SA Schools and SA Schools A squads announced

SOUTH African Rugby Union (Saru) named the SA Schools and SA Schools A squads for the u.18 international series against England, France, Wales and Italy.

The team of 26 players each are sponsored by Coca-Cola, and were selected by a panel of national and SA Schools selectors following the conclusion of the u.18 Coca-Cola Craven Week in Stellenbosch.

The SA Schools squad will face Wales on August 7 in Stellenbosch, France on August 11 at Outeniqua Park in George and England on August 15 at City Park Stadium in Cape Town.

The SA Schools A squad will take on Italy in Stellenbosch, England in George and Wales in Cape Town in their clashes, which serve as curtain-raisers to the SA Schools matches.

Hein Kriek from Paul Roos Gymnasium has again been appointed the SA Schools coach, while Lance Sendin from Hoërskool Hugenote in Wellington will guide the SA Schools A team.

Following DHL Western Province’s remarkable 95-0 victory against Eastern Province in the final match of the u.18 Coca-Cola Craven Week, twelve players from the Cape side were included in the SA Schools squad, while the remainder of the squad was made up of players from the Blue Bulls, Golden Lions, Eastern Province, SWD, the Valke and Griquas CD.

Eastern Province flyhalf Curwin Bosch, who was named the Coca-Cola Craven Week player of the year in 2014, retained his place in the SA Schools squad, along with Blue Bulls scrumhalf Embrose Papier, wing Andell Loubser and Griquas CD loose forward Cobus Wiese.

The squads will assemble in Cape Town on Sunday, August 2, to begin their preparations for the series.

England beat the SA Schools team in the final last year and are set to defend their title this year. This defeat was South Africa’s first loss in the final since the international series started four years ago.

SA Schools squad for the u.18 international series:

Backs: Andell Loubser (Blue Bulls – Menlo Park), Joshua Vermeulen (Western Province – Paul Roos), Nico Leonard (Western Province – Paul Roos), David Brits (Border – Selborne), Stedman Gans (Blue Bulls – Waterkloof), Manie Libbok (SWD – Outeniqua), Manuel Ras (Western Province – Paarl Boys), Wandisile Simelane (Golden Lions – Jeppe), Curwin Bosch (Eastern Province – Grey), Damian Willemse (Western Province – Paul Roos), Embrose Papier (Blue Bulls – Garsfontein), Jondre Williams (Western Province – Boland Landbou)

Forwards: Kwezi Mafu (Eastern Province – Grey), Hacjivah Dayimani (Golden Lions – Jeppe), Johan Visser (Western Province – Paarl Gymnasium), Cobus Wiese (Griquas CD – Hoerskool Upington), Ruben de Villiers (Western Province – Paarl Boys), Salmaan Moerat (Western Province – Paarl Boys High), Ruben van Heerden (Blue Bulls – AHS), Ernst van Rhyn (Western Province – Paarl Gymnasium), Ashwyn Adams (Western Province – Rondebosch Boys), Cabous Eloff (Blue Bulls – AHS), Dewald Maritz (Pumas – Hoërskool Nelspruit), Carl Sadie (Western Province – Bellville High) Johan Grobbelaar (Western Province – Paarl Gymnasium), Nico Peyper (Valke – EG Jansen)

Coach: Hein Kriek

SA Schools A squad:

Backs: Earl Douwrie (Boland – HTS Drostdy), Riaan van Rensburg (Eastern Province – Framesby), Tyreeq February (Western Province – Paarl Boys), Ryan Muller (Western Province – Bellville High), Abner van Reenen (Blue Bulls – Garsfontein), Mujaahid van der Hoven (Western Province – Rylands), Heino Bezuidenhoudt (Eastern Province – Daniel Pienaar), Cyprian Nkomo (Pumas – Hoërskool Middelburg), Eddie Fouche (Blue Bulls – AHS), Bader-Werner Pretorius (Kwa-Zulu Natal – Michaelhouse), Matthew Dahl (Kwa-Zulu Natal – Hilton), Jason Olivier (Griffons – Welkom Gimnasium).

Forwards: Zain Davids (Western Province – Rondebosch Boys High), Kwanda Dimaza (Border- Dale), Phillip Krause (Blue Bulls – AHS), Ngwekazi Khanya Ncusane (Western Province – Paarl Boys), PJ Steenkamp (Blue Bulls – Garsfontein), Kamva Dilima (Eastern Province – Grey), Reinhard Nothnagel (Golden Lions – Monument), Hendre Stassen (Valke – EG Jansen), PW Koegelenberg (Boland – Swartland HS), Mashao Mukhari (Blue Bulls – Pretoria Boys), Ignatius Michael Prinsloo (Free State – Grey College), Abram Venter (Griquas – De Aar High), Andre Lategan (Eastern Province – Framesby), Marnus van der Merwe (Pumas – Hoërskool Nelspruit)

Coach: Lance Sendin