Eastern Province has contracted 19 youngsters for their 2015 season.
2014 proved to be a very good year for Eastern Province junior rugby. The message that came out of the region is that they are serious about developing youngsters into proper professional rugby players down the line. They have good coaches, good structures and players under their guidance have outstanding prospects. This was evident during their under-19 Currie Cup season when as a newly promoted team, they hit the ground running and proved to be extremely competitive, beating a few of the more established teams in the process.
In spite of a very poor Currie Cup 2014 campaign, Eastern Province has a number of good things going for it:
- The Kings franchise’s reentry into Super Rugby in 2016,
- NMMU which offers fringe players exposure via the Varsity Cup,
- EP under-19 and under-21 provide youngsters with the opportunity to test themselves against most of the best players in the country in these respective age groups.
New junior players contracted for 2015:
| # | Name | School | Position | A/G in 2015 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Khule Mokhoabane | Dale | Prop | u19 |
| 2 | Roche van Zyl | Framesby | Prop | u19 |
| 3 | Tango Balekile | Selborne | Hooker/Prop | u19 |
| 4 | Masikane Mazwi | Maritzburg College | Hooker | u19 |
| 5 | Wihan Coetzer | Framesby | Lock | u19 |
| 6 | SF Nieuwoudt | Framesby | Flank | u19 |
| 7 | Hayden Tharrat | Maritzburg College | Flank | u19 |
| 8 | Junior Pokomela | Grey HS | L/Forward/Lock | u19 |
| 9 | Lusanda Badiyana | Cambridge | L/Forward | u19 |
| 10 | Lamont Bouwer | Grey HS | No.8 | u19 |
| 11 | Davron Cameron | Kingswood | Scrumhalf/Fullback | u19 |
| 12 | James Hall | Kearsney | Scrumhalf | u19 |
| 13 | Sibisiso Ngocovane | Dale | Scrumhalf | u20 |
| 14 | Jeremy Ward | Grey HS | Centre | u19 |
| 15 | Avelo Jubase | Queen’s | Centre | u19 |
| 16 | Dominik Uytenbogaardt | Nico Malan | Centre/Wing | u19 |
| 17 | Somila Jho | Kingswood | Centre | u20 |
| 18 | Athenkosi Mahinje | Grey HS | Wing | u19 |
| 19 | Yamkela Nyalambisa | Dale | Centre/Wing | u19 |
@CHS08: You do have a tent already- generally known as the beer tent. Ask Beet about beer tents- characteristics, marital problems, hangovers and of course, reception/signal obstacles.
A blessed Christmas to you all!
@Spilly: I’ll be there, hoping to meet you there too we must have our own tent there as bloggers.
@beet: he says he wants to be closer to his family
@GHS08 Thanks for the info, usually, if the u16 group are promising, the following year is for building at 1st team level, culminating in an excellent next year 1st team. Will be at the Greame day next year , hope to meet some of the bloggers , including yourself.
@Rugga B: @beet: Maybe iRugby can shed some light on this. I was also of that very same impression. I must say, things like this put a bad taste in my mouth.
@Spilly: The age group in matric next year was poor, but this year’s u16az were an excellent bunch. I have no idea how our results are going to be like though. Hudson is in the same predicament as ours.
@Rugga B: Wow! That is interesting news.
I would have expected that when KM left Dale for Southdowns, that he was lining up a Bulls junior contract down the line based on that move added to the fact that he played 2 years of Grant Khomo and was described as a very good player with a bright future by a Noordvaal coach, who’s opinion I respect.
I’ve also been told a number of times that its against SARU regulation to enter into a contact with a schoolboy before he turns 18, so I assume EP are merely giving him “pocket money” along with a promise sign him once he is 18.
Eastern Province has given a junior contract to theU16 Blue Bulls Grant-khomo flank Khwezi Mafu. Who is going to attend Grey PE in Gr11 next year
@QC86 At least accept my compliments of the season , manners this side Bru
@spilly: Chill Bru,surfs up,this is grass country ,rugby you play in winter.
@CHS08 Compliments of the season to you .Any idea how the Cambridge and Hudson squads are looking like for the 2015 season. Really looking forward to a good rugby season, from all the Border schools especially Selborne .
@QC86 Compliments of the season to you all.How is the squad looking for 2015, hope all over last seasons injuries. Will be at the Greame Day , looking forward to a great season.
@Queenian: I don’t think I’ll make that one next year but would love to follow the KZN teams down to Grey PE in 2016 again. I think Jozi might be the place to visit in 2015 with Jeppe R/D on the cards
Seasons Greetings to everyone. I’m saving my leave credits at work for the Cape Schools Week. @QC 06: Mr Venter you must please bring me some biltong for me, how are Morgan’s injuries? Keen for next year’s season.
@QC86: I grew up on that stuff hehehe
@Ploegskaar:
are those the same organs Bull Brand use to use,sis man
@Queenian: @Ploegskaar: @QC86: Looks like my meals are covered for the week…
@beet: You going to make a trip to Cape Schools next year.
@QC86: Queenian can do some organic chicken, and I will bring some organ(ic) French polony, Russians and Viennas.
@Ploegskaar: @Playa: @QC86: Hey ploeg I will supply some nice home grown chicken.
@Ploegskaar: only a lamb,are you putting us on diet over CSW.What are we going to eat on the other 3 days?CSW should be a time for fun.
@Ploegskaar: I will not miss it for the world!!!
@Playa: Never hating, poetry in motion when they get ball, but man they need a couple of big engines to win some ball! Looking forward to seeing those Queens and Dale boys in action at Cape Schools in PE next year, hope you will make the trip as Ludz will cover the Black Labels and Rudi will go big and sponsor the lamb, or so I hear…
@Ploegskaar: Hahahaha! Hating much on the ‘flashy boys’?
I agree with you on the Marlow and Brandwag forwards being overlooked…or have they perhaps been snapped up by the Noordvaal and Wes Kaap unions???
Brandwag and Marlow are clearly not on the Kings’ radar at the moment, both had very good tight forwards this year (as is the case most years for that matter). Maybe time for Robbie and co. to pay less attention to the flashy boys at the back from Q-town and K-town and contract some boys that can compete in the tight phases and dominate collisions, not try and avoid them.
@Knight_CHS07: returning from last year Garrick. He will be at Kingswood in 2015.
@valke: Interesting point…although there is one potential fullback in the squad (Davron Cameron).
@beet: Are any of the missing players flyhalves or fullbacks?
Good to see Lamont Bouwer here. Always though he was a excellent player.
Interesting to see no flyhalve or fullback in the squad. Would have thought those would be key positions to fill.
@beet: Please correct the surname for the Cambridge boy. His is surname is: Badiyana not “Adiyana”.
@beet: Alright cool, thanks.
No the u20s have to play u21 rugby.
This is really just a list of school leavers contracted.
@beet: Are 20 year olds eligible to play under 19 rugby, or is this just a list of all new junior contracts?
Some solid schoolboy names in that group, well done EP! Onwards and upwards
@Buffel: I think there are a few names missing:
Greg Jackson
Matthew Howes
Dean vd Westhuizen
But this is the list I was given???
Hi Beet,
Greg Jackson from MHS is missing from the list. Loosehead.