The South African Rugby Union (SARU) announced at the conclusion of the Coca-Cola U18 Craven Week that a 30-man SA U18 high performance squad are to take on France and Argentina next month.
The South African Rugby Union (SARU) announced at the conclusion of the Coca-Cola U18 Craven Week that a 30-man SA U18 high performance squad are to take on France and Argentina next month.
Four Grahamstown pupils represented the Eastern Province Country District side, and Brian Skosana of St Andrew’s College was named as part of the SA schools team. Skosana is the only player from the EP Country District side to make it onto the team.
The squad will assemble in Cape Town to prepare for three internationals, facing France on 22 August and 29 August and the Baby Pumas from Argentina on 26 August, as part of SARU’s elite player development programme
“We have changed our strategy and our intentions are now to include international participation for our elite players,” said Herman Masimla, the Souith African high performance rugby manager.
“Our aims are to give U18 players some international exposure. Only when guys compete will we know who the possible players are that could make it on the international stage.
Hopefully there will be guys that have attended this workshop who will one day represent the SA U20 team, Springbok Sevens side or ultimately play for the Springboks,” he said. Competing teams at the Coca-Cola U18 Craven Week also participated in a rugby high performance workshop and were briefed by South African national selector Peter Jooste and SA U20 coach, Eric Sauls.
Each player received a DVD which included an all-year conditioning program and electronic software to rate himself against the country’s best players in his age group. The training program and software were provided by the Sports Science Institute of South Africa.
“A player’s talent is one thing, but the focus on looking after the conditioning of players is something that is of equal importance to the development of successful junior players.”
In their three matches played during the Coco-Cola Craven Week, the EP Country District side lost their first match against the Leopards 20-27, they won their second match against Boland 25-18, and in their last match, narrowly lost to South Western Districts 35-34, with Skosana scoring a number of tries throughout the tournament.
Western Province were crowned the champions following their 19-17 victory over the Free State in East London on Saturday.
