KES‚ Glenwood dominate SA Schools selections

Glenwood High School and King Edwards School (KES) in Johannesburg had four players each in the SA Schools team named on Thursday.

The SA Schools team will face Wales on Friday‚ 11 August at City Park Stadium in Crawford; France on Tuesday‚ 15 August‚ at Paarl Gymnasium; and England on Saturday‚ 19 August‚ at a venue yet to be confirmed.

Keagan Glade (prop)‚ Travis Gordon (No 8)‚ Yanga Hlalu (centre/wing) and Bonianga Mpeku (fullback) are from KES.

Glenwood’s representatives are Jordan Clarke (prop)‚ Juan van der Mescht (lock)‚ Jaden Hendrikse (scrumhalf) and Conan Le Fleur (wing).

Six players who featured in the SA Schools and SA Schools A teams in the Under 19 International Series last season will add experience to the 28-member squad.

Centre Rikus Pretorius was a member of the triumphant SA Schools team that registered a whitewash in the 2016 series‚ while scrumhalf Sanele Nohamba‚ flanks Dylan Richardson and Mark Snyman‚ lock Juan van der Mescht and prop Keagan Glade all represented the SA Schools A team.

In total 18 players in the squad featured in the final match of the U18 Craven Week at St Stithians College in Johannesburg last Saturday between the Golden Lions and the Sharks‚ which the home team won 45-18‚ with each side boasting nine players.

The tournament marks the sixth edition of the international schools tournament‚ which has become a highlight on the schools rugby calendar.

Head coach Lance Sendin‚ who is also the Hugenote Hoërskool First XV team coach‚ will again guide the SA Schools team.

The SA Schools team will gather in Stellenbosch on Sunday‚ 6 August‚ to begin their preparations for the tournament. The captain and vice-captain are set to be named once the coaches have had time to work with the players.

“This is a talented group of players and we are excited to work with them ahead of the tournament‚” said Sendin.

“We have no doubt that a huge challenge awaits in the series‚ but this is an exciting time of the year for us all and we will give our best to be successful in the series.”

Due to the number of participating teams in the series‚ the SA Schools A team will not be in action this year.

SA Schools squad:

Forwards (18):

Adrian Alberts (lock)‚ Western Province / Paarl Boys High Morne Brandon (hooker)‚ Golden Lions / Monument Phendulani Buthelezi (No 8)‚ Sharks / Durban High School Jordan Clarke (prop)‚ Sharks / Glenwood Vian Fourie (flanker)‚ Western Province / Paarl Boys High Keagan Glade (prop)‚ Golden Lions / KES* Travis Gordon (No 8)‚ Golden Lions / KES Ruhann Greyling (hooker)‚ Free State / Grey College Celimpilo Gumede (lock)‚ Sharks / Durban High School Joachim Martins (flanker)‚ Western Province/ Paarl Gymnasium Nkosikhona Masuku (prop)‚ Golden Lions/ Parktown Boys High Fezokuhle Mbatha (hooker)‚ Sharks/ Maritzburg College Banele Mthenjane (prop)‚ Pumas/ Nelspruit

Asenathi Ntlabakanye (prop)‚ Golden Lions/ St Stithians

Dylan Richardson (flanker)‚ Sharks/ Kearsney* Mark Snyman (flanker)‚ Golden Lions/ Helpmekaar* Juan van der Mescht (lock)‚ Sharks/ Glenwood* Christen van Niekerk (lock)‚ Golden Lions/ Monument

Backs (10):

Diego Appollis (utility back)‚ Blue Bulls/Garsfontein Hillegard Du Plessis (winger)‚ Western Province/ Paarl Gymnasium Jaden Hendrikse (scrumhalf)‚ Sharks/ Glenwood Yanga Hlalu (centre/winger)‚ Golden Lions/ KES Qamani Kota (winger)‚ Griffons/ Welkom Gimnasium Conan Le Fleur (winger)‚ Sharks/ Glenwood Bonianga Mpeku (fullback)‚ Golden Lions/ KES Sanele Nohamba (scrumhalf)‚ Sharks/ Durban High School* Rikus Pretorius (centre)‚ Free State/ Grey College* Christopher Schreuder (flyhalf)‚ Free State/ Grey College

SA Schools management team:

Head Coach - Lance Sendin

Assistant Coach - Roean Bezuidenhout

Team Manager - Ofentse Moeng

Conditioning Coach - Andre Smith

Team Doctor - Dr Gerhard Coetzer

Physiotherapist - Kim Naidoo

*2016 SA Schools and SA Schools A team

- TimesLIVE

Source: TMG Digital.

---