Grahamstown Brumbies have ended another successful rugby season, with several players, administrators and coaches being selected for provincial teams.
Grahamstown Brumbies have ended another successful rugby season, with several players, administrators and coaches being selected for provincial teams.
Brumbies finished in the top 10 of the Eastern Province Grand Challenge, where they competed against top opposition from around the province.
The club also participated in the Eastern Cape Super 12 competition, featuring the top six clubs from both EP and Border.
Brumbies reached the quarter-finals of the event and their U21s participated for the first time.
The following made the EP Country and Districts team which took part in the National Week in Margate, KZN recently:
- Monray Evans (captain): This is the third year in a row that the big Brumbies lock forward leads the EP side. He is known for his all-round ability on the field. He is an excellent line-out jumper, a powerful ball carrier, solid defender and has great handling skills. Monray is also a former Player of the Year for the club and in the past represented the EP Rural side. He also captained the SEDRU side last season in their 40th anniversary celebrations.
- Deon Crouse: The powerful runner of Brumbies, a front ranker who represented the EP side both at hooker and prop forward. He was also part of the EP side for three consecutive years and has been selected for both the EP Rural and Sedru sides. Before switching to the front rank position he played centre, wing and flyhalf. He scored four tries this season for Brumbies.
- Leclue Trompetter: New to the EP Country team, he played as hooker and occasionally prop for both Brumbies and EP. Had a wonderful second half of the rugby season with Brumbies, and was included in the EP side. He is an aggressive ball carrier and powerful scrummer. He received the Brumbies Best 1st XV Forward Award for 2013.
- Jaco Buys: New to the EP Country team and still at school, Buys has shown great promise and skill at loose forward for Brumbies and scored a few great tries this season. This elusive and explosive youngster also represented Brumbies U21 in the Super 12, where he was voted U21 Player of the Year in the competition. He was also named the Supporter's Player of the Year at their recent Awards Evening.
- Jason Potgieter: The 21-year-old from Trying Stars joined the Brumbies this year in the Adams Cup and immediately made an impact in the Super 12, where he was the stand-out player. This is also his second season for the EP team, where he is a talented at loose forward. He scored some brilliant tries for Brumbies this season and is unpredictable on attack with a solid defence.
- Jerome Blaauw: The 19-year-old schoolboy from Mary Waters is also new to this EP team and is a great prospect for the future, both at hooker and prop forward. Represented Brumbies at the Super 12 U21 and 1st XV level in the Grand Challenge. Named the Brumbies Most Promising Player this year.
- Sheldon Nelson: His deceptive and magical feet made him a household name in the Brumbies, especially at the Oval. The matriculant at Mary Waters and a star in the making, he scored seven super tries this season. He received the Player of the Year Award, Best 1st Backline Player and EP Rep Award at the Brumbies awards. Also new in the EP team, he scored a few tries for EP at the National Week, with his sheer pace and skill on attack.
- Duane Brown: Selected for Sedru last season and also the EP Country team. Scored a brilliant try against WP at the National Week and is one of the future stars for Brumbies. Was also part of the EP Academy last year and played for the EP U21s. Brilliant second half of the season for Brumbies, playing both at fullback, wing and centre.
- Maasdorp Cannon: Coach of the EP Country side for the third year in a row and was also previously coach of the EP Rural team. Currently the Brumbies Coaches Co-ordinator and was previously the club's president. Was also an IRB Coaches Trainer/Instructor recently.
Vincent Mains and Monray Evans were also part of the EP Kings training squad recently and underwent various fitness and skills tests.
Chesley Daniels was part of the IRB Master Class Coaching course in Port Alfred, while Gareth Burger, Bertram Prince, Monray Evans, Skera Mfazwe obtained their level 2 IRB Certificates.
Ethan September and Craig Williams represented EP U18 academy side, while Gordon-Wayne Plaaitjies made the EP Country U18 side and Eldrico Kivitts the EP U13 side.
