The third day of action at the prestigious FNB U18 Craven Week delivered spectacular rugby entertainment at Hoërskool Middelburg on Wednesday, with South Western Districts (SWD) Eagles and DHL Western Province XV maintaining their perfect tournament records.
Both powerhouse school rugby teams extended their winning streaks to two victories each, while Free State and Limpopo Blue Bulls bounced back from opening day defeats with stunning comeback performances that had spectators on the edge of their seats.
SWD Eagles soar past Golden Lions in eight try thriller
The SWD Eagles produced the performance of the day, dismantling the Golden Lions 54-22 in a dominant display that showcased why they’re considered serious Craven Week 2025 title contenders.
Following their nail-biting 35-34 victory over Free State in their tournament opener, the Eagles were in scintillating form, crossing the try line eight times. Star performers Christiaan Vorster and Jacobus de Villiers each contributed two tries to the impressive team total, demonstrating the depth of talent in South African school rugby.
Limpopo pulls off miraculous comeback against Griffons
In arguably the most dramatic match of the U18 rugby tournament, Limpopo Blue Bulls completed one of the greatest comebacks in recent Craven Week history, overturning a 19-0 first-quarter deficit to defeat the Griffons 49-44.
Hooker Ziahn Lombaard was the hero of the hour, scoring a hat-trick of tries, while fullback Ryno Mienie proved deadly accurate with the boot, slotting seven conversions to guide his team to an unlikely victory that will be remembered for years to come.
Western Province XV maintains momentum with seven try victory
Fresh from their comprehensive 52-6 demolition of the Griffons on day two, Western Province XV continued their impressive form with a commanding 45-14 victory over the Pumas.
Lock Gershom Pieters and replacement forward Caleb Koeberg each grabbed two tries as the Cape Town-based side ran in seven tries total, sending a clear message to their rivals about their championship ambitions.
Free State responds with statement win over Blue Bulls
After suffering a heartbreaking one-point loss to SWD on opening day, Free State delivered the perfect response with a convincing 52-33 victory against the Blue Bulls in Wednesday’s final fixture.
The Free State backline was in devastating form, with fullback Lamla Mgedezi crossing for three tries and centre Ethan Adams adding two more. Despite a valiant hat-trick from Blue Bulls centre Thabiso Simelane, Free State’s seven-try haul proved too much for their opponents.
Complete day three results (Wednesday, 9 July)
- Limpopo Blue Bulls 49 Griffons 44
- DHL Western Province XV 45 Pumas 14
- Free State 52 Blue Bulls 33
- SWD Eagles 54 Golden Lions 22
With several teams now showing their championship credentials, the remaining fixtures at this year’s FNB U18 Craven Week promise to deliver more thrilling school rugby action as South Africa’s brightest young talents battle for supremacy.
What’s next at Craven Week 2025
The high school rugby action continues at Hoërskool Middelburg on Thursday:
- 10:00 – Boland vs Valke
- 11:30 – Griquas vs Leopards
- 13:00 – Border vs Eastern Province
- 14:30 – Western Province vs Sharks
The afternoon clash between Western Province and the Sharks High Schools promises to be a highlight, as both teams look to maintain their strong tournament form.
With several teams now showing their championship credentials, the remaining fixtures at this year’s FNB U18 Craven Week promise to deliver more thrilling school rugby action as South Africa’s brightest young talents battle for supremacy.
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