Lions favourites to defend Academy Week title
After 20 exhilarating matches across the first two days of the 2025 Academy Week at Hoërskool Middelburg in Mpumalanga, the Golden Lions once again find themselves in familiar territory.
Follow all the Academy Week action live on SuperSport Schools – (www.supersportschools.com)
Adding further intrigue to a final showdown with Western Province, the action on the final day will move to Middies’ pristine A-Field.
The SA Schools selectors will be in attendance there to assess the talent competing just below the level of the ongoing Craven Week. Kick-off is scheduled for 12:45.
The Lions are within reach of a third consecutive title at the Academy Week. Over the first two days, the Gauteng-based outfit roared with authority, racking up a remarkable 164 points in just two outings, including a century (108–14) against the Griffons in their opener.
Following that demolition of the Purple People Eaters, they proceeded to hunt down Eastern Province, once again surpassing the 50-point mark with a commanding 56–10 victory. In that encounter, Monument flyhalf Jaydon Viljoen became the week’s leading points-scorer, highlighting just how crucial his kicking may prove on the final day.
His side’s dazzling attacking play has provided Viljoen with plenty of opportunities to aim at goal, and he now leads the conversions table with a staggering 21 to his name. Viljoen’s looming duel with WP flyhalf Francois van der Merwe promises to be a battle within the battle. In addition to being lethal off the tee, both pivots boast sharp attacking prowess, setting the stage for a mouth-watering face-off.
In the curtain-raiser, the ever-impressive South Western Districts Eagles meet the Lions’ second side, the Lions Welpies. Despite narrowly falling short against WP (21–25), the all-U17 Welpies have impressed throughout the week. They will, however, be well aware that the Eagles present a formidable challenge, especially after their comfortable 25–7 victory over Free State on day two.
The final day’s action kicks off at 08:30, with the Blue Bulls, featuring the tournament’s second-highest points-scorer, Ronan Bastiaanse, taking on the Sharks. Bastiaanse also leads the try-scoring charts, having crossed the whitewash three times. Eastern Province and Boland will follow, meeting for bragging rights in a classic Eastern versus Western Cape encounter.
Fixtures for Day 3, Friday, 11 July:
Hoërskool Midelburg A-Field:
08:30 – Blue Bulls vs Sharks
09:45 – Eastern Province vs Boland
11:00 – South Western Districts vs Lions XV
12:15 – Golden Lions vs Western Province
Hoërskool Middelburg B-Field:
08:30 – Pumas vs Griffons
09:45 – Valke vs Limpopo Blue Bulls
11:00 – Free State vs Border
Hoërskool Middelburg C-Field:
08:30 – Namibia vs Zimbabwe
09:45 – Leopards vs LSEN XV
11:00 – Griquas vs Border Country Districts
