The 2010 Coca Cola U18 Craven Week took place in Welkom last week, with six Grahamstown school boys making up the Eastern Province Country Districts (EP CD) side.
The 2010 Coca Cola U18 Craven Week took place in Welkom last week, with six Grahamstown school boys making up the Eastern Province Country Districts (EP CD) side.
The EP CD side went on to finish fourth in the tournament, earning ten points in their three first round matches.
The EP CD side lost to Griffons 25-28 in their first match, before beating Namibia 27-18 and then Griquas Country District 31-20.
Representing the EP side were: Chad Banfield (Graeme College), Ryan Dugmore, brothers Grant and Mark Prior, Andrew Kebble and Ntsikelelo Mlamleli – all from St Andrew’s College.
The South African Rugby Union (SARU) announced a 32-man U18 high performance squad at the conclusion of the 2010 Coca-Cola U18 Craven Week in Welkom that will compete in international friendlies against France, England and a Namibian invitational side.
Eastern province selector, Duncan Bush said that while the local pupils played well, it was a pity none were selected for the side as only one EP player made the grade: Banfield from Graeme who had a good game against the Griquas side.
Prior scored two tries in their final match, while Dugmore scored one try. Competing teams also participated in a SARU High Performance workshop in Welkom which was hosted by SARU’s High Performance department.
SA Sevens coach Paul Treu, SA U20 coach Eric Sauls and the national selectors Peter Jooste, Ian McIntosh and Marais Bester (SA Sevens) were in attendance.
Each player received a DVD which included an all-year conditioning programme and electronic software to rate himself against the country’s best players in his age group.
The training programme and software were provided by the Sports Science Institute of South Africa. Players had the opportunity to chat and interact with SARU’s High Performance delegation and also had the chance to interact with the different teams competing at the Coca- Cola U18 Craven Week in Welkom.
Meanwhile the first part of the High Performance workshop was dedicated to the South African Rugby Union’s national rugby safety programme – BokSmart.
The 20 U18 competing sides watched a BokSmart Rugby Safety DVD to introduce them to the concept of SARU’s plan to ensure that rugby is played in a safer environment.
BokSmart, which is sponsored by Absa, aims to reduce the number of serious and catastrophic head, neck and spinal injuries associated with the game.
The goal is to provide the rugby community with all the knowledge and skills needed to ensure that safety and best practice principles are paramount in all aspects of the game.
South Africa U18 International fixtures: Friday, 16 July 2010 – SA vs France in East London Tuesday, 20 July 2010 – SA vs Namibia in George Friday, 23 July 2010 – SA vs England in Port Elizabeth
