The top school rugby players of Nelson Mandela Bay are entering a very important period of their careers.
Many of them will be in action in various festivals being played this week, and then the next round of provincial trial matches will take place on Tuesday.
Not only is it important for schools to perform well at the festivals, but players can also grab the attention of the media, coaches, and scouts, with their individual performances.
Locally all eyes will be on the annual Grey High Festival in Gqeberha. The action will start tomorrow and matches will also be played on Saturday.
Grey will be involved in what should be two exciting clashes. In tomorrow’s main match they play against St John’s College of Johannesburg, and they will face Graeme College (Makhanda) in the last match on Saturday.
St John’s will focus on getting the upper hand in the set pieces, and are also very proud of their solid defence.
Graeme College beat Grey last year for the first time in many years, and both sides are looking forward to the rematch.
The Mali Foundation XV gets a chance to show what they can do against Muir College (Kariega) tomorrow.
Nine players from Ndzondelelo High (Zwide) are in the Mali squad that will tour England in September.
Framesby makes the trip from Gqeberha to Kimberley to play two matches in the Wildeklawer Tournament.
Marlow from Nxuba (Cradock) will also be in Kimberley and will host the important next round of the Eastern Province (EP) trail matches in Nxuba on Tuesday.
Four u/18 teams selected from the High Performance players, and three Sub Union teams have been named for the trials.
Three u/16 trial teams and eight reserves have also been announced by the secretary of EP Schools, Neville Botha.
High Performance teams
Heinrich Leonard XV: Likhona Kepe (KC), Keyshawn Basson (AN), Munangi Kamwendo (KC), Christiaan van der Merwe (HLM), Julian Mapoora (SAC), Caleb Frisken (P), Apia Njezengu (KC), Jan-Theo van Tonder (V), Sipho Nonyelela, Tapiwe Zanda (both KC), Roman van Zyl (SAC), Ayola Mali (GC), Sean Vermaak (F), Nicholas Hughes, Kian Rademeyer (both P).
Laurence Christie XV: Jared Wilson (KC), Kunga Venkile (HLM), Fundile Williams (ST.C), Taine Douw (F), Xhanti Pongolo (G), Aiden Kobus (ODP), Praise Matsila (KC), Denilo Jordaan (P), Pietman Kleynhans (NM), Eden Calitz (F), Louis Fourie (D), Nathan Birkholtz (F), Likhona Sodlaka (G), Zama Nkonki (Gill), Robert van Zyl (HLM), Nicolas Wessels (F), Mark Were (SAC).
Keith August XV: Damien Witbooi, Cole Hilpert (both F), Sibulele Mkontwana (P), Khanya Maduna (AN), Meyer Prinsloo (G), Markus Williams (GC), Lucrain Miggels (B), Jan Els (HLM), Abongile Gocini (Gill), Johan van Zyl (F), Damien le Roux (B), Robert Fraser (SAC), Ross Atkinson (G), Le Reece Stuurman (Volkskool), Zandré van der Mescht (Brandwag), Avuyile Helesi (GC).
Bidwell Solaan XV: Reltiaan Jansen (Mic), Sipho Mkencele (DP), Lemuel Kramer (W), Ethan Smith (F), Laba Labatse (KC), Moedean Marais (F), Cameron Doyle (GC), Jaden Brewis (F), Wayden Bopp (Woodridge), Aya Bill, Fumani Baloy (both GC), Matthew Harvey (SAC), Franco Erasmus (P), JP Richter (HLM), Perez de Maar (W), André van der Merwe (NM).
Grey Festival fixtures
Tomorrow:
Kolisi Field:
- 09:10: Brandwag v Hudson Park
- 10:25: Westville v Durbanville
- 11:45: St Andrew’s v Parktown
- 12:55: Queen’s v St Stithians
- 14:05: Graeme v Jeppe
- 15:25: Grey v St John’s.
Pollock Oval:
- 12:55: Ithembelihle v St Charles
- 14:05: Mali Foundation XV v Muir.
Saturday:
Kolisi Field:
- 09:10: Hudson Park v St Charles
- 10:25: Brandwag v St Stithians
- 11:45: St Andrew’s v Jeppe
- 12:55: Queen’s v Durbanville
- 14:05: Dale v Westville
- 15:25: Grey v Graeme.
Pollock Oval:
- 12:55: Ithembelihle v Parktown
- 14:05: Muir v St John’s.
Results
Paul Roos 21, Grey 7; Nico Malan 29, Pearson 14; Daniel Pienaar 24, Despatch 9; Cillie 10, Andrew Rabie 7; Westering 22, DF Malherbe 15; Bergsig 45, Knysna 16; Otto du Plessis 70, Victoria Park 0; Muir 45, Union 7; Marlow 31, Volkskool 20.
