Western Province has done it again. For the second year running they have managed to scoop the top rated fullback in South African school rugby. Last year it was EW Viljoen of Grey College, Free State and SA Schools and this year Eduan Keyter, the strong running Affies and Blue Bulls Craven Week fullback is amongst the top players heading down South to join the Western Province Rugby Institute.
Viljoen has already been fast-tracked to the WP under-21 team, skipping the under-19 age group. As a result it’s believed that the progress of 2015 rookie Keyter will not be immediately effected by having to challenge Viljoen for the 15-jumper. However at some point in the future the two star players will have to battle it out for starting position as the last line of defence. It will either come at under-21 level or at senior level. Keyter is a wonderful carrier of the ball with explosive ability and the handling skills which could possilby also see him converted to an outside centre (maybe even a wing) in order to afford both him and Viljoen game-time as part of the same team.
Province are busy amassing depth by contracting several good players in each position for a second year running. This method is a little more expensive due to more and bigger contracts being handed out but it does increase the odds of acquiring those who will go on to become top senior players. The downside for the players themselves is that this form of overstocking does lead to bottlenecks eventually and can result in good players having diminished roles, limited provincial game time and eventually not making the senior cut when they are good enough to make it in rugby and when better opportunities to advance their careers beyond junior rugby existed other unions all along.
@Woltrui: Leave Mr Keyter alone. His trademark/success is his deceptive speed BUT he needs time. Was tried at Affies as a 12 & 13 with debatable success. Leave my boy at 15. PLEASE.
Also heard that he may be on loan to the 7’s for a period. They were apparently very impressed with the gentleman.
Morne Joubert is in the same class, I wonder where he will end up.
@Woltrui: I think Eduan will make a great 13 and geez does SA rugby need some quality 13’s badly now
Maybe Eduan will end up playing outside centre and Viljoen Full back?
Massive signing for WP – this kid is a great rugby player and I look forward to watching his progress through the ranks, well done WP
Well done to the WP !!!, HOW did the Bulls not sign Eduan before the WP ?????, hopefully Bulls will sign Barend from HTS Middelburg OR Martin from EGJ, they should be good replacements I just hope Franco Naude signed with the Bulls …