While the SA Schools team has, in recent years, become something of a tradition maintained more for its symbolic value, the SA u18 side remains the genuine prize. It is the team where players earn international caps and officially represent South Africa on the world stage.
Perhaps the distinction between the two squads could be made clearer by rebranding the SA u18 ‘A’ side and giving it a different playing strip. Nevertheless, selection for either squad remains a tremendous honour and recognition of a player’s achievements throughout the season. It also serves as a reminder of what might have been for several standout performers from the 2026 schoolboy rugby season who missed out through injury or other circumstances.
Among the most notable omissions are the scrumhalves. Shaye Lourens of Helpmekaar and Affies’ Fourie Roberts looked like genuine contenders throughout the season and both appeared destined for higher honours.
Plenty has been said and written about the exceptional crop of wings produced in 2026, many of whom hail from north of the Vaal River. It is therefore pleasing to see Paarl Gim’s Thomas Saunders rewarded after an outstanding Craven Week, where the school fullback excelled on the wing. St Alban’s speedster Thabiso Simelane, who missed Craven Week through injury, also returns to the representative fold.
In the second row, Westville’s Lwandile Mlaba unfortunately succumbed to injury, opening the door for Paarl Gim’s Bernhardt Schulze. Schulze was widely regarded as one of the unluckiest players to miss the original Craven Week selection and now gets the opportunity many felt he deserved.
Also earning call-ups are big KZN Sharks forwards Bulelani Cebani (Durban High School) and Nala Shabangu (Northwood). Both formed part of the Sharks U17 side that claimed the Academy Week title. They may have found opportunities limited in an exceptionally competitive Sharks Craven Week squad, but their size, athleticism and potential make them valuable long-term prospects. South African rugby continues to search for taller players of colour capable of thriving in the tight five and backrow, and both possess the physical attributes and ability to develop into exactly that type of player.
SA U18 International Series fixtures:
Friday, 7 August – Hoërskool Durbanville
11h30: SA U18 ‘A’ vs Ireland
13h30: England vs Georgia
15h30: SA U18 vs France
Tuesday, 11 August – Boland Landbou
11h30: SA U18 ‘A’ vs Georgia
13h30: England vs France
15h30: SA U18 vs Ireland
Saturday, 15 August – Stellenberg High School
11h30: SA U18 ‘A’ vs France
13h30: Ireland vs Georgia
15h30: SA U18 vs England
SA U18 Squad
| Position | Name | School | Union |
|---|---|---|---|
| Prop | Aphelele Chamane | Michaelhouse | Sharks |
| Prop | Ruben Lombard | Garsfontein | Blue Bulls |
| Prop | Clement Makelele | Kearsney College | Sharks |
| Prop | Nic Salamousas | Michaelhouse | Sharks |
| Hooker | Theo Boshoff | Maritzburg College | Sharks |
| Hooker | Charles Whitehead | Paarl Gimnasium | Western Province |
| Lock | Juvan Burden | Stellenberg | Western Province |
| Lock | Jean Dreyer | Paarl Gimnasium | Western Province |
| Lock | Glodi Tshipamba | Jeppe | Golden Lions |
| Loose Forward | Jacobus de Villiers | Oakdale | SWD |
| Loose Forward | Siphesihle Marule | Uplands | Pumas |
| Loose Forward | Stefan van der Vyver | Garsfontein | Blue Bulls |
| Loose Forward | Hendré van Zyl | Paarl Gimnasium | Western Province |
| Loose Forward | Jamie Wimble | Northwood | Sharks |
| Scrumhalf | Mickyle Booise | Paarl Gimnasium | Western Province |
| Scrumhalf | Luke Doyle | Graeme College | Eastern Province |
| Flyhalf | Achmat Behardien | Wynberg | Western Province |
| Flyhalf | Ethan van Biljon | Stellenberg | Western Province |
| Centre | Ethan Barker | Paarl Gimnasium | Western Province |
| Centre | Tiaan Basson | Paul Roos Gymnasium | Western Province |
| Centre | Erin Nelson | Graeme College | Eastern Province |
| Outside Back | Ncuthu Kepe | Queen’s College | Border |
| Outside Back | Anesu Kuzonyei | Northwood | Sharks |
| Outside Back | Lamla Mgedezi | Grey College | Free State |
| Outside Back | Thabiso Simelane | St Alban’s | Blue Bulls |
| Outside Back | Luxolo Sonkonokono | Westville | Sharks |
SA U18 ‘A’ Squad
| Position | Name | School | Union |
|---|---|---|---|
| Prop | Sebastiaan Bekker | Paarl Gimnasium | Western Province |
| Prop | Max Malan | Paarl Boys’ High School | Western Province |
| Prop | Matthew Prins | Outeniqua | SWD |
| Prop | Priden Sibiya | Durban High School | Sharks |
| Hooker | Charl Els | Affies | Blue Bulls |
| Hooker | Kwaza Gobingca | Rondebosch | Western Province |
| Lock | Bulelani Cebani | Westville | Sharks |
| Lock | AD Faul | Paarl Boys’ High School | Western Province |
| Lock | Bernhardt Schulze | Paarl Gimnasium | Western Province |
| Lock | Martin van Niekerk | Affies | Blue Bulls |
| Loose Forward | Werner de Bruin | Paul Roos Gymnasium | Western Province |
| Loose Forward | Niel du Randt | Grey College | Free State |
| Loose Forward | Nala Shabangu | Northwood | Sharks |
| Loose Forward | Linakho Mehlomakulu | Rondebosch | Western Province |
| Scrumhalf | Liam de Villiers | Paarl Boys’ High | Western Province |
| Scrumhalf | Rufagon Hendricks | Outeniqua | SWD |
| Flyhalf | Travis Pheiffer | Paul Roos Gymnasium | Western Province |
| Flyhalf | Jaydon Viljoen | Monument | Golden Lions |
| Centre | Nathan Aneke | Durban High School | Sharks |
| Centre | Alex Jankowich | Michaelhouse | Sharks |
| Centre | Amogelang Mataboge | Durban High School | Sharks |
| Outside Back | Drewyn Baron | Garsfontein | Blue Bulls |
| Outside Back | Ruan Genis | Monument | Golden Lions |
| Outside Back | Lucritia Magua | Graeme College | Eastern Province |
| Outside Back | Rhandzu Mkhabela | Nelspruit | Pumas |
| Outside Back | Thomas Saunders | Paarl Gimnasium | Western Province |
@tzavosky (Comment #9)
Ook dit gelees
Dink jy hy staan n kans?
Sal my hart breek
@Mate (Comment #8)
Hy’t gevra dat sy B-monster getoets word, maar hy moet R24 000 opdok vir die toets, het ek gelees.
Dit is nou bietjie van die onderwerp, maar ek is nogal teleurgesteld.
Is Kai Pratt nou skuldig of nie?
@Janneman04 (Comment #4) Absolutely. Not only because I think TP is quite good, but also because I think Van Biljon should (and will) move to 15 in pro rugby.
@OupaPB (Comment #1)
Ek’t gesien iemand vergelyk Saunders met Carel Dup – ek dink dis nogal ‘n goeie vergelyking. Hy hardloop baie soos Carel Dup.
@Janneman04 (Comment #4)
Yes, Pheiffer was the best flyhalf on the day at the SA Schools game
Are any of you surprised to see that they moved TP10 from SA to SA A and that they moved EvB moved from 15 to 10.
I for one am very excited for these games. I think the forwards in particular offer very exciting prospects to watch out for, and Booise at 9 is really looking better each game, which given the level he is playing at already, joh, his going to be amazing!
Paul Roos 3 en Grey Kollege 2 spelers uit interskole.
Goed dat Saunders nou in die span is. Toekomstige Springbok.