More than a game as two schools look to honor Jeppe’s Kaiden Bowie

Jeppe High School for Boys has endured some tough off the field in recent weeks, as the school mourns the passing of Kaiden Bowie.

A talented young rugby player, he tragically passed away after a trial match against Hoërskool Die Anker on the 5th of March.

Kaiden Bowie was a promising player who was described as a selfless young man, who would go the extra mile for his teammates, according to a recent article published by News24.

The school will have a number of initiatives happening throughout the day to pay respect to the young man.

Before every game, a moment’s silence. Both the second and first XV will observe a full minute’s silence.

A lone piper will play before the second’s match. The full pipe band will play before the first team game as well.

Additionally in the school hall, there will also be a memorial site for people to pay respects throughout the day as well.

The Candies will be hoping to put to to bed a long run of poor form against the hosts Jeppe High School for Boys who have won nine out of the ten last matches played between these two sides.

In what was an epic encounter, last year’s second fixture saw Boys High lose narrowly in the dying minutes of a really exciting match which ended 22-16 at home.

Tomorrow’s kick-off takes place at 13:45. Catch all the action live on SuperSport Schools (www.supersportschools.com).

Pretoria Boys’ High will be squaring off against Jeppe High School for Boys in what has been a long-standing clash between these two schools.

The first match was played way back in 1961. Boys High currently holds a win ratio of 53% compared to Jeppe’s 39% spanning across 89 matches that have been played.

Jeppe’s captain and outside centre Khuthadzo Rasivhaga who featured for the Lions Craven Week last year will hope to dominate teams this season again – the young player is strong and packs a mean punch in his offensive play.

In a midweek fixture, Jeppe played up against a loaded Garsfontein side, where Garsies won 37-31.

Boys High has a formidable side this year with ten players returning who all made appearances last year, which includes 2023’s leading point scorer Ntsako Ndlovu who will be rearing to get more points in the bag.

The side is skippered by Thsepisio “Legs” Shikhibana, the lanky lock will be dangerous in the lineouts as the tall player will look to make use of his height advantage – winning balls for his side in 50/50 throws will be a big factor this season.

In what is expected to be a tough and competitive match, both teams will run out and cherish the opportunity to play the game we all dearly admire.

The teams:

Jeppe High School for Boys: 15 Sanele Simelane, 14 Lesego Zungu, 13 Kuthadzo Rasivhaga (captain), 12 McMillen Mongwana, 11 Leruo Dithagiso, 10 Matthew Coetzee, 9 Talent Sithole, 8 Risima Khosa (vice-captain), 7 Nathan Classen, 6 Wanga Ndou, 5 Luke Cannon, 4 Nathan Boyder, 3 Luca Trevisan, 2 Bonga Nxumlao, 1 Andre Poulton.

Pretoria Boys’ High:  15 Luyanda Khumalo, 14 Itu Baloyi, 13 Ntsako Nhlovu, 12 Londie Nemudzivhadi, 11 Ompfuna Tsanwani, 10 Rickus Wessels, 9 Tumisho Motswi, 8 Katlego Shebu, 7 Seth Venter, 6  Panyaiotis Ellinas, 5 Tshepiso Shikhibana 4 Stephen Adams 3 Ofentse Moeng, 2 Thapelo Mphela, 1 Matthew Parrot.

Fixtures:

COLLARD FIELD 

13:45 – u19A – Jeppe High School for Boys’ vs Pretoria Boys’ High
12:15 – u19B – Jeppe High School for Boys’ vs Pretoria Boys’ High
11:00 – u16A – Jeppe High School for Boys’ vs Pretoria Boys’ High
10:00 – u19C – Jeppe High School for Boys’ vs Pretoria Boys’ High
09:00 – u19D – Jeppe High School for Boys’ vs Pretoria Boys’ High
08:00 – u19E – Jeppe High School for Boys’ vs Pretoria Boys’ High

WHITE FIELD 

12:00 – u16C – Jeppe High School for Boys’ vs Pretoria Boys’ High
11:00 – u15B – Jeppe High School for Boys’ vs Pretoria Boys’ High
10:00 – u15A – Jeppe High School for Boys’ vs Pretoria Boys’ High
09:00 – u16B – Jeppe High School for Boys’ vs Pretoria Boys’ High
08:00 – u14A – Jeppe High School for Boys’ vs Pretoria Boys’ High