Hat-trick of the Week: School rugby is where the talent grows

1. Craven Week showcases bright young talent

The 2016 Coca-Cola Craven Week started on Monday 11 July in Durban at Kearnsney College and has already delivered top quality rugby this year. Western Province has once against been the standout team. They proved this with a 60-5 demolition against the Sharks, who is the home team in this year’s week. The Leopards have so far, won their only and opening game 26-24 against the Eastern Province Country Districts team.

The Leopards were far from their best but managed to claw out a desperate victory when EP went all guns blazing in the final ten minutes with an assault on the Leopards try line. This was schools rugby at its finest and showed that South African rugby has the potential to develop a running attacking style of rugby.

The Leopards face the Free State today in their second match and this promises to be another great encounter. Can the Leopards take down the highly fancied Free State team? If they keep their discipline then yes. If they allow gaps in defence then the answer will sadly be no

2. Volkies verdien meer krediet

Ek kyk onlangs na die Cravenweek Luiperdsspanne en kom agter dat daar geen speler van Hoër Volkskool Potchefstroom in die span ingesluit is nie. Ek verwag nou nie dat die span net uit Potchefstroomse rugbyspelers bestaan nie, maar hoe kan spelers wat in die opkomende Noordwesfinaal speel, nie ‘n kans in hierdie bekroonde skoleweek gegun word nie? Volkies se eerstespan speel al die hele seisoen kwaliteit rugby, wen die Classic Clash en eindig nommer een in die Luiperds skoleliga.

Rustenburg kry wel 10 spelers om hulle te verteenwoordig in die span, en ‘n mens verstaan dat dié skool in  ‘n ander liga meeding en ook ‘n groter skool is, maar is daar werklik net talent in die platinumryke stad?

Rugbyontwikkeling en transformasie dra ook by tot die spankeuse , maar as ‘n mens te veel op suiwer ontwikkeling fokus, gaan ander goeie spelers nooit raakgesien word nie. En dit is diegene wat dan oorsee gaan speel na skool en vir SA Rugby verlore is.

3.  Where are the girls?

During the recent USSA-cycling-week held in Potchefstroom this month, the University of Stellenbosch and the University of Cape Town dominated. Pukke did well, but were not on the exact same level. Another interesting fact was the lack of female riders in the Pukke team and the tour in general.

This interest in cycling is something that has to be cultivated and grown at university level. Bursaries must be given to upcoming riders in the same manner as it would have been done rugby or cricket for instance. The talent in Potch and North West at school level more than justifies this.