SA Rugby Media Release - SA Schools team announced for U19 Series

Six players who featured in the SA Schools and SA Schools A teams in the Under 19 International Series last season will add experience to the 28-member squad named on Thursday for the 2017 edition of the tournament in Cape Town.

Centre Rikus Pretorius was a member of the triumphant SA Schools team that registered a whitewash in the 2016 series, while scrumhalf Sanele Nohamba, flankers Dylan Richardson and Mark Snyman, lock Juan van der Mescht and prop Keagan Glade all represented the SA Schools A team.

The SA Schools team, sponsored by Coca-Cola, will face Wales on Friday, 11 August at City Park Stadium in Crawford; France on Tuesday, 15 August, at Paarl Gymnasium; and England on Saturday, 19 August, at a venue yet to be confirmed.

In total 18 players in the squad featured in the final match of the U18 Coca-Cola Craven Week at St Stithians College in Johannesburg last Saturday between the Bidvest Waltons Golden Lions and the Sharks, which the home team won 45-18, with each side boasting nine players.

The tournament marks the sixth edition of the international schools tournament, which has become a highlight on the schools rugby calendar. The SA Schools team will again be guided by head coach Lance Sendin, who is also the Hugenote Hoërskool First XV team coach, while Tshepa Trading Griffons U18 Coca-Cola Craven Week assistant coach Roean Bezuidenhout has been named as his assistant coach.

The SA Schools team will gather in Stellenbosch on Sunday, 6 August, to begin their preparations for the tournament. The captain and vice-captain is set to be named once the coaches have had time to work with the players.

“This is a talented group of players and we are excited to work with them ahead of the tournament,” said Sendin. 

“We have no doubt that a huge challenge awaits in the series, but this is an exciting time of the year for us all and we will give our best to be successful in the series.”

Due to the number of participating teams in the series, the SA Schools A team will not be in action this year.

SA Schools squad:

Forwards (18):

Adrian Alberts (lock), DHL Western Province / Paarl Boys High

Morne Brandon (hooker), Bidvest Waltons Golden Lions / Monument

Phendulani Buthelezi (No 8), Sharks / Durban High School

Jordan Clarke (prop), Sharks / Glenwood

Vian Fourie (flanker), DHL Western Province / Paarl Boys High

Keagan Glade (prop), Bidvest Waltons Golden Lions / KES*

Travis Gordon (No 8), Bidvest Waltons Golden Lions / KES

Ruhann Greyling (hooker), Free State / Grey College

Celimpilo Gumede (lock), Sharks / Durban High School

Joachim Martins (flanker), DHL Western Province/ Paarl Gymnasium

Nkosikhona Masuku (prop), Xerox Waltons Golden Lions/ Parktown Boys High

Fezokuhle Mbatha (hooker), Sharks/ Maritzburg College

Banele Mthenjane (prop), Pumas/ Nelspruit

Asenathi Ntlabakanye (prop), Bidvest Waltons Golden Lions/ St Stithians          

Dylan Richardson (flanker), Sharks/ Kearsney*

Mark Snyman (flanker), Bidvest Waltons Golden Lions/ Helpmekaar*

Juan van der Mescht (lock), Sharks/ Glenwood*

Christen van Niekerk (lock), Bidvest Waltons Golden Lions/ Monument

Backs (10):

Diego Appollis (utility back), Blue Bulls/Garsfontein

Hillegard Du Plessis (winger), DHL Western Province/ Paarl Gymnasium

Jaden Hendrikse (scrumhalf), Sharks/ Glenwood

Yanga Hlalu (centre/winger), Xerox Bidvest Golden Lions/ KES

Qamani Kota (winger), Tshepa Trading Griffons/ Welkom Gimnasium

Conan Le Fleur (winger), Sharks/ Glenwood

Bonianga Mpeku (fullback), Bidvest Waltons Golden Lions/ KES

Sanele Nohamba (scrumhalf), Sharks/ Durban High School*

Rikus Pretorius (centre), Free State/ Grey College*

Christopher Schreuder (flyhalf), Free State/ Grey College

SA Schools management team:

Head Coach - Lance Sendin

Assistant Coach - Roean Bezuidenhout

Team Manager - Ofentse Moeng

Conditioning Coach - Andre Smith

Team Doctor - Dr Gerhard Coetzer

Physiotherapist - Kim Naidoo

Issued by SA Rugby Communications

Coca-Cola Hero of the Day for Day 4 JJ van der Mescht

 

Coca-Cola Hero of the Day for Day 3 Nkosikhona Masuku

COCA-COLA HERO OF THE DAY (DAY 5)

Tino Swanepoel from the Golden Lions has been named the Coca-Cola Hero of the Day for day 5 of the U18 Coca-Cola Craven Week.

The prestigious Coca-Cola Hero of the Day award is presented on each day of the tournament in recognition of a game changing ‘hero’ moment.  Tino was selected for the award by a Coca-Cola appointed panel of rugby experts, led by Springbok legend Victor Matfield after he broke the deadlock in the match between the Golden Lions and the Sharks. The match had been a closely fought up to that stage with neither team able to take charge of the match. Tino got the ball just outside his 22 and ran through the opposition defence to set up a try for his team mate David Cary, this try broke the deadlock and the Lions ended up winning the game 45-18.

“I am very happy to win the Coca-Cola Hero of the Day in the final match of the tournament. I am proud that I was able to help the team win our match against the Sharks,” said Swanepoel.

“It’s been a great week of the Coca-Cola Craven Week. We have witnessed some of the best schoolboy rugby action, which shows that the future of SA rugby is in good hands. It was  a tough game and Tino’s sudden break out of the 22 set up a beautiful try to put his team in the lead, and I can’t wait to see the 17 year old play again next year,” said Victor Matfield.

Phindi Phiri, Coca-Cola South Africa’s Marketing Assets Manager, “Congratulations to Tino for being chosen as the Coca-Cola Hero of the Day for day 5. The Coca-Cola Craven Week is where South Africa’s best, up and coming rugby players are identified – this is where heroes are made. Tino is a young player that showed a lot of composure to help his team in a tough game and this is a trait of a true Coca-Cola hero.”

About the Coca-Cola® Craven Week

The Coca-Cola Craven Week is an annual rugby union tournament aimed at identifying the top school rugby players in the country. The tournament started in July 1964, and is named after the legendary Springbok rugby union player and coach Dr Danie Craven.  Coca-Cola became the naming rights sponsor in 1985. There are four tournaments that take place during the Coca-Cola Youth Weeks, namely the Coca-Cola U/13 Craven Week, Coca-Cola U/16 Grant Khomo Week, Coca-Cola U/18 Academy Week and the Coca-Cola U/18 Craven Week.  Many of South Africa’s top rugby players have participated in the Coca-Cola Craven Weeks as a springboard to their professional careers including former World Cup winning captain’s John Smit and Francois Pienaar.

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 and more than 3,800 beverage choices. Led by Coca-Cola, one of the world's most valuable and recognizable brands, our company’s portfolio features 20 billion-dollar brands, 18 of which are available in reduced-, low- or no-calorie options. Our billion-dollar brands include Diet Coke, Coca-Cola Zero, Fanta, Sprite, Dasani, vitaminwater, Powerade, Minute Maid, Simply, Del Valle, Georgia and Gold Peak. Through the world's largest beverage distribution system, we are the No. 1 provider of both sparkling and still beverages.  More than 1.9 billion servings of our beverages are enjoyed by consumers in more than 200 countries each day. With an enduring commitment to building sustainable communities, our company is focused on initiatives that reduce our environmental footprint, create a safe, inclusive work

COCA-COLA® HERO OF THE DAY (DAY 4)

Juan (JJ) Van der Mescht from the Sharks has been named the Coca-Cola Hero of the Day for day 4 of the U18 Coca-Cola Craven Week.

The prestigious Coca-Cola Hero of the Day award is presented on each day of the tournament in recognition of a game changing ‘hero’ moment.  JJ was selected for the award by a Coca-Cola appointed panel of rugby experts, led by Springbok legend Victor Matfield. He scored the first try of the match and had an opportunity to score another but selflessly passed the ball to his captain Phendulani Buthelezi to score instead.

“It is an honor and privilege to get the Hero of the Day award, and an even greater privilege to get the award from one of my heroes, Victor Matfield,” said Mescht.

“JJ is part of a fantastic Sharks team and is one of the reasons they are such a great team. What impressed me the most was his incredible sportsmanship and selflessness when he offloaded the ball to his teammate when he could’ve dotted it down himself,” said Matfield.

Phindi Phiri, Coca-Cola South Africa’s Marketing Assets Manager, “Congratulations to JJ for being chosen as the Coca-Cola Hero of the Day for day 4. The Coca-Cola Craven Week is where South Africa’s best, up and coming rugby players are identified – this is where heroes are made. JJ is a selfless player that puts his team mates first. Part of being a hero is being a team player and he embodies this trait perfectly. I hope that this is just the beginning of a long and successful career in rugby for him.”

 

About the Coca-Cola® Craven Week

The Coca-Cola Craven Week is an annual rugby union tournament aimed at identifying the top school rugby players in the country. The tournament started in July 1964, and is named after the legendary Springbok rugby union player and coach Dr Danie Craven.  Coca-Cola became the naming rights sponsor in 1985. There are four tournaments that take place during the Coca-Cola Youth Weeks, namely the Coca-Cola U/13 Craven Week, Coca-Cola U/16 Grant Khomo Week, Coca-Cola U/18 Academy Week and the Coca-Cola U/18 Craven Week.  Many of South Africa’s top rugby players have participated in the Coca-Cola Craven Weeks as a springboard to their professional careers including former World Cup winning captain’s John Smit and Francois Pienaar.

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 and more than 3,800 beverage choices. Led by Coca-Cola, one of the world's most valuable and recognizable brands, our company’s portfolio features 20 billion-dollar brands, 18 of which are available in reduced-, low- or no-calorie options. Our billion-dollar brands include Diet Coke, Coca-Cola Zero, Fanta, Sprite, Dasani, vitaminwater, Powerade, Minute Maid, Simply, Del Valle, Georgia and Gold Peak. Through the world's largest beverage distribution system, we are the No. 1 provider of both sparkling and still beverages.  More than 1.9 billion servings of our beverages are enjoyed by consumers in more than 200 countries each day. With an enduring commitment to building sustainable communities, our company is focused on initiatives that reduce our environmental footprint, create a safe, inclusive work