The SA U18 and SA U18 A squads for this month’s U18 International Series in the Western Cape have been named.
The two South African sides will take on their U18 counterparts from England, Ireland, France and Georgia in three rounds of top-class international competition at school venues in and around Cape Town.
The series forms a key part of SA Rugby’s successful Elite Player Development (EPD) pathway and provides the country’s leading schoolboy players with opportunities to test themselves against top international opposition.
The age-group event has established itself as an important stepping stone towards junior representative rugby and, ultimately, the higher levels of the South African rugby ecosystem.
The SA U18 side will again be coached by Lwazi Zanqa, assisted by Heinrich Martin, while Flash Malinga will guide the SA U18 A team with Cobus van Dyk his assistant. Both teams will also share the services of defence coach Clinton van Rensburg.
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Ten players selected in the SA U18 squads represented South Africa at this level last year: Juvan Burden (WP), Jacobus de Villiers (SWD), Mickyle Booise (WP), Ethan van Biljon (WP), Ncuthu Kepe (Border), Erin Nelson (EP), Lamla Mgedezi (Free State), Thabiso Simelane (Blue Bulls), Nathan Aneke (KZN), and Lucritia Magua (EP).
The tournament will be played at three venues, with Hoërskool Durbanville hosting the opening round on 7 August, Boland Landbou outside Wellington staging the second round on 11 August, and Stellenberg High School presenting the final round on 15 August.
SA U18 International Series fixtures
Friday, 7 August (Hoërskool Durbanville)
11:30am: SA U18 A vs Ireland
1:30pm: England vs Georgia
3:30pm: SA U18 vs France
Tuesday, 11 August (Boland Landbou)
11:30am: SA U18 A vs Georgia
1:30pm: England vs France
3:30pm: SA U18 vs Ireland
Saturday, 15 August (Stellenberg High School)
11:30am: SA U18 A vs France
1:30pm: Ireland vs Georgia
3:30pm: SA U18 vs England
SA U18 squad
Props: Aphelele Chamane (Sharks, Michaelhouse), Ruben Lombard (Blue Bulls, Garsfontein), Clement Makelele (Sharks, Kearsney College), Nic Salamousas (Sharks, Michaelhouse).
Hookers: Theo Boshoff (Sharks, Maritzburg College), Charles Whitehead (Western Province, Paarl Gimnasium).
Locks: Juvan Burden (Western Province, Stellenberg), Jean Dreyer (Western Province, Paarl Gimnasium), Glodi Tshipamba (Golden Lions, Jeppe).
Loose forwards: Jacobus de Villiers (SWD, Oakdale), Siphesihle Marule (Pumas, HS Middelburg), Stefan van der Vyver (Blue Bulls, Garsfontein), Hendré van Zyl (Western Province, Paarl Gimnasium), Jamie Wimble (Sharks, Northwood).
Scrumhalves: Mickyle Booise (Western Province, Paarl Gimnasium), Luke Doyle (Eastern Province, Graeme College).
Flyhalves: Achmat Behardien (Western Province, Wynberg), Ethan van Biljon (Western Province, Stellenberg).
Centres: Ethan Barker (Western Province, Paarl Gimnasium), Tiaan Basson (Western Province, Paul Roos Gymnasium), Erin Nelson (Eastern Province, Graeme College).
Outside backs: Ncuthu Kepe (Border, Queen’s College), Anesu Kuzonyei (Sharks, Northwood), Lamla Mgedezi (Free State, Grey College), Thabiso Simelane (Blue Bulls, St Alban’s), Luxolo Sonkonokono (Sharks, Westville).
SA U18 A squad
Props: Sebastiaan Bekker (Western Province, Paarl Gimnasium), Max Malan (Western Province, Paarl Boys’ High), Matthew Prins (SWD, Outeniqua) Priden Sibiya (Sharks, Durban High School).
Hookers: Charl Els (Blue Bulls, Affies), Kwaza Gobingca (Western Province, Rondebosch).
Locks: Bulelani Cebani (Sharks, Westville), AD Faul (Western Province, Paarl Boys’ High), Bernhardt Schulze (Western Province, Paarl Gimnasium), Martin van Niekerk (Blue Bulls, Affies).
Loose forwards: Werner de Bruin (Western Province, Paul Roos Gymnasium), Niel du Randt (Free State, Grey College), Nala Shabangu (Sharks, Northwood), Linakho Mehlomakulu (Western Province, Rondebosch).
Scrumhalves: Liam de Villiers (Western Province, Paarl Boys’ High), Rufagon Hendricks (SWD, Outeniqua).
Flyhalves: Travis Pheiffer (Western Province, Paul Roos Gymnasium), Jaydon Viljoen (Golden Lions, Monument).
Centres: Nathan Aneke (Sharks, Durban High School), Alex Jankowich (Sharks, Michaelhouse), Amogelang Mataboge (Sharks, Durban High School).
Outside backs: Drewyn Baron (Blue Bulls, Garsfontein), Ruan Genis (Golden Lions, Monument), Lucritia Magua (Eastern Province, Graeme College), Rhandzu Mkhabela (Pumas, Nelspruit), Thomas Saunders (Western Province, Paarl Gimnasium).
Photo: Richard Huggard/Gallo Images
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The SA U18 and SA U18 A squads for this month’s U18 International Series in the Western Cape have been named.
The post SA U18 squads to tackle Europe’s best appeared first on SA Rugby magazine. Read More
