys winning school matches but losing Lions Craven Week 2026 selection battles

Monument may be one of the dominant forces in South African schoolboy rugby this season, but their strong form is not translating into obvious favour in the early Craven Week selection race.

The Lions U18 trial squad to face the Pumas has been released and, on paper, it is not especially flattering for the Witbulle.

The biggest talking point has to be the omission of ultra heavyweight locks Henco van Geelen and Matthew van Deventer from the trial A side. Their exclusion is difficult to ignore.

Van Geelen, in particular, looks every bit a genuine contender not only for Lions honours but potentially for higher recognition, with many likely to view him as a legitimate South African u18 prospect. Alongside Van Deventer, the engine-room pair have been instrumental in making the Monnas pack one of the most physically dominant units in the country this year. Their set-piece and tight-loose strength, coupled with brutal efficiency in contact, have repeatedly laid the platform for Monument victories.

Also surprisingly relegated to the B team is big influential No 8 Ryno van der Westhuizen. Given his importance to Monnas’ forward dominance, he appeared one of the more secure selections heading into trials. Instead, like his lock partners, he now has to prove his case all over again. Life was not set to be easy with the Noordheuwel back-row pairing of Armand van Eck and Kean Lourens returning this year with Craven Week 2025 experience under the belt.

The midfield selections have been equally fascinating.

The battle for the Lions Craven Week No 12 jersey always looked set to be one of the season’s marquee contests, given the quality available. On the current trial selections, however, the early advantage belongs to Helpmekaar’s Ethan Lourens, who was in the 2025 Craven Week team alongside his SA Schools 2026 candidate twin Shaye Lourens (scrumhalf).

A notable twist sees one of Ethan’s main rivals, Phano Letsie, shifted to outside centre. This comes despite Monument u17 midfielder Blessing Monareng having looked increasingly convincing in that role throughout the season. Monareng has at least been included on the A-team bench. Letsie was at Craven Week in 2025.

KES powerhouse Sam Smith, named in the B team, remains firmly in the conversation as another contender for the inside centre berth. However, perhaps the most surprising name on the outside looking in is Juandré Ehlers.

Currently in the Lions C team, Ehlers possesses all the raw ingredients coaches tend to covet beyond school rugby — decent size, speed and skill in one package. Under different circumstances, he may well have been viewed as a frontrunner not only for Lions selection but potentially as a candidate for SA Schools consideration. For now, that pathway appears significantly narrower unless he can force a rethink through the trial matches.

There is better news for a handful of Monnas backs.

Reliable goal-kicker and prolific points accumulator Jaydon Viljoen gets the nod at flyhalf, while tall, physically imposing wing Ruan Genis is also rewarded. Both look like players with legitimate post-school rugby futures.

An interesting omission from the A team is Jeppe’s Joel Akilo, who plays most of his school rugby at 13 but represented the Lions at wing during last year’s Craven Week. He has again been named on the wing, but only in the B lineup. This suggests selectors still value his athletic upside, footwork and versatility, while affording him one final opportunity to strengthen his case.

Loose forward Siya Ncube is another Monnas player to benefit, earning recognition after a series of strong performances in the shadow of the Witbulle’s heavyweight pack. Back-row teammate Caleb Sparks has been less fortunate, finding himself in the C team.

At the back, Loghan Langevelt also finds himself in the B team. The Monnas fullback has been lively, dependable and generally assured. However making the Lions Craven Week side was always going to be a long shot, irrespective of how good his form is. One surprise A-team selection in this department is Jeppe’s u17 regular flyhalf, Ndzalama Mbhalati, whose booming boot may have counted in his favour. He gets the nod over Nories Craven Week 2025 player Tidi Moekesane (A-team bench).

Meanwhile, Cameron Kourie’s selection ahead of experienced KES utility back Daniel Soekoe is noteworthy in itself. Kourie has quietly developed into an important versatile option for Monument this season, capable of covering multiple inside back roles. Monnas wing Miguel Coetzee also finds himself in the C’s.

Elsewhere, one of the more intriguing positional battles remains at loosehead prop.

Jeppe’s Josh Hamman currently appears to have edged ahead of Helpmekaar’s Diandro Botha. It remains one of the tighter and more compelling selection races in the squad.