Five rugby players off to Sharks Academy

KEARSNEY’S Easter Rugby Festival wrapped up on Monday with the announcement of five players who each received bursaries to The Sharks Academy for 2016.

Valued at more than R100 000 each, the recipients are Nico Peyper – EG Jansen hooker, Jordan Chait – SACS captain and fly-half, Heinrich Nieuwenhuizen – the Selborne College flank, and Glenwood’s fullback, Jaydon Morgan, and prop, Khuthazani Mchunu. The bursaries include a contract with the academy next year, accommodation and a tuition bursary with one of its education partners.

The festival was well-supported on all three days, with capacity crowds who were able to enjoy a high standard of competitive rugby. It was a successful event for organisers and sponsors – Standard Bank, Illovo Sugar South Africa, Nashua Durban and The Sharks Academy.

Announcing the awards, The Sharks Academy managing director, Etienne Fynn, said South Africa was blessed to have a consistently high amount of school talent coming through each year.

“An individual can only perform within good structures, and a lot of credit needs to go to these participating schools, their coaches and the structures. The pride and passion the boys displayed was fantastic. When they play as professionals one day, they must never forget this pride and passion with which they played at school level,” said Fynn.

Results on day one: Selborne 48, Kearsney 7; SACS 22, Dale 12; Westville 27, Menlo Park 25; Affies 41, EG Jansen 5; Glenwood 31, Framesby 0; and Grey College 22, HTS Middelburg 19.

Results on day two: Selborne 28, Menlo Park 20; Westville 10, Dale 22; Kearsney 10, Grey College 26; Affies 10, SACS 13; Glenwood 11, HTS Middelburg 22; and Framesby 6, EG Jansen 31.

Results on day three: Westville 34, SACS 26; Framesby 0, Affies 57; HTS Middelburg 23, Selborne 15; Glenwood 19, Menlo Park 23; Grey College 17, EG Jansen 23; and Kearsney 26, Dale College 45.