THE Eastern Province High Schools Rugby Association (EPHSRA) has shown faith in the Craven Week coaching staff.
The EP coaches and team managers for next year’s various national youth weeks were announced by the secretary, Neville Botha, after last week’s annual general meeting of the EPHSRA.
Most of the EP teams performed well at this year’s various weeks and the bulk of the coaches who did a good job were retained.
Botha thanked all the EP coaches for the hard work they did to be successful with their various teams.
Elric van Vuuren, of Despatch, a former provincial player, will again be the head coach of the U/18 Craven Week side.
He coached the team for the first time this year. A former Blitzbok, Wayne van Heerden of Daniel Pienaar, will again look after the forwards and Santos Cloete (Arcadia) is still the team manager.
Bean van Eden of Grey High, who was the backline specialist, has been very successful as the Sevens coach and will focus on that format.
Patdro Somerset (Arcadia) is now looking after the backline.
The U/18 Craven Week will be held in George next year and the U/18 Academy Week in Johannesburg.
Under Van Eden’s guidance, EP will defend their national U/17 Sevens title in September next year.
The tournament venue is yet to be announced.
The U/16 Grant Khomo Week will be in Cape Town and the two Girls’ Weeks, U/18 and U/16, will be held in Johannesburg during next year’s June holidays.
The EP coaches for 2023 are:
- U/18 Craven Week:
Elric van Vuuren (head coach, Despatch); Wayne van Heerden (forward specialist, Daniel Pienaar); Patdro Somerset (backline specialist, Arcadia); Heinrich Leonard (conditioning coach, Brandwag); Santos Cloete (team manager, Arcadia) and Gerald Antonie (EP representative, Booysen Park)
- U/18 Academy Week:
Tertius Douw (head coach, Community Coach); Siyamthanda Mpumlo (forward specialist, Kirkwood); Elandre Sias (conditioning coach, Muir); Neville Botha (team manager, Ndzondelelo High) and Corné van Heerden (EP representative, Winterberg)
- U/17 Sevens:
Bean van Eden (head coach, Grey); Christie Lawrence (assistant coach, St Andrews) and Elroy Swarts (team manager, Booysens Park)
- U/16 Grant Khomo Week:
Ashley Carolus (head coach, Cillié); AB Smith (backline specialist, Nico Malan); Christie Lawrence (conditioning coach, St Andrews); Mteza Msileni (team manager, Molly Blackburn) and Christiaan van Schalkwyk (EP representative, Pearson)
- U/18 Girls:
Enrico Grootboom (head coach, Gelvandale Youth club); Ashwell Stride (forward specialist, Bertram); Nerine Luke (conditioning coach, Pearson) and Val Witbooi (EP representative, Chatty)
- U/16 Girls:
Carl Oersen (head coach, Mary Waters); Namhla Siyolo (forward specialist, Ndzondelelo) and Khaya Kula (team manager, Motherwell)
