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 3)

Nkosikhona Masuku from the Golden Lions has been named the Coca-Cola Hero of the Day for day 3 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.  Nkosikhona was selected for the award by a Coca-Cola appointed panel of rugby experts, led by Springbok legend Victor Matfield after he had a huge game in the scrum often dominating the Western Province scrum all match, culminating in an attacking scrum where he managed to force his opposing prop into a mistake and giving away a penalty in front of the posts.

“We had a scrum that we had to win so I dug deep and managed to win the scrum and a penalty for my team. It is a great experience being the Hero of the Day and I hope that it will inspire others to do their best to achieve their goals,” said Nkosikhona

“It was a tough game and there were quite a few heroic moments from both teams. Nkosikhona however stood out and was very impressive as he dug deep and gave everything for his team at scrum time. His effort resulted in a penalty that put his team in the lead for the first time in the match,” said Victor Matfield.

Phindi Phiri, Coca-Cola South Africa’s Marketing Assets Manager, “Congratulations to Nkosikhona for being chosen as the Coca-Cola Hero of the Day for day 3. The Coca-Cola Craven Week is where South Africa’s best, up and coming rugby players are identified – this is where heroes are made. Not all heroes are identified by a flashy moment, some heroes are quiet and inspire others with their actions, Nkosikhona is one of those quiet heroes. Hopefully 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

Victor Matfield called up to scout Coca-Cola® Craven Week Heroes

Springbok legend to lead Coca-Cola® Hero of the Day selection panel

Springbok legend and rugby pundit, Victor Matfield, has been announced as the face of the Coca-Cola Hero of the Day at South Africa’s primary youth rugby tournament, the Coca-Cola u18 Craven Week. Matfield, who is the most capped Springbok, has been tasked to lead a panel of experts in selecting the Coca-Cola Hero of the Day recipients at the Coca-Cola Craven Week, which will take place at St Stithians College in Johannesburg from 17-22 July 2017.

“Being chosen to be part of the Coca-Cola Craven Week really takes me back to when I played in the tournament back in 1994 and 1995. For me, Craven Week was a stepping stone in my rugby career and I want to thank Coca-Cola and SARU for organising tournaments like these to identify talent from a young age. I look forward to playing a part in the tournament and bringing some of my experience and expertise to what I believe will be an action-packed week,” Matfield commented.

Matfield, alongside Coca-Cola’s appointed panel of rugby specialists, will on each day of the Coca-Cola u18 Craven Week be tasked with identifying and recognizing a standout player that embodies the qualities of a hero, the Coca-Cola Hero of the Day.

The Coca-Cola Hero of the Day is not necessarily the best player on the field. He is the flank that made three successive tackles and forced the turnover; the scrumhalf that took a quick tap and dived over for the match-winning try; or the centre that made a courageous try-saving tackle.

Fetsi Mbele, Senior Communications Manager: Assets and Brand Experience, Coca-Cola South Africa, said “Coca-Cola has been a proud sponsor of the Coca-Cola Youth Weeks for the last 32 years. The Coca-Cola Craven Week is a platform for identifying the top school rugby players in the country - this is where South Africa’s future heroes are made. We are thus delighted to have one of the most decorated heroes in world rugby, Victor Matfield, come on board to lead our Coca-Cola Hero of the Day campaign, as we continue the development of youth rugby in South Africa. We look forward to an exciting partnership with Victor and believe that with his help, we will continue to unearth the future Springboks.”

The photos attached are of players that Victor Matfield suggested that we should look out for at this year's Coca-Cola Craven Week.

For more search #WhereHeroesAreMade on Twitter or visit @CocaCola_ZA

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