The Eastern Province school rugby squads are preparing in earnest for the upcoming Youth Weeks.
After the respective age group teams had all been named last week, the hard work on the practice fields started right away.
This past Sunday at the Nelson Mandela University fields in Gqeberha, the u/18 Craven Week boys, the u/18 Academy team, and u/16 Grant Khomo side had their first practice sessions.
Kingswood College in Makhanda produced 10 of the 23 players in the u/18 squad, but the leadership is in the hands of two Gqeberha boys.
The selectors went with co-captains for the side. They have named the Framesby prop, Sean Vermaak, and the Grey centre, Xanri Pongolo, as the leaders.
Framesby has four players in the team, Grey three, Pearson and Brandwag two each, and there is a player each from Gill College (Somerset East), and Volkskool (Graaff-Reinet).
The Southern Coastal Tournament, on June 7 and 8 in Oudtshoorn, will give the EP squads and their coaches an opportunity to work on their strategy and combinations.
Boland and the hosts, South Western Districts, are the other teams at the tournament where the Craven Week teams, Academy sides, and Grant Khomo squads, will all be in action.
The Craven Week starts on June 24 at Monument High in Krugersdorp, and EP takes on their Eastern Cape neighbour, Border, on the first day.
Johandré van Jaarsveld of Grey was named captain of the EP u/16 team when the squad was released by the secretary of the EP High Schools Association, Neville Botha.
Grey has the strongest representation with eight players in the squad, followed by Graeme College (Makhanda) with five.
Botha explained it is a special year for the Grant Khomo team, as this tournament will be hosted at Grey this year from June 17 to 21.
The EP Girl squads are getting together every Friday afternoon at Andrew Rabie as they prepare for their respective national weeks, starting on July 1 in Johannesburg.
Bergsig (Kariega) has 17 of the 22 players in the EP group for the LSEN Week, which will be held in Potchefstroom from June 14 to 17.
The EP primary schools team has a tough match to start the Craven Week on June 17 in Pretoria. The u/13 boys will take on the hosts, the Blue Bulls.
This coming Friday and Saturday the u/13 squad will be involved in matches against Boland and Border.
EP teams
Craven Week Under 18
Kian Rademeyer (Pearson), Jon Hobson (Grey), Sean Vermaak (Framesby co-captain), Likhona Sodlaka (Grey), Damien le Roux (Brandwag), Tapiwe Zanda, Sipho Nonyelela (both Kingswood), Jan-Theo van Tonder (Volkskool), Apiah Ndzengu (Kingswood), Caleb Frisken (Pearson), Vizikhungo Labase (Kingswood), Xanti Pongolo (Grey co-captain), Likhona Kepe (Kingswood), Damien Witbooi (Framesby), Jared Wilson (Kingswood), Nicholis Wessels (Framesby), Ike Ukukwe (Kingswood), Zama Nkonki (Gill), Josh McKenzie (Kingswood), Johan van Zyl (Framesby), Lucraine Miggels (Brandwag), Praise Matsila, Munangi Kamwendo (both Kingswood).
Academy Week Under 18
Remy Heymans (Brandwag, c), Aiden Els (Daniel Pienaar), Thato Mashoba (St Andrews), Tyrese Brouers (Bergsig), Liyema Katikati (Kingswood), Louis Fourie (Despatch), Ayola Mali (Graeme), Pietman Kleynhans (Nico Malan), Cameron Doyle, Markus Williams (both Graeme), Julian Mapoore (St Andrews), Christiaan van der Merwe (Marlow), Cole Hilpert (Framesby), Siphuxolo Mkencele (Daniel Pienaar), Meyer Prinsloo (Grey), Zandre van der Mescht (Brandwag), Andre van der Merwe (Nico Malan), Hermanus Steyn (Marlow), Matthew Harvey (St Andrews), Rudi Kleynhans (Otto), Denillo Jordaan (Pearson), Ashton Williams (Graeme), Angelo Adams (Brandwag).
Grant Khomo Under 16
Daniel Naudé (Grey), Athi Manyati (Graeme), Dewald Niemand (Pearson), Akho Tonjeni (Graeme), Josh van Zyl (St Andrews), Ben Arnott (Pearson), Ruben van Dijk (Nico Malan), Johandré van Jaarsveld (Grey, c), Zanick Carolus (Brandwag), Tristan Kemp (Grey), Leighton Lawrence (Nico Malan), Ciarin Killian (Grey), Erin Nelson (Graeme, vice-c), Noah Mbizi (Grey), Lucrita Magua (Graeme), Blake Parker (Grey), Kwezi Mafongozi (Muir), Sivato Mjali (St Andrews), Erich van Zyl (Nico Malan), Lidwala Maliti (Graeme), Ryan Swarbrick (Grey), Will Stevens (St Andrews), Michael Nyandoro (Grey).
U/19A Results
Pearson 38, Daniel Pienaar 14; Nico Malan 19, Graeme College 7; Bergsig 45, Union 3; Grey High 29, St Andrew’s College 28; Framesby 52, Marlow 12; Kingswood College 54, Muir College 21.
