SA’s rugby talent to shine at Coca-Cola Youth Weeks

GEAR up for a month of the best in schoolboy rugby as the annual Coca-Cola Youth Weeks festival kicks off with the u.13 Coca-Cola Craven Week.

The Coca-Cola Youth Weeks comprise of four categorised rugby tournaments in which schoolboys, representing their respective regions, compete against one another. The Youth Weeks are divided into the u.13 Coca-Cola Craven Week, u.16 Coca-Cola Grant Khomo Week, u.18 Coca-Cola Academy Week and the u.18 Coca-Cola Craven Week.

Now in its fifty-second year, Coca-Cola Craven Week has become known for showcasing the best in South African youth rugby talent. The Coca-Cola Youth Weeks are where our country’s future rugby heroes are made.The u.18 Coca-Cola Craven Week has seen over 270 future Springboks come through its ranks with the SA u.20 team nearly entirely made up of players who have played in one or more of the Coca-Cola Youth Weeks.

To highlight the talent that will no doubt be uncovered at this year’s Coca-Cola Craven Week, a Coca-Cola judging panel will once again be selecting and recognising the Coca-Cola Hero of the Day. This daily award honours the standout player on each match day during the u.18 Coca-Cola Craven Week.

The Coca-Cola Hero of the Day is the fullback who made that courageous try-saving tackle, the kicker who slotted a final second penalty for the win or the wing who scored an amazing intercept try. It is hero moments such as these which can earn a player the prestigious title.

Fetsi Mbele, Marketing Assets Manager for Coca-Cola South Africa, said,”Coca-Cola South Africa is extremely proud to support the development of South Africa’s next rugby heroes through the Coca-Cola Youth Weeks. This will be the 30th year of our sponsorship and we have had the privilege of witnessing first-hand the success of the Coca-Cola Youth Weeks and the incredible foundation they have created for schoolboy rugby in South Africa. The Coca-Cola Youth Weeks also signify the importance of living an active healthy lifestyle through participation in sport. Coca-Cola’s philosophy in sponsoring sport is about encouraging physical activity and developing healthy lifestyles. Playing sport and following a balanced diet play an important role in maintaining a healthy way of life”.

The schedule for the Coca-Cola Youth Weeks rugby tournament is as follows:

U.13 Coca-Cola Craven Week – June 29 to 3 July 2015, Hoërskool Rob Ferreira, White River

U.16 Coca-Cola Grant Khomo Week, July 6 to 9 2015, Bridgton Sports Grounds, Oudtshoorn

Coca-Cola Academy Week – July 6 to 9 2015, Isak Steyl Stadium, Vanderbijlpark

U.18 Coca-Cola Craven Week – July 13 to 18, Paul Roos Gymnasium, Stellenbosch