Watched by fellow students in colourful blazers, the cream of South African schools rugby talent gathered in the Western Cape town of Stellenbosch this weekend to display their skills.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Among the crowds were representatives from the major South African rugby franchises, trying to spot future stars and sign them.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
South Africa have won the Rugby World Cup a record four times – in Johannesburg in 1995, in Paris in 2007 and 2023 and in Yokohama in 2019.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
While many observers point to huge forwards as the key to success for the Springboks, a superbly run schools system is the conveyor belt that gives national coaches a continuous supply of stars.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
On a scorching early southern hemisphere autumn day, a Grey College training session concludes with an unusual chat.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
“If agents ask you for meetings, let us know, we only want what’s best for you,” says team manager Stefan “Putu” Pretorius.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
This high school in central city Bloemfontein has produced the most Springboks (31) since 1992, when apartheid-induced isolation from international rugby ended.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Among those who “graduated” to the Springboks were two double world champions, utility back Francois Steyn, who was in the 2007 and 2019 teams, and scrum-half Cobus Reinach (2019-’23).<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Grey College are competing until Tuesday at a rugby festival amid the winelands of Stellenbosch.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The festival is being held for the first time in Stellenbosch, which is sheltered from the passage of time by typical Cape Dutch colonial architecture.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Four Grey stars have already signed contracts with franchises or sealed verbal agreements – their futures assured with the Bulls, Lions or Sharks.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The Bulls are based in Pretoria, the Lions in Johannesburg and the Sharks in Durban. Together with the Stormers in Cape Town they form the “big four” franchises.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The Grey star is centre Ethan Adams, 18. Heralded as the greatest talent of his generation, he already has a nickname, “The Tank”, clips of his best plays are big hits on social media, and he has nearly 20,000 Instagram followers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
“We work hard and then we have fun playing,” says the physically formidable back.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
“The franchises watch us\u2026 on TV,” says fly-half Jan-Hendrik van der Linden, who led Bible study sessions before they played.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Proud fathers <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n “High schools already recruit at the U13 level. They distribute scholarships – that’s the main way they acquire players,” agent Marais Schmidt told AFP.<\/p>\n\n\n\n This is less true of Grey College, where tradition runs deep with many fathers, who were former schools rugby players, proudly watching their sons follow in their footsteps.<\/p>\n\n\n\n “If you’re a former Grey player, it’s a dream to see your son play for the first team,” says 50-year-old JB van den Berg as he watched son Benjamin, a winger, in action.<\/p>\n\n\n\n “Grey offers more opportunities than a smaller school. If you play for a good team, you’re more likely to get an opportunity,” adds Schmidt.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The team’s coaching staff includes three former Springboks. Tiaan Liebenberg handles the line-outs, Wian du Preez the scrums, and Helgard Muller the backs.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Adams was spotted while captaining an U13 team at his modest school in the Eastern Cape.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Full-back\/winger Lamla Mgedezi, another star of the team and scorer of three tries against Noordheuwel, a school from Krugersdorp in Johannesburg province, also received a scholarship to join Grey.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Tuition fees at the Bloemfontein college are nearly ten times the median monthly salary in the country.<\/p>\n\n\n\n “He’s a long way from home, but it’s great that a boy like Lamla has the opportunity to attend Grey College,” explains director of rugby Bobby Joubert.<\/p>\n\n\n\n “He’s a role model for many and a great kid.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n Originally from a township near Cape Town, the 16-year-old could replicate one of those Siya Kolisi-style fairytales that South Africa craves.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Born in an impoverished Eastern Cape township, Kolisi caught the eye of a scout, won a scholarship, and went on to lead the Springboks to back-to-back World Cup titles.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The flanker was the first black to captain South Africa in a Test match, leading a team that for many decades included only whites.<\/p>\n\n\n\n “There’s work to be done, depending on the schools and where they’re based,” explains Mziwakhe Nkosi, a coach at the Lions, who was in Stellenbosch to view the talent.<\/p>\n\n\n\n “Rugby has a long way to go to provide a large pool of players in terms of development. Let’s hope things improve,” he said.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Watched by fellow students in colourful blazers, the cream of South African schools rugby talent gathered in the Western Cape town of Stellenbosch this weekend to display their 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