See top school boy rugby talent at Easter festival
A new school, Hoërskool Transvalia from Gauteng, was added to the exciting roster of this year's games.
SOME tough but exciting match-ups were announced at the launch of the 2019 Standard Bank Kearsney Easter Rugby Festival at Jonsson Kings Park last week.
The line-up of participating teams promises to again showcase the cream of schoolboy rugby talent over three play days: Thursday, 18, Saturday, 20 and Monday, 22 April.
This year, Hoërskool Transvalia from Gauteng will participate for the first time and will join Pretoria Boys’ High, Welkom Gimnasium, Hoërskool Dr EG Jansen and HTS Middelburg from Gauteng; the Eastern Cape’s Selborne College (East London) and Hoërskool Framesby (Port Elizabeth); HTS Drostdy from Worcester in the Western Cape and Hoërskool Noord-Kaap (Kimberley); as well as Glenwood High School, Durban High School and hosts, Kearsney College from KwaZulu-Natal.
Glenwood High School will face Dr EG Jansen, Selborne College and festival newcomers Transvalia; DHS will play Transvalia in their opening game, followed by Dr EG Jansen and Höerskool Drostdy; while hosts Kearsney open against Pretoria Boys’ High and Höerskool Framesby will play Welkom Gimnasium in the closing game of the festival.
Speaking at the launch, Etienne Fynn, head of the Sharks Academy, said many gifted players have been discovered by talent scouts at the previous 11 Kearsney festivals.
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Some players have gone on to be selected for provincial Super Rugby and Currie Cup teams, Springboks and SA Sevens; overseas clubs and provincial sides such as Western Force, Ealing and Sale Sharks, Munster, La Rochelle and Montpellier; as well as for the Barbarians, Scotland, British and Irish Lions, Germany and Western Australia Sevens.
Kicking off play each day will be a match between primary school teams, invited to showcase their skills and to enjoy the opportunity of playing in front of large crowds. Highbury Preparatory, Hillcrest Primary and Umhlali Preparatory will each play the KZNRU Ibutho U13 development team.
Fynn confirmed the Sharks Academy would again offer bursaries to three selected players after the festival’s final game. These bursaries include a contract with the Academy, accommodation and a tuition bursary with one of its education partners.
Gate entrance to the festival is R25 per person. Ample secure parking will be available; as well as food and refreshment outlets.
Fixtures are available at www.kearsney.com.
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