EP name strong Craven and Grant Khomo teams
Xhanti Pongolo (Grey High) and Sean Vermaak (Framesby) have been named as co-captains of a strong EP U18 Craven Week team to play in Krugersdorp from June 24 to 29.
The team is brimful of powerful forwards and exciting backs and is expected to give a good account of itself at SA’s premier schools’ event.
The event will be hosted at Hoërskool Monument in Krugersdorp and big crowds are expected to watch SA’s top schoolboy stars in action.
Eastern Province kick off the tournament with a clash against archrivals Border on June 24 on the opening day of the tournament.
A powerful EP team was also named for the Grant Khomo Under-16 tournament, which will take place from June 17 to 21 at Grey High School.
A total of 18 provincial Under-16 rugby teams, plus sides from Namibia and Zimbabwe, will make their way to Nelson Mandela Bay to compete in the event.
The EP U16 team will be captained by Grey’s Johandre van Jaarsveld.
In a boost for Craven Week, Stadio Higher Education has joined SA Rugby as the headline sponsor of the tournament.
As part of the agreement, Stadio will make three bursaries available to the Under-18 Craven Week Players of the Tournament (best back, best forward and best player), which will enable these players to further their studies at a tertiary level.
Stadio is also an associate partner of the Under-16 and Under-18 Girls Week and the Under-16 Grant Khomo Week.
SA Rugby chief executive Rian Oberholzer said: “The alignment between Stadio’s goals and the purpose of the Youth Weeks makes for a perfect marriage and their support is highly appreciated.
“Their commitment to the tournament elevates the event for all stakeholders and we look forward to developing the relationship over coming years.”
EP U18 Craven Week team: 1 Kian Rademeyer (Pearson), 2 Jon Hobson (Grey), 3 Sean Vermaak (Framesby, cocapt), 4 Likhona Sodlaka (Grey), 5 Damien le Roux (Brandwag), 6 Tapiwe Zanda (Kingswood), 7 Sipho Nonyelela (Kingswood), 8 Jan-Theo van Tonder (Volkskool), 9 Apiah Ndzengu (Kingswood), 10 Caleb Frisken (Pearson), 11 Vizikhungo Labase (Kingswood), 12 Xhanti Pongolo (Grey, co-capt), 13 Likhona Kepe (Kingswood), 14 Damien Witbooi (Framesby), 15 Jared Wilson (Kingswood), 16 Nicholis Wessels (Framesby), 17 Ike Ukukwe (Kingswood), 18 Zama Nkonki (Gill), 19 Josh McKenzie (Kingswood), 20 Johan van Zyl (Framesby), 21 Lucraine Miggels (Brandwag), 22 Praise Matsila (Kingswood), 23 Munangi Kamwendo (Kingswood).
EP U16 Grant Khomo team: 1 Daniel Naude (Grey), 2 Athi Manyati (Graeme), 3 Dewald Niemand (Pearson), 4 Akho Tonjeni (Graeme), 5 Josh van Zyl (St Andrew’s), 6 Ben Arnott (Pearson), 7 Rueben van Dijk (Nico Malan), 8 Johandre van Jaarsveld (Grey, capt), 9 Zanick Carolus (Brandwag), 10 Tristan Kemp (Grey), 11 Leighton Lawrence (Nico Malan), 12 Ciarin Kilian (Grey), 13 Erin Nelson (Graeme, vice-captain), 14 Noah Mbizi (Grey), 15 Lucritia Magua (Graeme), 16 Blake Parker (Grey), 17 Kwezi Mafongozi (Muir), 18 Sivato Mjali (St Andrews), 19 Erich van Zyl (Nico Malan), 20 Lidwalo Maliti (Graeme), 21 Ryan Swarbrick (Grey), 22 Will Stevens (St Andrew’s), 23 Michael Nyandoro (Grey).