Grey College will once again be a force to be reckoned with in 2023
Grey College had what they would consider a mixed 2022 season.
While they played some exceptional rugby, coming away with big wins over the likes of Waterkloof, Outeniqua and Paarl Boys’ High, and making it all the way to the final of the World Schools Festival in Thailand.
Yet, because of the extremely high expectations they have for themselves, Grey will be disappointed by losses to Paarl Gimnasium and Paul Roos, as well as the loss in the final of the World Schools Festival to a very impressive team from Hamilton Boys’ High, New Zealand.
Despite this, you can rest assured that Grey is as prepared as ever to defend their reputation as one of the most prestigious rugby factories, not only in South Africa but in the world.
Coach Jannie Geldenhuys returns for his third year at the helm, with the backing of his management team in Tiaan Liebenberg and Wian du Preez (forward coaches), Tewis du Bruyn and Helgard Muller (backline coaches), Inus Keyser (strength and conditioning), Jaco Colyn (physio) and Putu Pretorius (manager).
The team management got wealth of experience with Liebenberg, Du Preez and Muller all representing the Springboks as players in their career.
This star-studded coaching team will look to instill the same winning attitude and brand of “Grey-rugby” which has brought the school so much success over the years.
The team will be bolstered by the experience of six players – Jean Erasmus, Ranon Fouché, Jean-Henri Smith, Marno Stopforth, JJ Theron and Martin Botha who all featured in the first team squad in 2022.
That said, all the players who made it to the final of the World Schools Festival in Thailand last year will still be available for selection as the matrics did not join the squad for that tournament.
On top of that, Grey also has the luxury of being able to select from a pool of a staggering 13 players who competed at the Grant Khomo Week in 2022.
Emile McGear, Heindrich Theron, Pieter van der Merwe, Dian Venter, Danie Kruger, Marcel Coetzee, Liam Santos, David du Toit, Philip Mclaren, Renalo Duarte, Pretorius Ekeji, Alzeedon Felix and Mokgaotsi Mosiane all move up to the senior age-grade this year, and will be looking to make an impact.
Continuing Grey’s long tradition of generational rugby excellence, Jean-Hendri Smith, Heindrich Theron and Handre du Plessis will all be looking to follow in their fathers’ footsteps as Phillip Smith, Louis Theron and Abrie du Plessis all left their mark on South African rugby in their own right.
Smith represented the Springboks in 5 matches between 1997 and 1998.
Grey College will take to the field for the first time in 2023 at the President Steyn Sports Day on the 25th of February.
Grey will be travelling to compete in the NMI Toyota Menlyn North/South tournament where they will get an opportunity to redeem themselves on neutral ground against Paarl Gimnasium who handed them their first defeat in 2022.
After that, Grey will meet Garsfontein at the 2023 ABSA Wildeklawer festival in Kimberley for what promises to be one of the toughest games of the season in a true clash of the titans.
On May 20, Affies will be travelling to face Grey in Bloemfontein where the teams will be competing to write the next chapter in a rivalry that began 100 years ago when the two sides first met in 1923 (Grey won that first encounter 7-0).
Grey will be looking to end their season on a high as they host Oakdale Landbou and Paul Roos Gimansium for their final two inter-schools of the year.
Oakdale held Grey to a 17 – 17 draw in Riversdale in 2022 and Grey were dealt a devastating blow by Paul Roos in the Markotter Stadium in Stellenbosch when the two sides last met.
Expect a highly motivated Grey side, who are unaccustomed to losing once, let alone twice, to show up for these encounters to round off what promises to be an absolutely thrilling season.
You can follow Grey’s season on SuperSport Schools.
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Grey College fixtures for 2023:
| # | nt_header_1 | nt_header_2 | nt_header_3 | nt_header_4 | nt_header_5 | nt_header_6 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 25/02/2023 | Grey College | 38 | Hoërskool Trio | 10 | President Steyn Sport Day |
| 2 | 11/03/2023 | Grey College | 71 | Welkom Gimnasium | 21 | Welkom |
| 3 | 25/03/2023 | Grey College | 52 | Marlow Landbou | 12 | Graeme Festival |
| 4 | 25/03/2023 | Grey College | 48 | St Andrew's College | 0 | Graeme Festival |
| 5 | 31/03/2023 | Grey College | 33 | Paarl Gimnasium | 12 | Noord/Suid |
| 6 | 03/04/2023 | Grey College | 37 | Maritzburg College | 24 | Noord/Suid |
| 7 | 15/04/2023 | Grey College | 19 | Outeniqua | 17 | George |
| 8 | 29/04/2023 | Grey College | 23 | Garsfontein | 9 | Wildeklawer |
| 9 | 01/05/2023 | Grey College | 33 | Stellenberg | 8 | Wildeklawer |
| 10 | 06/05/2023 | Grey College | 41 | Selborne College | 0 | Bloemfontein |
| 11 | 13/05/2023 | Grey College | 39 | Paarl Boys' High | 30 | Paarl |
| 12 | 20/05/2023 | Grey College | 60 | Affies | 19 | Bloemfontein |
| 13 | 27/05/2023 | Grey College | 31 | Monument | 10 | Krugersdorp |
| 14 | 29/07/2023 | Grey College | 38 | Grey High School | 17 | Gqeberha |
| 15 | 05/08/2023 | Grey College | 36 | Oakdale Landbou | 25 | Bloemfontein |
| 16 | 19/08/2023 | Grey College | 28 | Paul Roos Gimnasium | 20 | Bloemfontein |
