Goudveld of Welkom ready for the 2023 season

The air is starting to catch a chill; the heavy rains are passing us by.

We are nearing the winter sport season and the air smells of veld fire and potential.

This is an exciting time for all of us, but especially for the rising stars and the committed coaches forming and shaping this young talent.

Recently we had the privilege of speaking to one of these coaches, Frans Crous, of Goudveld-Hoërskool, to get the rundown on the upcoming season and the outlook for the 2023 squad.

Goudveld’s 2022 team was a strong one, and 17 of those players will be carrying their skills over into the new year.

The 2023 squad will include Pieter Reyneke (prop), Jaunricht Cloete and Lodie van Dyk (both locks), Schalk du Plessis (flank), Ryan de Jager (scrumhalf), Quinton Davids (flyhalf), Zander van den Berg and Enzo Beukes (both wingers), Urban Pienaar (centre), Tyrece Britz (fullback) and last but definitely not least, Jonathan Olivier (Nr. 8) who all made appearances during last season.

Olivier is definitely a player to watch. This prospect represented the Griffons at the 2022 Academy Week (u18) which was hosted in Wellington. 

At half time during the national tournament it was 20-0 to the Blue Bulls, but Jonathan led an incredible comeback. Scoring a hat-trick in the second half helping the Griffons to a 21-20 victory over the Blue Bulls. 

His brother, Rian Olivier, played for the Griffons Craven Week-side in 2019-2020, ultimately leading to him joining the French Rugby union team Castres Olympique from 2020-2022.

Rugby is definitely in their blood, and Jonathan is on the lookout for opportunities to take his skills beyond the school level.

Some hopefuls which played in last year’s Grant Khomo Week are also looking to earn their spot in the first team. These are Jan Coetzee, Ryan Lemmer, Joshua Coertzen and Ru-Bran Kock. As first team reserves, we have Kabous du Plooy, Wian de Beer, Nichlas Marais, Marco-Jan Pretorius, Caleb Lottering and Junior Motsamai.

Leading the talent is of course head coach Frans Crous, assistant coaches Steps Pretorius and Fanie Pretorius focusing on the backline.

Jacques van Staden is the team manager with Madison Murdoch handling the squads strength and conditioning training.

Goudveld will as per usual open their season during the annual Fichardtpark Sports Day in Bloemfontein. They will face Jim Fouché, Sentraal, Witteberg, Hoërskool Trio, Fichardtpark, Diamantveld and Voortrekker in their group matches during the Wesgrow-league. The matches against Witteberg, the Trekkers and Trio will also double-up as Griffon-league encounters.

The team will attend the USN Rugby Festival at Camp Discovery during the March holidays.

Their hopes for the year are to fully live out their mission, vision, values and principles on, and off the field. To deliver the best possible game as a unit; to look back at the season with no regrets. When they can achieve this, the results will take care of themselves.

This is definitely set to be an exciting season, and the Gouties are certainly a team to look out for. 

Goudveld’s fixtures for the 2023-season: