The Border U18 Craven and Academy week teams are on the road to Paarl this weekend ahead of the start of their respective national rugby weeks on Monday.
Both teams set off early on Saturday morning on the long trek to the Western Cape, where they will be keen to have successful outings against the best schoolboy rugby talent from around the country.
The Craven week team features 23 players from four different schools, with Selborne College the most represented with an impressive 16 players, while Hudson Park and Stirling contributed three players each and one from Dale College.
“Selection was a difficult and lengthy process. We adapted the format to screen the final 36 players in an environment with specialisation in mind and based on this, we are happy with the squad going to Craven week,” explained head coach James Winstanley.
“The reality of our squad composition is that Selborne are the top school in the Eastern Cape with results proving this.”
“The numbers will continue to be a talking point and we can’t avoid it. However, there are seven players from other schools who are phenomenal rugby players who are not being spoken about and they are adding real value to the Border Team.
“Ultimately we have 23 players representing Border and we will be judged on our performances and results as Border and not our schools. The build-up has been gruelling with the focus on training intensity and attention to detail,” he added.
“Heading into the tournament we are well prepared, cohesive and have role clarity in all situations.”
The Academy team is a more diverse bunch, with their 23 players selected from eight different schools. Dale College is the most represented, featuring 10 players.
“The boys that have been selected are very special and all bring something different to the table which is exciting,” admitted head coach Daneal Steyn.
“It is always a challenge when you get players from all different schools and expect them to operate straight away.
“So it has taken some time for everyone to get used to how each player plays but I can say confidently that the team has an amazing bond and good gees now and we understand each other.”
Also exciting for some of the lesser-known rugby schools in the region is that players such as captain Mattheus van der Walt from Lilyfontein and backline player Lisolethu Valisi from Philip Mtywaku, have made the U18 Academy week side for the first time.
“It's always great to see the small schools producing one or two provincial players,” said Steyn.
“Everyone has this mindset that you need to go to a College or a school that plays in the big league in order to make it to the top which is not the case. All you have to do is work hard and when the opportunity arises take it with both hands,” he added.
The Academy team will be excited to see what their group can offer and they will be hoping to kick off the week on Monday with a positive result.
The Craven week side faces Limpopo and the Academy team the Leopards in their opening games...