Main match of Craven Week probably will already be played during opening day
The first day of this year’s 58th edition of the annual Craven Week in George promises to be action packed.
The hosts South Western Districts will face the unofficial champions of the 2022-edition, Western Province, in the main match of the opening day. The Craven Week will take place from 3 to 8 July at Hoërskool Outeniqua.
WP defeated the Blue Bulls by 29-21 in last year’s main match at Rondebosch Boys’ High in Cape Town. They have been crowned unofficial champions at the last three tournaments (2018, 2019 and 2022).
The team’s last defeat came back in 2017 against Free State (33-54) during the final match of the tournament hosted in Johannesburg. This is also Western Province’s only defeat in 18 matches at the Craven Week since 2015 in Stellenbosch.
Outeniqua who hosts this year’s festival of rugby is celebrating their centenary. Outeniqua is without a doubt one of the top sides in the country this year which means that South Western Districts will be a side to take notice of during the tournament.
To add some spice the Sharks, Western Province XV, Eastern Province and Free State are all drawn to play on the first day. The fixtures for Day 3 of the tournament will be compiled after the first day’s matches. Free State will face EP in their opening encounter, while the Sharks will look to strengthen their position with a solid victory over Western Province’s second stringers.
On Day 2 it will be the Blue Bulls and Border facing off in the main match. It will however be the Golden Lions and the Pumas who will attract the most attention towards their opening game of the tournament.
The last time the tournament was hosted in George – Western Province defeated Eastern Province by 15-11 in the main match. A star-studded SWD shocked the Blue Bulls on the opening day with a 17-16 victory.
SWD had players like Pedrie Wannenburg (Oakdale Landbou), Dean Hopp (Kairos) and Kobus Calldo (Oakdale Landbou) in their midst. The Craven Week of 1999 in George has also played a major part as stepping stone for quite a lot of players who helped the Springboks lift the William Webb Ellis Cup in 2007.
In 1999 Western Province had two future Springboks in their midst. Gurthro Steenkamp (Paarl Boys’ High) and Schalk Brits (Paul Roos Gimnasium). A certain Haldane Luscombe (Bishops) who represented Wales in 16 test matches kept Jean de Villiers out of the Western Province side. De Villiers however did play at that Craven Week for the Western Province’s Academy side from which he made the South African Schools’ side.
The fixtures:
Day 1
Western Province vs South Western Districts
Sharks vs Western Province XV
Free State vs Eastern Province
Valke vs Boland
Day 2
Blue Bulls vs Border
Golden Lions vs Pumas
Griffons vs Limpopo Blue Bulls
Griqualand West vs Leopards
