BLUE BULLS STARS COME TO SUPPORT THE PLAYERS AT THE COCA-COLA UNDER 13 CRAVEN WEEK

Blue Bulls Super rugby players, Dewald Potgieter, Dean Greyling, Jono Ross, and their coach, Frans Ludeke, spent the day in Bela-Bela on Thursday at the Coca-Cola under-13 Craven Week, supporting the Blue Bulls team, and generally showing their interest in rugby at this level.

Eighthman, Jono Ross, who is included in the Bulls match 23 for the first time on Saturday, said he is very impressed with the whole affair.

“It was a great day out for us,” he said. “It’s nice to mix with ordinary rugby people, the atmosphere was amazing, and there was some pretty good rugby on display,” he said.

Ross never played rugby at primary school himself, and he believes these players are getting an excellent grounding ahead of their future playing careers. “I’m amazed at how seriously they all take it, even at this age. Maybe they should be having more fun in the process, but then, again, this is a showcase for them to show their talents, and I am sure that many of them will be going on to top rugby schools as a result of them appearing here

“That will be good for their rugby and it can change their whole lives.”

The standard of play also impressed Ross. “I saw some players here who can really play,” he said. “And the teams are playing according to game plans that are more advanced than what you’d expect from players so young.

“All in all, it was a very enjoyable day and a good way to break the tension of preparing for Saturday’s big Super Rugby game.”

The Blue Bulls under-13 team responded to their famous supporters by trouncing the Golden Lions 24-0 and booking their spot in the main game of the Coca-Cola under-13 Craven Week which end on Friday.

Namibia 21 - 5 Zimbabwe

Eastern Province 21 - 5 KwaZulu Natal

Leopards 10 - 21 Border

Western Province 20 - 12 Boland

Blue Bulls 24 - 0 Golden Lions

Limpopo Blue Bulls 19 - 33 Border CD

SWD 7 - 20 Mpumalanga

Griffons 16 - 5 Griquas

Valke 20 - 5 Free State

Ends.

About The Coca-Cola Company

The Coca-Cola Company (NYSE: KO) is the world's largest beverage company, refreshing consumers with more than 500 sparkling and still brands. Led by Coca-Cola, the world's most valuable brand, our Company's portfolio features 15 billion dollar brands including Diet Coke, Fanta, Sprite, Coca-Cola Zero, vitaminwater, Powerade, Minute Maid, Simply, Georgia and Del Valle. Globally, we are the No. 1 provider of sparkling beverages, ready-to-drink coffees, and juices and juice drinks. Through the world's largest beverage distribution system, consumers in more than 200 countries enjoy our beverages at a rate of 1.8 billion servings a day. With an enduring commitment to building sustainable communities, our Company is focused on initiatives that reduce our environmental footprint, support active, healthy living, create a safe, inclusive work environment for our associates, and enhance the economic development of the communities where we operate. Together with our bottling partners, we rank among the world's top 10 private employers with more than 700,000 system employees. For more information, please www.thecoca-colacompany.com or follow us on Twitter at twitter.com/CocaColaCo.

BLUE BULLS AND WESTERN PROVINCE RENEW THEIR RIVALRY ON THE FINAL DAY OF THE COCA-COLA UNDER 13 CRAVEN WEEK

The Blue Bulls and Western Province will meet in the final match of the Coca-Cola u-13 Craven Week in Bela-Bela on Friday after they ended up two of only three teams that won all three of their earlier encounters.

The honour of playing in the week’s concluding fixture is the only prize up for grabs at this festival of rugby and no-one who has been here this week will deny that they both richly deserve the recognition.

The Blue Bulls overwhelmed their neighbours, the Golden Lions on Thursday, dominating all phases of the game, to win 24-0. This followed up on their 19-5 win over Boland on day 1 and their 14-0 victory over the Leopards on day 2.

Western Province were also up against the neighbours – Boland – on Thursday and they beat them 20-12 in the end, only making the game safe via a late try, with the game in the balance for much of the second half.

Western Province beat Griquas 31-7 on day 1 and Eastern Province 10-7 on day 2.

The Mpumalanga Pumas were the other unbeaten side and they are rewarded with a late game on the final day, against Border.

Boland’s good showing against Western Province on Thursday earned them a spot in the main curtain-raiser – against Eastern Province, who have also been impressive all week, despite going down narrowly to Western Province on the second day.

In other results on day 3 Border Country Districts impressed by beating the hosts, Limpopo Blue Bulls 23-19, while Namibia won the traditional “international” game against Zimbabwe 21-5.

Day 3 Results

Valke 20 Free State 5, Griffons 16 Griquas 5, Pumas 20 SWD 7, Border Country 33 Limpopo Blue Bulls 19, Blue Bulls 24 Golden Lions 0, Western Province 20 Boland 12, Border 21 Leopards 10, Eastern Province 21 KwaZulu-Natal 5, Namibia 21 Zimbabwe 5.

Day 4 Fixtures

A Field – 8.30am Border Country v SWD, 9.20am Limpopo Blue Bulls v Leopards, 10.10am Golden Lions v KwaZulu-Natal, 11am Pumas v Border, 11-.50am Eastern Province v Boland, 1.05pm Blue Bulls v Western Province.

B Field – 8.30am Griquas v Namibia, 9.20am Free State v Zimbabwe, 10.10am Griffons v Valke.

Ends.

About The Coca-Cola Company

The Coca-Cola Company (NYSE: KO) is the world's largest beverage company, refreshing consumers with more than 500 sparkling and still brands. Led by Coca-Cola, the world's most valuable brand, our Company's portfolio features 15 billion dollar brands including Diet Coke, Fanta, Sprite, Coca-Cola Zero, vitaminwater, Powerade, Minute Maid, Simply, Georgia and Del Valle. Globally, we are the No. 1 provider of sparkling beverages, ready-to-drink coffees, and juices and juice drinks. Through the world's largest beverage distribution system, consumers in more than 200 countries enjoy our beverages at a rate of 1.8 billion servings a day. With an enduring commitment to building sustainable communities, our Company is focused on initiatives that reduce our environmental footprint, support active, healthy living, create a safe, inclusive work environment for our associates, and enhance the economic development of the communities where we operate. Together with our bottling partners, we rank among the world's top 10 private employers with more than 700,000 system employees. For more information, please www.thecoca-colacompany.com or follow us on Twitter at twitter.com/CocaColaCo.

MPUMALANGA WILL BE FIRST TO HOST THEIR SANLAM KAY MOTSEPE SCHOOLS CUP PROVINCIAL FINAL

Qhubulwazi High school from the Gert Sibanda region has qualified to compete in the first under-19 Sanlam Kay Motsepe Schools Cup provincial final and will be going to Bushbuckridge on 20 July to play in the Mpumalanga provincial finals.

Should they finish first or second there, the next stop is the national finals in Durban in September when the top two sides from each of the nine provinces will be playing for a slice of the R3.4 million on offer. 

Qhubulwazi coach, TC Tsotetsi, is thrilled that the side has made it through to the next round. “The boys played brilliantly throughout our qualifiers. They exceeded my expectations. Their spirits are very high and they are already looking forward to playing the provincials,” he said.

This is the fifth time that the school has played in the competition, and the first time they are going to the provincial finals. “Last year we were knocked out at the regional stage. It’s a huge achievement. The school as a whole is proud of us and they are supporting us 100%,” Tsotetsi said. “Our dream is to win some of the prize money so that we can upgrade our school. I also believe we have some exceptional talent this year and we are hoping that at least one will be scouted and join a professional club.” 

He explained that over the years he has been developing a defensive system, trying to keep it tight and prevent the opponents from scoring goals. “I always tell the players they need to be mentally prepared in each and every game. Before you outplay opponents physically, you have to outplay them mentally. And that’s what they think of every time they have a match to play,” he said.

Qhubulwazi is a combined school and Tsotetsi has been coaching these boys since they were in primary school.  He singles out one player that has grown tremendously over the years, Siyabonga Nxumalo. “He never used to care about soccer or making it to practise but now, even when I’m not present during practise he’s the one who takes up the reigns and becomes the “coach” for the day,” he said.

Siyabonga feels his performance in the competition so far has been good. “I try to play an honest clean game and I’m satisfied with the results. I‘m training hard for our upcoming games so that I can help the team succeed,” he said.

About the Sanlam Kay Motsepe Schools Cup:

·       Named after prominent businessman Patrice Motsepe’s late mother, the Sanlam Kay Motsepe Schools Cup offers the biggest prize money at school level in Africa (R3.4 million in total). 

·       The sponsors are:  Sanlam, the Motsepe Foundation and the Sanlam Ubuntu-Botho Community Development Trust.

·       The primary objective of the tournament is to revive the culture of school football amongst students between the age of 16 and 19 years old.

·       The tournament also gives players the opportunity to showcase their skills to soccer scouts with the talented players being recruited into development structures to be nurtured and shaped into professional players.

THE COCA-COLA UNDER 13 WEEK IS ANOTHER STEP IN LIMPOPO’S PLAN TO TAKE RUGBY TO RURAL AREAS

Sports development cannot succeed without the committed support of sponsors, and the case of Limpopo Blue Bulls Primary Schools Rugby and their partnership with Forever Resorts is a case in point.

The hospitality organisation decided to support Limpopo Blue Bulls primary schools rugby in 2007 as part of their commitment to social responsibility and rural development projects.

It was up to the Limpopo Blue Bulls needed to start a development project in a rural area - which they did in the areas of Hoedspriut and Bushbuck Ridge; to become one of the top sides at the the Coca-Cola under 13 Craven Week - which they achieved in 2011; and successfully bid host the tournament - which has happened this year.

The union set itself a time frame of 5 years to achieve these goals and they have done it in 4. As a result, Forever Resorts have renewed their contract with the Limpopo Blue Bull Union due the commitment that the union has shown in developing young players.

Christo Wagenaar, media liaison officer for Forever Resorts, explains that Hoedspruit and Bushbuck Ridge were chosen as the focus areas because of the support that Springbok Chiliboy Ralepele, the development programme's ambassador, enjoys in those areas.

"The children around Hoedspruit wanted to follow their local legend but found it difficult due to the lack of a development program," Wagenaar said. "The program has been around for 4 years and at this year’s tournament there are 5 children that have made the Limpopo Blue Bulls team that have come directly out of the project."

A big problem with rugby in Limpopo is that only 36 Primary Schools play rugby in the province and they are spread very far apart. For Piet Burger, this year's Coca-Cola under-13 Craven Week director to attend a local organising committee meeting he often had to drive 860 km

"For kids to play rugby frequently in Limpopo often they have to travel similar distances. If more schools played rugby then they would be able to play more schools closer to home and increase the talent pool," Burger says.

Burger explains that the focus of the development project is not only on rugby, it is also on teaching kids camaraderie, friendship, sportsmanship, discipline and respect. “These players have a God-given talent. We want them to use it to promote the game, sportsmanship, mutual respect and to form new friendships."

The reason why this tournament is being hosted in Bela-Bela is that the union and Forever Resorts believe in taking rugby to the community and not taking people out of the community to some rugby stadium in a big city.

"However, this created a lot of challenges," Burger says. SARU do not compromise on the medical need of the kids. There are certain criteria that a hosting town needs to meet and most rural towns cannot meet those needs. "The Blue Bulls helped the Limpopo Blue Bulls work on meeting these requirements," he explained.

The result has been a wonderful opportunity for the young players from around the country to experience true bushveld hospitality.

The generosity of tournament sponsors, Coca-Cola, and Limpopo Blue Bulls Primary Schools Sponsors, Forever Resorts has made that possible.

Ends.

About The Coca-Cola Company

The Coca-Cola Company (NYSE: KO) is the world's largest beverage company, refreshing consumers with more than 500 sparkling and still brands. Led by Coca-Cola, the world's most valuable brand, our Company's portfolio features 15 billion dollar brands including Diet Coke, Fanta, Sprite, Coca-Cola Zero, vitaminwater, Powerade, Minute Maid, Simply, Georgia and Del Valle. Globally, we are the No. 1 provider of sparkling beverages, ready-to-drink coffees, and juices and juice drinks. Through the world's largest beverage distribution system, consumers in more than 200 countries enjoy our beverages at a rate of 1.8 billion servings a day. With an enduring commitment to building sustainable communities, our Company is focused on initiatives that reduce our environmental footprint, support active, healthy living, create a safe, inclusive work environment for our associates, and enhance the economic development of the communities where we operate. Together with our bottling partners, we rank among the world's top 10 private employers with more than 700,000 system employees. For more information, please www.thecoca-colacompany.com or follow us on Twitter at twitter.com/CocaColaCo.

DAY TWO OF THE COCA-COLA CRAVEN WEEK SAW SOME RETEAMS RECOVER WELL FROM THE FIRST DAY AND OTHERS CONFIRM THEIR DOMINANCE

Day two of the Coca-Cola under-13 Craven Week in Bela-Bela saw the teams that came into the week as favourites to play in Friday’s prestigious main game all successfully negotiate their second hurdle and set themselves up for what will in effect be semifinals when play resumes on Thursday.

Wednesday is traditionally a rest day at the week and, in keeping with the venue, the boys will be spending it at the poolside, and in the water, courtesy of Forever Warmbaths, one of the co-sponsors of the event, despite it being mid-winter, and freezing in other parts of the country.

There were impressive wins on day two for the four unbeaten sides, Pumas, Western Province, the Blue Bulls, KwaZulu-Natal and the Golden Lions.

The Blue Bulls beat the Leopards 14-0 in a hard-fought encounter, the Pumas were 22-14 winners over the Border Country Districts side, Western Province scraped home 10-7 against Eastern Province and the Lions produced a solid defensive effort to keep out the dangerous Border runners and win 18-7 in the final game of the day.

Other big winners on day two included Boland, who bounced back from a loss to the Bulls on day one to beat KwaZulu-Natal on Tuesday, and the hosts, Limpopo Blue Bulls, who notched up a popular 22-5 win over the Valke in their second outing.

Results Day 2:

SWD 22 Griquas5

Limpopo Blue Bulls 22 Valke 5

Pumas 22 Border CD 14

Free State 26 Namibia 5

Griffons 25 Zimbabwe 7

Boland 13 KwaZulu-Natal 7

Western Province 10 Eastern Province 7

Blue Bulls 14 Leopards 0

Golden Lions 18 Border 7

THE WELFARE OF THE PLAYER IS AN IMPORTANT FEATURE OF THE COCA-COLA UNDER 13 CRAVEN WEEK

The Coca-Cola under-13 Craven Week, under way in Bela-Bela this week is a celebration of rugby's potential, with the best of the players who are only just finding their feet in game showing their skills in front of an enthusiastic audience.

The fact that these are players at a crucial and vulnerable stage of their physical development is not lost on SA Rugby and the organisers of the week, and their well-being is at the center of everything that happens.

Thys Bezhuidenhout, chairperson of SA Schools Rugby, explains that the medical requirements in staging an event like this are very stringent, and meeting these requirements was the biggest challenge in hosting the event in Bela-Bela.

"One of the biggest changes in this year’s tournament was a medical challenge," he said. "Both the Limpopo Blue Bulls and the Blue Bulls management team worked hard to make sure that the medical facilities are up to scratch to host a large event like this and to make sure that the kids are safe and get the best medical treatment. There are 2 helicopters, 2 hospitals close by (government and private) a hospital in Pretoria on standby, 7 ambulances and a lot of medical staff. SARU will not compromise on the safety of our children," he said.

The particular concern for the welfare of players at this age extends to the selection of the referees who officiate at the tournament.

"All the referees in this tournament are fulltime teachers and that is very important at this age group," Bezhuidenhout explained. "Teachers have an in-depth knowledge of the requirements of children at this age. Teachers know when to let play run and when play has become dangerous and it is time to stop the game. Referees at older age groups are used to well-trained and well-conditioned players who have the muscular structure to handle certain match situations."

So, different from the other Coca-Cola Youth Weeks, these referees are not only the top upcoming young officials, identified by SARU, they are also all primary schools teachers, nominated by their provinces.

Bezhuidenhout has been to this week for 34 years now, and for him, what stands out is the increase in the number of players of colour appearing, and the excellent standards they achieve.

"In the early days the tournament only had 4 teams that were chosen from previous disadvantaged areas. Now over 50% of the players are non-white. The biggest challenge is to keep these players playing rugby once they leave school. The structures in the rural areas are difficult to find so we lose a lot of very good players," he said.

THE 2013 U-13 COCA-COLA YOUTH RUGBY WEEK GOT OFF TO A FANTASTIC START WITH A COUPLE OF SUPRISING RESULTS

The 42 Coca-Cola Under 13 Craven Week for Primary Schools got going in balmy Bela-Bela yesterday and the players responded to the opportunity to show their skills in ideal conditions, away from their icy home environments, by producing some sparkling barefoot rugby.

The two most impressive sides on show on day one appeared in the opening and the closing encounters – the Golden Lions beat Zimbabwe 36-0 in the tournament opener, and KwaZulu-Natal accounted for the hosts, the Limpopo Blue Bulls 33-5 in the final game of the day, to set the bar for the other teams who want to have a say in the stakes for main game honours come Friday.

In between, there were impressive performances from Border, who beat Free State 28-17, and the Blue Bulls who overcame a feisty Boland 19-5.

The Bulls won the main game at last year’s Coca-Cola under-13 Craven Week, so they are the unofficial champions, and they showed on day one that it is not a crown they will be relinquishing readily.

Border trailed 14-17 at halftime against Free State, but scored 14 unanswered points in the second period to announce themselves as serious contenders this year.

The upset of the day was caused by the Leopards, who beat fancied Eastern Province 10-5 in tight affair that saw a titanic forward struggle.

Even tighter was the SWD v Valke clash which ended in a rare pointless draw.

In Tuesday’s action the first day winners face tougher opposition, so the Golden Lions face Border in the main game of the day, while the Blue Bulls take on the Leopards, and KwaZulu-Natal meet Boland.

Wednesday is a rest day, and the teams play their third and fourth games on Thursday and Friday.

Monday’s Results

Golden Lions 36 Zimbabwe 0, Pumas 17 Namibia 0, Border 28 Free State 17, Border Country 5 Griffons 3, SWD 0 Valke 0, Leopards 10 E Province 5, Western Province 31 Griquas 7, Blue Bulls 19 Boland 5, KwaZulu-Natal 33 Limpopo Blue Bulls 5.

Tuesday’s fixtures

9am SWD v Griquas, 9.50am Valke v Limpopo Blue Bulls, 10.40am Pumas v Border Country, 11.30am Free State v Namibia, 12.20pm Griffons v Zimbabwe, 1.10pm KwaZulu-Natal v Boland, 2pm E Province v W Province, 2.50pm Blue Bulls v Leopards, 3.40pm Golden Lions v Border.

THE 2013 U-13 COCA-COLA YOUTH RUGBY WEEK ABOUT TO KICK OFF

Traditionally the winter school holiday is Youth Rugby Weeks time and the under-13s got the ball rolling when the under-13 Coca-Cola Craven Week kicks off in Bela-Bela today, Monday 24 June.

The primary school interprovincial week is the place where heroes are made – a talent pipeline that begins here and extends through the Coca-Cola under-16 Grant Khomo Week to the under-18 Coca-Cola Craven Week, and from there into the under-20 “Baby Boks” system.

All the South African Rugby Union (SARU) provinces have held their trials and identified their most skilled players who will gather in Bela Bela to participate in the Coca-Cola under-13 Craven Week over four days – Monday June 24, Tuesday June 25, Thursday June 27 and Friday June 28.

Although rugby at this level is dominated by early developers, which has meant that fewer players go on from here to play international rugby than is the case with the under-18 Craven Week, a fair number of Coca-Cola under-13 Craven Week players have gone on to wear the green and gold.

“Coca-Cola is honored to play such an important role in the Coca-Cola under-13 Craven Week, we can look back with pride knowing that we have provided a platform where hundreds of rugby heroes have been made. If we look at our provincial as well as national teams, the amount of players that played in one or more of the Coca-Cola Youth Rugby Weeks is tantamount to how important grassroots development is and it highlights the need for corporates such as Coca-Cola, to play a vital role in developing young sports heroes while promoting an active, healthy and balanced lifestyle” explains Donnay Carter Coca-Cola South Africa Brand Manager

In the current Springbok side there is one graduate of the week – hooker Adriaan Strauss – but recent Springboks include Fourie Du Preez, Wynand Olivier, Luke Watson, Schalk Burger and Jacques Fourie, all of whom made their representative debuts at this level.

In keeping with traditions, the Coca-Cola under-13 Craven Week is purely a festival of rugby, with no league points awarded and no overall winner. The only team honour up for grabs is the possibility of being chosen to play in the main game of the final day of the week.

Only the fixtures for day one are arranged beforehand, with the matches for the remaining days being organised, on a strength vs strength basis, at the end of each day’s play

Results for the morning games:

Gauteng Lions 36 vs Zimbabwe 0

Try Scorers: Davan du Plessis, Franco Julliun Schutte, Jason Freeman, Muzilikazi Manyike, Thuso Diyale, Tristan Leonard Dullisear

Conversions: Dean Sheldon Lategan, Muzilikazi Manyike x 2

Pumas 17 vs Namibia 0

Try Scorers: Coenraad Visser, Dylan Pretorius, Jean Jordaan

Conversion: Coenraad Visser

Border 28 vs Free State 17

Border Try Scorers: Bulelani Qabazi Ngaki x 2, Thabang Vuyo Maifo, Wyclef Lezhane Vlitoor

Border Coversions: Jaden Cyril Hendrikse x 4

Free State Try Scorers: Charl van der Merwe, De Wet Marais, Johannes de Jager

Border Conversion: Alex-Zander du Plessis

Griffons 3 vs Border CD 5

Griffons Penalty: Richard Gerhardus Frederick Kriel

Border Try: Wanda Fana

Valke 0 vs SWD 0

THE SCHOOL TO REPRESENT SOUTH AFRICA AT THE DANONE NATIONS CUP WILL BE KNOWN ON SATURDAY

At approximately 4pm on Saturday, 22 June, all will be revealed!   The Under-12 team that will represent South Africa at Wembley, London in the Danone Nations Cup World Finals will have ended months of qualifiers. But just reaching the National Finals is an achievement for all nine provincial winners.  Each team started their qualification process in March and to date have played a minimum of 10 games each. 

“I want to see where the Queen of England lives,” said Katleho Mofokeng, from Kgomoco Primary School from Sharpeville in Vereeniging, after the school won the Gauteng provincial finals and found themselves a step closer to a trip to London.  “The Queen is respected by all soccer players and some of the best players in the world come from her country.”

But team coach, Musa Somora, has a different reason for going to London.  “I admire European football as the players are so disciplined on the field and train hard, particularly to score goals. As a coach I would like to go to London and see how the techniques of the other 31 countries playing.  I know I can learn a lot.”

Somora believes the reason the school won this year was due to the support from the principal.  “We have never progressed very far in the Danone Nations Cup, but last year the school decided that producing properly trained players will help South Africa in the future and improve our FIFA rankings so we were all sent on coaching courses, and this has paid off.”

But there are eight other schools in the running who would also like to experience playing on Wembley turf.

This is the first year that Siphumele Primary School from KwaZulu-Natal has entered the competition. “To get to the Nationals in our first year is a huge achievement,” said Sibusiso Phakathi.  “But I need to keep the players confident and calm and we are going to focus on one game at a time and not on London.”

Meanwhile Segolilew Primary School from the Free State’s coach, Moses Phumo believes the school has a good chance of winning. “This is the second year in succession we have reached the national finals and half the team played last year so we are well prepared.”

Teams competing in the National Finals are:

NORTHEN CAPE	Rietriver primary School
KWAZULU NATAL	Siphumelele Primary School
FREE STATE	Selogiloe Primary School
NORTH WEST	Kgotleng Primary school
MPUMALANGA	Danyeni Primary School
EASTERN CAPE	Kunzimbini Primary School
WESTERN CAPE	AH Barnard Primary School
LIMPOPO	Bantwane Primary School
GAUTENG	Kgomoco Primary School