| # | Position | Name | School |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Prop | Henco Smit | Garsfontein |
| 2 | Prop | Sarel-Marco Smith | Eldoraigne |
| 3 | Prop | Kenny van Niekerk | Glenwood |
| 4 | Prop | Koos Tredoux | Glenwood |
| 5 | Prop | Basil Polydorou | Waterkloof |
| 6 | Hooker | Le Roux Baard | Outeniqua |
| 7 | Hooker | Gert Mulder | Transvalia |
| 8 | Lock | Anton Smit | Outeniqua |
| 9 | Lock | Marnus Niemand | Swartland |
| 10 | Lock | Rhyno Herbst | Monument |
| 11 | Lock | Driaan Bester | HTS Middelburg |
| 12 | Lock | Kevin du Randt | Glenwood |
| 13 | Flank | Morné Moos | Brandwag (Uitenhage) |
| 14 | Flank | McMillan Muller | Glenwood |
| 15 | Flank | Gavin Delport | Monument |
| 16 | Flank | James Venter | Glenwood |
| 17 | Flank | Herman Brits | Garsfontein |
| 18 | Flank | Juandré Michau | Waterkloof |
| 19 | No.8 | Juan Lemmer | Monument |
| 20 | No.8 | Jo-Hanco de Villiers | Eldoraigne |
| 21 | Scrumhalf | Ralton October | Florida |
| 22 | Scrumhalf | Marco Janse van Vuuren | Transvalia |
| 23 | Scrumhalf | Wynand Botha | Eldoraigne |
| 24 | Flyhalf | Hendrik Mulder | Centurion |
| 25 | Flyhalf | Curtis Jonas | Glenwood |
| 26 | Centre | Jaydrin Kotzé | Augsburg |
| 27 | Wing | Justin Bhana | Florida |
| 28 | Centre | Boeta Vermaak | Voortrekker (Beth) |
| 29 | Centre | Paul de Beer | Garsfontein |
| 30 | Centre | Tshepo Thulo | Jeppe |
| 31 | Wing | Nazo Nkala | Welkom Gim |
| 32 | Fullback | Martin van Wyk | EG Jansen |
| 33 | Fullback | Barend Smit | HTS Middelburg |
@Bosveldpa: Gekontrakteurde spelers se studies is ingesluit en die Leeus is ‘n groot voorstander van verdere studies.
Die speler moet egter steeds toelating he vir studies, soos enige ander student. As hy nie het nie, kan hy nie studeer nie.
As hy by UJ ( of Wits ) aanvaar is, sal die leeus hom beskikbaar stel om by die Universiteit proewe te gaan speel ( Young Guns of Senior varsity Cup ). Hy speel proewe soos enige ander UJ student, en sal geen voorkeur kry omdat hy by die Leeus is nie.
As ‘n speler nog herstel van beserings, of nie gereed is om te speel nie, sal hulle hom nie vrystel nie.
Kan iemand my verduidelik hoe die Leeus se setup werk met die UJ saam?
Speel die kids wat gekontrakteur is vir die Leeus, varsity rugby vir UJ?
Young Guns?
Varsity Cup?
O/19 of O/20?
Speel hulle proewe vir UJ?
Alle eerste jaars?
Wanneer en waar?
Werk al die provinsies se universiteite en unies op dieselfde manier?
Watter pad loop ‘n onder19 rugbyspeler wat by ‘n unie soos die Leeus is en ‘n beurs by ‘n universiteit gekry het?
Onder 19 provinsiaal begin eers in Junie?
@Rugbyman: Correct, this is the u19 list.
The Lions site has the u20 and u21 groups for next year as well, and I found it interesting that the list of players I mention in an earlier post, was part of the 2014 u19 squad, but not in their u20 group for 2015, although a lot of them were in the playing 23 for most of the season.
@valke: isnt this just the u19 contracted list?
Not on this list is Ruan Ackermann and Leroux Roets… both from Garsies… they are both under 20 next year… Paul de Beer got injured early in the year and was out from April onwards… we missed him alot… I am sure he wouldve made the Bulls cravenweek team… he is a brilliant player, look out for him in the future…
Interesting is Henco Smit and Herman Britz… both were overlooked by the Bulls cravenweek selectors… both are players with a bright future…
Must say that this is a very strong u19 squad the lions have contracted! Glad some of our boys are being recognised even if they didnt make the cravenweek teams…
See combinations selected , impressive rugby players , great depth from Glenwood , Monument , Garsfontein , HTS , Outeniqua , Eldoraigne +++++
The balance also looks good with massive tight 5’s and mobility & speed a plenty.
Can not wait to see this bunch gel and become a unit.
Boys – SWOT lekker , play hard and enjoy this time !!!!
@beet: Some of these players were actually part of the playing 23 for much of the season, with a few actually starting in a lot of games, and still no place for them.
I know Erwin Harris was injured for a big part of the season, but he played while still at school in 2013. Not sure if he accepted another offer.
@valke: Well I know Kelvin Elder made a quick exit from any Lions commitment. He played for the Sharks u19s in the CC.
I guess your list reflects the reality of the situation not just this year but for many seasons gone past. Many players trying out for just a few places in pro rugby at bigger unions. Where one door shuts another usually opens at a smaller union or at varsity / club rugby level. The offers at those levels are never as good as what the bigger unions pay, so part of staying in rugby comes down to personal drive slash the determination to succeed.
These boys were part of the 2014 U19 Lions contracted list, but are not part of the 2015 group anymore.
Any idea what happened to them ?
Marius Greyvensteyn LH Prop EG Jansen Valke Craven Week 2013
Kieran van Vuuren Hooker Glenwood Sharks Craven Week 2013
Roeloff Diedericks TH Prop Garsfontein Bulls Academy Week 2013
Ernest Sumner TH Prop Voortrekker (Beth.) Griffons Craven Week 2013
Rholane Ncubuka Lock AHS Sasolburg Valke Craven Week 2013
Matthew le Roux Lock HJS Paarl BH WP Academy Week 2013
Dylan Vlok Flank Monument Lions Craven Week 2013
Maharua Katjijeko Flank Windhoek HS Namibia Craven Week 2013
Johan Labuschagne Scrumhalf EG Jansen Valke Craven Week 2013
George Lee Erasmus Scrumhalf Garsfontein Bulls Craven Week 2012/13
Warnick Jemeel Flyhalf Garsfontein Bulls Craven Week 2013
Jeandre Pitzer Flyhalf Centurion Bulls Academy Week 2012
Xander Cronje Centre EG Jansen Valke Craven Week 2013
Stefan le Roux Centre Monument Lions Academy Week 2013
Fernando Kermis Centre Florida Lions Craven Week 2013
Kelvin Elder Centre Maritzburg College Sharks Craven Week 2013
Richard J v Rensburg Wing Garsfontein Bulls U19 Northvaal 2013
Abrie Reynolds Fullback Monument Lions U19 Northvaal 2012
Erwin Harris Fullback Florida Lions Craven Week 2013 Lions u19 CC
VC rules have tightened a lot for 2015,only 4 first year students allowed in the match day squad.
@BoishaaiPa: A number of the players listed above are also enrolling at UJ for the coming year. The intention is that they need to achieve a qualification. I obviously don’t know all the players, but those that I do know are academically very strong with one or two actually excelling at a cultural level as well. I still find it strange to see a big prop playing a Mozart Concerto with the finesse it requires to do so.
What happens after VC and the attendance of classes is a different matter. This sort of “enrollement” has been happening for as long as I can remember. A number of our top rugby talent were “enrolled” students at Varsities without necessarily obtaining a qualification in the past.
@BoishaaiPa: The Lions u/19 management splits this very clearly. In fact, it will probably be easier next year for a full-time UJ student to play for the Lions u19 team, than it would be for the Lions contracted player to play Young Guns.
If you are accepted in January at UJ, you will stay there and, if released by the Lions to do so, be eligible for Young Guns selection.
If not accepted by UJ for studies, you will stay at the Lions, and not be eligible for Young guns at all.
@beet: I don’t know if it is online yet, but talk is that only fulltime students enrolled for at least the full academic year will be eligible. There will always be loopholes and until those are closed, there will be those that get away with it. I agree that the VC should only be for fulltime students and not pro or semi-pro players. Some fulltime students also have Vodacom and/or CC contracts, but as long as they are eligible for being fulltime students, they can play. I have a problem with these “overflow” players from the academies and provincial structures that gets drafted into VC teams to give them gametime. The VC should be for students only..those that opted to go study and did not try and make rugby their careers.
@BoishaaiPa: Are those Varsity Cup rules available online?
Since the Varsity Cup takes place during the early part of the year, its a lot earlier for a 1st year student or newly enrolled student to cling onto 100% fulltime student status. If not already in the rules I’d like to see eligibility limited to students who had already completed a full year and achieved some sort of minimum academic requirement in the previous year like passing more than 50% of his subjects. That would really thin out the pro rugby players
@kosie: How are they going to achieve playtime with UJ if VC players in 2015 must be 100% fulltime students?..
@beet: In this day and age money might not make the world go round but it certainly lubricates it. If someone can get a better contract elsewhere, why not.
It is common knowledge that the Lions offer more to their young players than some of the “richer” unions. Other unions tend to concentrate on a couple of game breakers and offer them decent contracts.
It seems the Lions take a slightly different approach. Not all the names above will play for the Lions next year, Those that don’t, will get game time with UJ’s young guns. This is openly communicated to the players and I think the honesty of the approach is part of the reason that the Lions could assemble a group like they have. This team will be very competative in 2015.
Let’s wait and see
I must say the compo at loose forward in this Lions squad looks especially tough (not that it is any less difficult in other places in SA)
Morne Moos has been highly rated in the Eastern Cape and proved his worth at CW.
I’ve watched Lemmer and Delport in action several times and they define Monnas rugby with their uncompromising toughness. To me their efforts in the 10-10 draw against Grey College this year were mammoth.
I heard really good things about Jo-Hanco from Eldoraigne just the other day.
I’ve also had the pleasure of watching Driaan Bester several times and he is a stand out SBR talent. Although listed as a lock he has his heart set on making it as a loose forward and could well turn out to be the Lions next Cyle Brink (KES lock to SA u20 blindside flank 2 years later)
James Venter was one of the most improved players over the course of the KZN season and if he continues on that path he will surprise many with his performances. I’ve been told by a few reliable sources that he is committed to the nth degree as well so in terms of work ethic he will probably be a near perfect player to have in the camp.
I still feel that Mac Muller should try develop into a hooker but even as a flank he offers something special. Huge heart.
I think Michau was another of those player that earned a lot of high praise for his performances off the side of the scrum for Klofies during 2014.
@RugbyDad: Yes this BS issue is going to make for an interesting article once one of the two Unions concedes defeat at trying to sign him.
The way I understand it and I could very well be wrong. BS signed the Sharks Academy bursary contract after receiving the offer at the end of the Kearsney Easter Rugby Festival. This prize is just a fraction of the size of a going contract with a big union. My guess is that the Lions came up with an offer more in tune with what a player of his ability should have aimed for but since he had committed to the Sharks, he had a problem. Its not clear but I’m guessing the Sharks then upped their offer as well, that’s why they listed him as contracted player otherwise he would have just been an Academy bursary recipient.
Anyway if a player doesn’t want to be at a Union esp a young player who deserves a bit of leeway if he initially made a mistake (it seems clear seems that BS is not keen on the Sharks, he even attended the Lions training u19 camp), then let him go and contract someone else who is happy to get an opportunity.
Die groep lyk lekker sterk en daar is baie om van te kies, hulle gaan beslis een van die top spanne wees met al die manne. Wat my egter bekommerd maak is wie gaan speel en wie gaan die sakke ronddra, dit is maklik om te kontrakteur maar die eintlike proef gaan wees om almal gelukkig te hou, almal weet as jou groep gelukkig is gaan dit goed maar as daar n klomp ongelukkigges in die groep is kan dit hulle baie seermaak maar tyd sal leer en ek glo Bart is die man om hulle deur te trek
Seems there are some wires crossed somewhere, as the Sharks are also believing Barend Smit is coming to Durban on contract.
@scrummie: Unless the Nelspruit boys plan to go to University, it might not be a bad idea to stay with the Pumas.
They seem to have their house in order, and are definitely improving.
@scrummie: Not sure about everyone, but they seem to be evenly spread between UJ ( Armand Jordaan ; Forrest Roos ) ; Pukke ( Charl Barkhuizen ) ; Tuks ( Quinton vd Schyff ; Delano Kotze )
Not sure about the rest.
I quickly went through all the unions U/19s for 2015 and my question is WHERE are the Hs Nelspruit boys ?, do they have a mostly Gr 11 team ?, they did well in Tuks Reeks & won Beeld so would think unions would want some Nellies for 2015.
@ Valke , where is all the Gr 12s from EGJ except for Martin going or is he the only stand-out Gr12 ?
@ Kosie , veral op slotte en flanke is daar baie (miskien te veel) spelers.
Looking at the various u/19 squads contracted, it seems Transvalia has the most representatives out of any school in the Valke region.
More than EG and Kempies combined.
Wonder why they are not in the Makro league ?
@valke: Ja jy is reg. 6 SA skool spelers in die groep. Hulle sal sterk wees voorlangs en gaan genoeg spoed agter hê om baie kompeterend te wees. Daar is meer as genoeg goeie stutte in daardie groep.
Net jammer almal gaan dalk nie speelkans kry nie. Beslis is die diepte daar. Miskien gaan ‘n paar manne vir die Young Guns in die Varsity Beker ook speel
Stem saam n mooi groep seuns, ek kan nie wag vir volgende jaar nie. Hierdie leeuwelpies gaan gat skop. Welkom in die “Lions Den” manne
Ons bloed bly rooi!
100%. Ruan is by o/21 en Paul was senter vir Garsies.
Sjoe n goeie groep veral forwards. Lyk asof Garsies die Leeus voed met jong spelers die afgelope 2-3 jr , Ruan Ackerman by O/21s ?, was Paul de Beer nie ook in Garsies nie ?