The Southern Coastal Tournament forms a crucial part of Eastern Province’s preparation for the upcoming Youth Rugby Weeks.
On Friday and Saturday some EP teams will compete against Boland and the South Western Districts in Oudtshoorn.
The u/18 Craven Week side, the u/18 Academy team and the u/16 Grant Khomo squad will all be in action.
Although the EP sides will all want to win their respective matches, the coaches will be trying out different combinations to see what will work best at the Youth Weeks.
The matches in Oudtshoorn will also be a very important teambuilding session. Players from different schools will get to know each other better and develop a team spirit which will stand them in good stead going forward.
The u/13 Craven Week and Academy squads had a productive time this past weekend. They were involved in some tough matches in preparation for the Youth Weeks.
The Craven Week side played against Border, Boland, and the South Western Districts.
The Border match, won by Border 18–17, was a very good test for the EP boys who had to deal with pressure situations. They learned valuable lessons in the process.
It will be a very tough start for the EP side at the u/13 Craven Week when they clash with the hosts, the Blue Bulls, on June 17 in Pretoria.
Fifteen different schools are represented in the u/13 squad of 23 players. Jeffreys Bay Primary is best represented with three players.
All the EP teams will face financial challenges leading up to, and at, the various Youth Weeks. Any interested sponsors can contact the EP Schools Rugby Association.
Fixtures in Oudtshoorn
Friday
A-Field
- 13:30: EP Academy v Boland Craven team.
- 15:00: Grant Khomo teams – EP v SWD.
- 16:20: Craven Week teams – EP v SWD.
B-Field
15:00: EP Grant Khomo XV v Boland Grant Khomo
Saturday
A-Field
- 09:00: Grant Khomo teams – EP v Boland.
- 10:25: EP Craven v SWD Academy.
B-Field
- 09:00: EP Grant Khomo XV v SWD Grant Khomo.
- 10:25: EP Academy v Boland Academy.
EP u/13 Craven Week team: Willem van Aardt (Cradock), Liam McDonald (Altona), Reuben Bouwer (Grey), Evan Greeff, Piet van Schalkwyk (both Verkenner), Michael Chabe (JeffreysBay), Cayden Links (Fort Beaufort), Maliviwe Memani (Kenton), Kwakhanya Ngantweni (Fort Beaufort), Hanno Winter (Sunridge), Enrique Nakas (Victory), Christian Barnard (Sunridge), Alhume Zosi (Setlaars-park), Zaheer Abrahams (Muir), Eduardo Jantjies (Handhaaf), Ruben Ferreira (Grey), Eben Matthyssen (Kenton), Matthew Haile Slasie (Kabega), Johan Ferreira (Jeffreys Bay), Devandré Felkers (Dr Viljoen), Daniel Veldsman (Jeffreys Bay), Mivuyo Rala (Susannah Fourie), Sergio Jordaan (Handhaaf).
EP u/13 Academy team: Byron Birkholtz, Ruan Jacobs (both Sunridge), Zachery Fleur (Pellsrus), Cecil Willing, Zachery Matthys (both Muir), Buhlebenkosi Siko (Graslaagte), Junaid Jaggers (Albertyn), Simthandile Ngqa-wana (Setlaarspark), Oyinthando Mbatani (Fort Beaufort), Waney Neff (Republiek), Connor Viljoen (JBay), Alexander Botha, Evan Bokkelman (both Stulting), Spheto Mani (Woodridge), Tyrese Wood (Handhaaf), Tyler Merington (Westering), Amila Mongo (Parkside), Kayden Gerber (Handhaaf), Abongile Sonwabo (Herbert Hurd), Lubabalo Ntshiza, Jaquin Billet (both Hankey), Ahlonele Mekato (Fort Beaufort), Jayden Stoman (Verkenner).
