Junior Springboks of 2019 and their schools
The Junior Springbok side for this year’s annual u20 World Championship in Argentina won’t be able to make any of their line-out calls in Afrikaans during their opening match on 4 June in Rosario against Scotland. On the Scottish side is Cristen van Niekerk (Monument), a former teammate of many Junior Springboks’ at SA Schools level.
Van Niekerk represented the Golden Lions at the Craven Week and also made the SA Schools’ back in 2017. But back to the Junior Springboks and their schools.
No less than eight players out of the squad of 28 were part of the KwaZulu-Natal side that reached the main match of the Craven Week for the first time since 1990 back in 2017 in Johannesburg. The eight players are Sanele Nohamba, Jaden Hendrikse (both scrum-halves), Pepsi Buthelezi, Celimpilo Gumede, Dylan Richardson (all loose forwards), JJ van der Mescht (lock), Fezo Mbatha (hooker) and Thabisho Mdletshe.
All eight were also part of the Sharks U19 side that was crowned national champions during last year’s Saru u19 Provincial Championship. Another two players from the Boland, Thaakir Abrahams (Paarl Boys’ High) and Caleb Dingaan (Weston), were part of the victorious Sharks’ side.
The KwaZulu-Natal u18 side lost 18-45 in the main match back in 2017 against the Golden Lions. A couple of the Lions’ troops for that day, Dameon Venter (Helpmekaar), Asenathi Ntlabakanye (St Stithians College) and Keagan Glade (King Edward VII) were deemed good enough to make the trip to Argentina.
Only one player, Kudzwai Dube, prop of the Blue Bulls from Muir College in Uitenhage didn’t attend the annual Craven Week during his school’s career.
The squad and their schools:
| BACKS | |||||
| # | Player | Union | Schools | Craven Week | SA Schools |
| 1 | Vaughen Isaacs | Blue Bulls | Marlow Landbou | 2016 | |
| 2 | David Kriel | Western Province | Grey College | 2016-17 | |
| 3 | Thaakir Abrahams | Sharks | Paarl Boys’ High | 2017 | |
| 4 | Angelo Davids | Western Province | Stellenberg | 2017 | |
| 5 | Caleb Dingaan | Sharks | Weston | 2016 | |
| 6 | Mnombo Zwelendaba | Western Province | Selborne College | 2018 | 2018 |
| 7 | Marnus Potgieter | Blue Bulls | Affies | 2016-17 | |
| 8 | Rikus Pretorius | Western Province | Grey College | 2016-17 | 2017 |
| 9 | James Mollentze | Free State | Outeniqua | 2017 | |
| 10 | David Coetzer | Western Province | Selborne College | 2017 | |
| 11 | Jaden Hendrikse | Sharks | Glenwood | 2017 | 2017 |
| 12 | Sanele Nohamba | Sharks | Durban High School | 2016-17 | 2017 |
| FORWARDS | |||||
| 1 | Franke Horn | Western Province | Paarl Boys’ High | 2017 | |
| 2 | Pepsi Buthelezi | Sharks | Durban High School | 2016-17 | 2017 |
| 3 | Celimpilo Gumede | Sharks | Durban High School | 2017-18 | 2017-18 |
| 4 | Jaco Labuschagne | Blue Bulls | Affies | 2017 | |
| 5 | Dylan Richardson | Sharks | Kearsney College | 2016-17 | 2017 |
| 6 | Sibusiso Sangweni | Golden Lions | Kearsney College | 2018 | 2018 |
| 7 | JJ van der Mescht | Sharks | Glenwood | 2016-17 | 2017 |
| 8 | Elrigh Louw | Free State | Transvalia | 2017 | |
| 9 | Emile van Heerden | Sharks | Paarl Boys’ High | 2018 – WP XV | 2018 |
| 10 | Thabiso Mdletshe | Sharks | Glenwood | 2017-18 | |
| 11 | Keagan Glade | Golden Lions | King Edward VII | 2016-17 | 2017 |
| 12 | Dian Bleuler | Western Province | Oakdale Landbou | 2016-17 | |
| 13 | Asenathi Ntlabakanye | Golden Lions | St Stithians College | 2016-17 | 2017 |
| 14 | Kudzwai Dube | Blue Bulls | Muir College | ||
| 15 | Fezo Mbatha | Sharks | Maritzburg College | 2016-17 | 2017 |
| 16 | Dameon Venter | Golden Lions | Helpmekaar | 2017 | |
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