Latest news with #Under-18InternationalSeries
The South African
6 days ago
- Sport
- The South African
Paarl Gimnasium prodigy Markus Muller to captain SA Schools side
Markus Muller (SA Schools) and Jeandre Uithaler (SA Schools 'A') will captain their respective sides in the annual clash between the cream of the crop in South Africa's schoolboy rugby at Hoërskool Middelburg in Mpumalanga on Thursday. Muller, centre from Western Province and Paarl Gimnasium, will lead the team running out in green and gold, while the Uithaler, the Golden Lions and Noorheuwel's flyhalf, will run in front of the team in the alternative white and green strip. With Josh Neill being ruled out of action for the encounter, only seven players from last year's teams will feature again. Muller will be joined in the SA Schools matchday squad by lock AJ Meyer (Grey College), centre Ethan Adams (Grey College), fullback Zekhethelo Siyaya (Westville) and replacement prop Jordan Jooste (Paarl Boys High). André Poulton (prop, Jeppe) and Briint Davids (flanker, Milnerton) are the two returning players in the SA Schools 'A' starting team. Quinton Potgieter (replacement flanker, Paarl Gimnasium) has taken Neill's place in the SA Schools team, with his place in the 'A' squad going to Elwin Janse van Vuuren of Affies. Ian Schwartz, SA Rugby's General Manager for Participation and Development, urged the players to make the most of this opportunity to showcase their talent. 'We celebrate not just the talent on the field, but the journey that brought them here. This fixture is more than a match – it's a showcase of South Africa's schools rugby depth, resilience, and promise,' said Schwartz. 'These teams represent the best of the best that were in action at the FNB U18 Craven Week, and we can't wait to see them in action, with the Under-18 International Series on the horizon. 'No less than seven players who were in the SA Schools team last year, are now part of the Junior Bok squad at the World Rugby U20 Championship in Italy – Cheswill Jooste, Riley Norton, Siphosethu Mnebelele, Phiwayinkosi 'Rambo' Kubheka, Oliver Reid, Vusi Moyo and Alzeadon Felix – and this is where they took their first steps in green and gold. 'All of these players are part of our Elite Player Development (EPD) programme and to see them in action on Thursday, will be just reward for all the hard work done by our EPD structures in SA Rugby ecosystem, as well as the SA Schools Selectors. 'They have selected two squads of highly talented players, but even for those who didn't make the squads, the doors will never be closed and I want to urge all our youngsters to never give up on chasing their dreams. Let this match be a celebration of growth, grit, and greatness. The pathway may differ, but the destination is shared.' The match in Middelburg will kick-off at 15:00. 15 Zekhethelo Siyaya (Sharks / Westville Boys High) 14 Junaide Stuart (Blue Bulls / Garsfontein HS) 13 Ethan Adams (Free State / Grey College) 12 Markus Muller (captain, Western Province / Paarl Gimnasium) 11 Jadrian Afrikaner (Sharks / Westville Boys High) 10 Liyema Nela (Sharks / Hilton College) 9 Morne Noble (Western Province / Wynberg Boys High) 8 Jacobus de Villiers (SWD / Oakdale) 7 Wasi Vyambwera (Sharks / Maritzburg College) 6 Chinedu Amadi (Golden Lions / King Edward VII) 5 AJ Meyer (Free State / Grey College) 4 Lwandile Mlaba (Sharks / Westville Boys High) 3 Luan van der Berg (Blue Bulls / Garsfontein) 2 Altus Rabe (Western Province / Paul Roos Gymnasium) 1 Kai Pratt (SWD / Oakdale) 16 Clinton Agu (Golden Lions / Noordheuwel HS) 17 Jordan Jooste (Western Province / Paarl Boys High) 18 Matthew van der Merwe (Western Province / Rondebosch Boys High) 19 Jayden Joubert (Western Province / Paarl Boys High) 20 Quintin Potgieter (Western Province / Paarl Gimnasium) 21 Gert Kemp (Western Province / Paul Roos Gymnasium) 22 Zirk Meyer (Blue Bulls / Affies) 23 Ruben Groenewald (Blue Bulls / Affies) 24 Nathan Aneke (Sharks / Durban High School) 25 Lamla Mgedezi (Free State / Grey College) 26 Thabiso Simelane (Blue Bulls / St. Albans College) 15 Junade Pasensie (Blue Bulls / Garsfontein HS) 14 Lucritia Magua (Eastern Province / Graeme College) 13 Erin Nelson (Eastern Province / Graeme College) 12 Christian Vorster (SWD / Oakdale) 11 Ncuthu Kepe (Border / Queens College) 10 Jeandre Uithaler (captain, Golden Lions / Noordheuwel HS) 9 Jayden Brits (Western Province / Boland Landbou) 8 Stefan McDonald (Blue Bulls / Affies) 7 Briint Davids (Western Province / Milnerton HS) 6 Caleb Koeberg (Western Province / Paul Roos Gymnasium) 5 Lian Terblanche (Sharks / Northwood HS) 4 Diaan Augustyn (SWD / Oakdale) 3 Bernhard du Toit (Western Province / Paarl Boys High) 2 Keenan Myners (SWD / Outeniqua HS) 1 Andre Poulton (Golden Lions / Jeppe) 16 Thomas Muller (Western Province / Paarl Boys High) 17 Jeffrey Singo (Blue Bulls / Pretoria Boys High) 18 JG Badenhorst (Free State / Grey College) 19 Juvan Burden (Western Province / Stellenberg HS) 20 Elwin Janse van Vuuren (Blue Bulls / Affies) 21 Mickyle Booise (Western Province / Paarl Gimnasium) 22 Ethan van Biljon (Western Province / Stellenberg HS) 23 Jeneall Davids (Western Province / Paarl Boys High) 24 Pieter Cilliers (Western Province / Paarl Gimnasium) 25 Toriq Schambreel (Free State / Grey College) 26 Jadon Ocks (Western Province / Boland Landbou) Head Coach: Lwazi Zangqa (Border) Lwazi Zangqa (Border) Assistant Coach: Cobus van Dyk (Blue Bulls) Cobus van Dyk (Blue Bulls) Team Manager: Dean Moodley (Sharks) Dean Moodley (Sharks) Physiotherapist: Robin Williams (Sharks) Robin Williams (Sharks) Conditioning Coach: Yaw Fosu-Amoah (Eastern Province) Yaw Fosu-Amoah (Eastern Province) Team Doctor: Dr Gershwin Kortje (Boland) Head Coach: Flash Malinga (Sharks) Flash Malinga (Sharks) Assistant Coach: Clinton van Rensburg (Western Province) Clinton van Rensburg (Western Province) Team Manager: Mandla Madaka (Blue Bulls) Mandla Madaka (Blue Bulls) Physiotherapist: Rob Sims (Western Province) Rob Sims (Western Province) Conditioning Coach: Adriaan Jansen (SWD) Adriaan Jansen (SWD) Team Doctor: Dr Gershwin Kortje (Boland) Let us know by leaving a comment below, or send a WhatsApp to 060 011 021 1 Subscribe to The South African website's newsletters and follow us on WhatsApp, Facebook, X and Bluesky for the latest news.
IOL News
29-05-2025
- Sport
- IOL News
Stormers secure strong contingent of SA schoolboy stars for next season
Stormers director of rugby John Dobson is pleased with the crop of schoolboy players who committed their futures to the Cape side ahead of next season. Photo: BackpagePix Image: BackpagePix The Stormers have moved to secure the cream of local schoolboy rugby talent in the Western Cape ahead of the next season. A strong group of juniors have committed their futures to the Cape side for 2026 and beyond as they transition from school rugby into the more professional side of game. The recruitment is led by the Paarl Gimnasium duo of centre Markus Muller and loose forward Quintin Potgieter, who will be joined by Rondebosch Boys' loose forward Alutha Wesi, centre Randall-John Davids, and Paul Roos stalwarts wing Jordan Steenkamp, hooker Altus Rabe and loose forward Gert Kemp. Additional signings include Wynberg Boys' flyhalf Yaqeen Ahmed, Boland Landbou scrumhalf Jayden Brits and Grey College lock AJ Meyer. There is especially excitement about the future of Muller, captain of Paarl Gim's first XV, and how he has excelled in the outside-centre jersey for the school. Another promising young player is flyhalf Ahmed. He has been outstanding in the Wynberg jersey with his overall skills. It's expected that Ahmed will form part of the SA Schools team again this year after starring for the team during last season's Under-18 International Series, while Muller is expected to make the step up from the SA Schools A side. John Dobson, the director of rugby at the Stormers, said they are excited about the strong influx of local talent, which aligns with their commitment to nurturing players from the community. 'This speaks to our aim as an organisation of harnessing the talent we have on our doorstep and strengthening the connection with our fans by contracting players from their communities to take our team forward,' Dobson said. The decision to prioritise local talent is a critical component of Stormers Rugby's strategy. It enhances their pathway system, which has already borne fruit, as evidenced by the success of the Western Province Under-21s, claiming consecutive national title victories in the last couple of seasons. Many of these players have subsequently stepped into the ranks of the Stormers during the United Rugby Championship and Champions Cup, showcasing the effectiveness of the organisation's development approach. 'Of course, we still keep an eye on the most promising players from around the country, and will make strategic acquisitions from outside the region if we feel they will make a big difference,' Dobson added.
