Blue Bulls selectors still have some difficult choices to make for Youth Weeks
The Blue Bulls selectors made their selections for their first warm-up encounter of the season against the Valke on the 3rd of June.
Both the u18A and u18B sides, the Craven Week and Academy Week sides, were named with 24 players in the squads. The warm-up matches are considered part of the trials, and final selections will be made only after their games against the Sharks.
Garsfontein, with eight players, has the biggest representation within the squad. In total, ten schools are represented within the Craven Week squad.
From last year’s side, only Thabiso Simelane (St Alban’s College), Dylan Stumke (Menlopark), Drewyn Baron (Garsontein) and Charl Els (Affies) will be in action once again. The Bulls will play their first match in Gqeberha on the Kolisi-field against their old foe the Golden Lions.
Simelane also represented the South African Schools’ side last year. Els was called up from the Academy Week to play for the Bulls against Eastern Province in their final match of last year’s tournament.
Martin van Niekerk (Affies, lock) is the only other player from last year’s Academy Week side who made the jump with Els to Craven Week selection.
Eight players from the Bulls’ Grant Khomo Week side of 2024 in Gqeberha – Els, Van Niekerk, Stumke, Baron, Simelane, Fourie Roberts (Affies, scrumhalf), Yuvrah George (Garsfontein wing) and Jody Abrahams (Menlopark, wing) are in prime seats to make the trip to the Windy City again.
Roberts is the son of former South Western Districts scrumhalf, Freddie Roberts. The latter represented the Ostrich Farmers in 62 matches between 1997 and 1999.
In 2024 this group of Bulls lost by 22-31 against Western Province in the main match of the Grant Khomo Week on the Kolisi-field.
The teams:
Craven Week: 15 Drewyn Baron (Garsfontein), 14 Yuvrah George (Garsfontein), 13 Thabiso Simelane (St Alban’s College), 12 Dylan Stumke (Menlopark), 11 Jody Abrahams (Menlopark), 10 Joshua Gouws (Garsfontein), 9 Fourie Roberts (Affies), 8 Almero Gerritsen (Waterkloof), 7 Mbala Ndima (Pretoria Boys High), 6 Stephan van der Vyfer (Garsfontein), 5 Martin van Niekerk (Affies), 4 JJ Fourie (Garsfontein), 3 Ruben Lombaard (Garsfontein), 2 Charl Els (Affies), 1 André van Wyk (Garsfontein). Replacements: 16 Riyaan Wilson (Oos-Moot), 17 Thando Telelo (Oos-Moot), 18 Maka Kumadeka (Cornwall Hill College), 19 Disintle Onyeari (Overkruin), 20 Luan Wepener (Zwartkop), 21 Garrith Warrie (Zwartkop), 22 Opentse Matlebjane (Pretoria Boys High), 23 Ruan Fluks (Garsfontein), 24 Joshua Gouws (Affies).
8 Garsfontein | 4 Affies | 2 Menlopark | 2 Pretoria Boys High | 2 Oos-Moot | 2 Zwartkop | 1 St Alban’s College | 1 Waterkloof | 1 Overkruin | 1 Cornwall Hill College
Academy Week: 15 Alexander Griessel (Waterkloof), 14 Neo Ledwaba (Garsfontein), 13 Meyer Pretorius (Waterkloof), 12 David van Jaarsveld (Zwartkop), 11 Waylin Papier (Zwartkop), 10 Michael Bhuda (Oos-Moot), 9 Ethan Williams (Affies), 8 Caleb Pretorius (Affies), 7 Phillip Mans (Waterkloof), 6 Wandile Mbate (St Alban’s College), 5 Reuben Vlok (Affies), 4 Alex Muller (Affies), 3 Reinhardt Duvenhage (Waterkloof), 2 Reagan Blignaut (Zwartkop), 1 Francois de Beer (Affies). Replacements: 16 Shawn Maobelo (Montana), 17 Esihle Mhlongo (Hercules), 18 Reando Fourie (Menlopark), 19 Matimu Maluleke (Pretoria Boys High), 20 Duran Pieterse (Menlopark), 21 Tilon Baron (Zwartkop), 22 Kealan Cloete (Die Wilgers), 23 Brian Jacobs (Oos-Moot), 24 Keagan Fourie (Affies).
6 Affies | 4 Waterkloof | 4 Zwartkop | 2 Oos-Moot| 2 Menlopark | 1 Garsfontein | 1 St Alban’s College | 1 Montana | 1 Hercules | 1 Die Wilgers | 1 Pretoria Boys High
o.17A: 15 Tyrese Adams (Oos-Moot), 14 Nthando Malobola (Garsfontein), 13 Dandré Brink (Affies), 12 Rico du Plessis (Affies), 11 Vokosi Ndlovu (Pretoria Boys High), 10 Ruben Smith (Affies), 9 Kassie Lebelo (Garsfontein), 8 Dewald van Wyk (Menlopark), 7 Chaden Dartnell (Eldoraigne), 6 Rossouw Scheepers (Affies), 5 SW Potgieter (Garsfontein), 4 Zinyemba Matthew (St Alban’s College), 3 Liam de Jager (Affies), 2 Hendré Ehlers (Affies), 1 Tawana Mahita (St Alban’s College). Replacements: 16 Emmanuel Honono (Pretoria Boys High), 17 Wian Hentzel (Waterkloof), 18 Zian Slabbert (Affies), 19 Brian Joubert (Waterkloof), 20 Kwetsima Dlamini (Pretoria Boys High), 21 Amakhle Kilan (Centurion), 22 Joshua Kekana (Wonderboom), 23 Kyle Pienaar (Affies).
o.17B: 15 Kyle van Staden (Affies), 14 Nico Klein (Die Wilgers), 13 Danie Botma (Menlopark), 12 Lemarc Henry (Garsfontein), 11 Mashego Mabuto (Pretoria Boys High), 10 Caleb Africa (Rietondale), 9 Dean Wilbers (Garsfontein), 8 Judah le Roux (Zwartkop), 7 Dewald van Wyk (Menlopark), 6 Carlo Brits (Waterkloof), 5 Xavier Martin (Pretoria Boys High), 4 Marius Venter (Waterkloof), 3 Kyle van Schalkwyk (Montana), 2 Obakeng Rametsi (St Alban’s College), 1 Mvelo Sibissi (Curro Hazeldean). Replacements: 16 Tehan Maree (Midstream College), 17 Daniel Prefa (Rietondale), 18 Sinawo Stengana (Oos-Moot), 19 Thabane Phasha (St Alban’s College), 20 Zipho Mtyhobile (Rietondale), 21 Ezra Mosikara (Rietondale), 22 Renaldo Klein (Rietondale), 23 Ruvan Burger (Zwartkop).
