Golden Lions reveal teams for Youth Weeks
The Golden Lions have unveiled their squad for the FNB u18 Craven Week, which takes place from 7-12 July at Hoërskool Middelburg, in Mpumalanga.
The team mixes talents from top rugby schools, including Helpmekaar, Noordheuwel, and Jeppe.
The team will enjoy a solid foundation with Jeppe High School for Boys’ loosehead prop André Poulton and Helpmekaar Kollege’s tight-head prop Dylan Engelbrecht, both of whom played in the 2024 edition in Krugersdorp, manning the front row.
Helpmekaar with seven players in the squad, leads the way. Their contingent includes, among others, flank Eugene de Lange, fullback Ty Ax, Liam Devenier, Zian Smit, and the twins, Shaye and Ethan Lourens.
Noordheuwel and Jeppe each have six players in the lineup, which is reflection on the consistent performances both schools have delivered this season.
The starting lineup includes several standout combinations. In the backline, Jeandré Uithaler (Noordheuwel) and Shaye Lourens will form the crucial halfback partnership. Ethan Lourens and Jeppe’s Lindelani Nkanbule will provide strength and speed in the midfield, while Joel Akilo (Jeppe) and Aiden Bester (Noordheuwel) provide finishing flair on the wings.
In the pack, King Edward VII‘s (KES) Chinedu Amadi anchors the loose trio at number eight, supported by De Lange (Helpmekaar) and Sam Bruwer (KES). Monument‘s Vincent Robberts provides a physical presence at lock, with Clinton Agu (Noordheuwel) handling the hooker’s duties.
The Lions bench features Jeppe’s hooker Ayanda Funeka, loosehead prop Liam Devenier (Helpmekaar), Frank van der Merwe (KES), Helpmekaar’s eighthman Zian Smit, Armand van Eck (Noordheuwel), Talent Sithole (Jeppe), inside centre Phano Letsie (Jeppe), and Tidi Moeketsane (Noordheuwel) – a group selected for their versatility and impact potential.
The Golden Lions also named a competitive squad for the forthcoming u18 Academy Week, which will also be played at Hoërskool Middelburg.
KES has four players in the squad, while Northcliff, Jeppe High School for Boys, Hoërskool Monument, and Hoërskool Noordheuwel provide three players each. Parktown had two players selected, while the lineup includes one each from Helpmekaar, St John’s College, St Stithians College, and Marais Viljoen.
At the back, Northcliff’s Matthew Hunt is flanked by right-wing Ndimphiwe Mjiji (Jeppe) and left-wing Ruan Genis, from Monument. Sicelo Sakawuli (St Stithians) partners Sam Smith (KES) in the midfield, offering a balanced mix of pace and physicality. Monument’s flyhalf, Jayden Viljoen, links up with Noordheuwel’s scrumhalf, Gideon Diedericks, to drive the game plan.
The forward pack features Rio Tshimbalanga, from Marais Viljoen, who anchors the back row, supported by Jeppe’s Grady Ngui and Noordheuwel’s Andrew Lambert on the flanks.
Michael Bownes (KES) and Michael Nwogwugwu (Northcliff) will form a strong second-row partnership, while Awulani Ndlovu (Jeppe), Juandré van der Merwe (Helpmekaar), and Stefan Bezuidenhout (Noordheuwel) pack down in the front row.
Parktown Boys’ High’s Lethoko Mallane and Manual Motsi feature among the replacements, alongside Regan McGurk and Indibable Mboniswa from KES, St John’s College’s Mako Mandizha, Monument’’s Ryno van der Westuizen, and Jeppe’s Glodi Tshimpaka. McGurk represented the Lions at the Craven Week last year.
The Golden Lions have also confirmed a promising 23-man squad to represent them at the FNB u16 Grant Khomo Week, to be played at St Alban’s College, in Pretoria, from 29 June to 4 July.
Leading the school representation are Monument and KES, with six players each, followed closely by Noordheuwel (4), Jeppe (3), and Parktown (2). Northcliff and Helpmekaar each contribute one player to round off a well-balanced squad.
Monument’s Ray Nathan van Coller will wear the No. 15 jersey, while wings Russel Mgiba (KES) and Prosper Mbandlwa (Jeppe) add speed and agility. The Lions will field a midfield pairing of Asa Mgwatyu, from KES, and Monument’s Blessing Monareng, with Jeppe’s Ndzalama Mbhalati and Pierre Crofton (KES) as halfbacks.
Up front, Monument players dominate the pack, with Luan Coetzee, Roché Botha, Keegan McCarthy, and Hanco van Geelen in the lineup. Iglesias Bruiners (Noordheuwel) brings accuracy at the line-out and aggression at the breakdown. The loose trio features Aiden Harty (Noordheuwel), Diederick Kleyn (KES), and McCarthy.
The bench brings features players who can deliver impact and versatility. Andries van der Merwe (KES) and Jordan Venter (Northcliff) bolster the front row, while Rick van den Berg and Chrissandro Flemmer (Noordheuwel) offer second and back row cover.
Dewald du Preez (Helpmekaar) provides added grunt in the loose forwards. The backline reserves include Naledi Phiri (KES), Lethabo Malahlela, and Hlayisani Mbambo (both Parktown), giving the team tactical options in tight matches.
The teams:
Craven Week: 15 Ty Ax (Helpmekaar), 14 Aiden Bester (Noordheuwel), 13 Lindelani Nkambule (Jeppe), 12a Ethan Lourens (Helpmekaar), 11 Joel Akilo (Jeppe), 10 Jeandré Uithaler (Noordheuwel), 9 Shaye Lourens (Helpmekaar), 8 Chinedu Amadi (KES), 7 Eugene de Lange (Helpmekaar), 6 Sam Bruwer (Kes), 5 Ethan Lourens (Noordheuwel), 4 Vincent Robberts (Monument), 3 Dylan Engelbrecht (Helpmekaar), 2 Clinton Agu (Noordheuwel), 1 André Poulton (Jeppe). Replacements: 16 Ayanda Funeka (Jeppe), 17 Liam Devenier (Helpmekaar), 18 Frank van der Merwe (KES), 19 Zian Smit (Helpmekaar), 20 Armand van Eck (Noordheuwel), 21 Talent Sithoile (Jeppe), 22 Phano Letsie (Jeppe), 23 Tidi Moekesane (Noordheuwel).
7 Helpmekaar | 6 Noordheuwel | 6 Jeppe High School for Boys’ | 3 King Edward VII | 1 Monument
Academy Week: 15 Matthew Hunt (Northcliff), 14 Ndimphiwe Mjiji (Jeppe), 13 Sicelo Sakawuli (St Stithians), 12 Sam Smith (KES), 11 Ruan Genis (Monument), 10 Jayden Viljoen (Monument), 9 Gideon Diedericks (Noordheuwel), 8 Rio Tshimbalanga (Marais Viljoen), 7 Grady Ngui (Jeppe), 6 Andrew Lambert (Noordheuwel), 5 Michael Bownes (Kes), 4 Michael Nwogwugwu (Northcliff), 3 Awulani Ndlovu (Jeppe), 2 Juandre van der Merwe (Helpmekaar), 1 Stefan Bezuidenhout (Noordheuwel). Replacements: 16: Lethoko Mallane (Parktown), 17 Manuel Motsi (Parktown), 18 Mako Mandizha (St Johns), 19 Glodi Tshimpaka (Jeppe), 20 Mardoche (Northcliff), 21 Ryno van der Westhuizen (Monument), 22 Regan McGurk (KES), 23 Indibable Mboniswa (KES).
4 KES | 3 Northcliff | 3 Jeppe High School for Boys’ | 3 Monument | 3 Noordheuwel | 2 Parktown Boys’ High | 1 Helpmekaar | 1 St John’s College | 1 St Stithians College | 1 Marais Viljoen |
Grant Khomo: 15 Ray Nathan van Coller (Monument), 14 Russel Mgiba (KES), 13 Asa Mgwatyu (KES), 12 Blessing Monareng (Monument), 11 Prosper Mbandlwa (Jeppe), 10 Ndzalama Mbhalati (Jeppe), 9 Pierre Crofton (KES), 8 Aiden Harty (Noordheuwel), 7 Diederick Kleyn (KES), 6 Keegan McCarthy (Monument), 5 Hanco van Geelen (Monument), 4 Roché Botha (Monument), 3 Mervedi Ndomba (Jeppe), 2 Iglesias Bruiners (Noordheuwel), 1 Luan Coetzee (Monument). Replacements: 16 Andries van der Merwe (KES), 17 Jordan Venter (Northcliff), 18 Rick van den Berg (Noordheuwel), 19 Naledi Phiri (KES), 20 Dewald du Preez (Helpmekaar), 21 Lethabo Malahlela (Parktown), 22 Chrissandro Flemmer (Noordheuwel), 23 Hlayisani Mbambo (Parktown).
6 Monument | 6 King Edward VII | 4 Noordheuwel | 3 Jeppe High School for Boys’ | 2 Parktown Boys’ High | 1 Helpmekaar | 1 Northcliff
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