SA Under-18 squads named for international series in Western Cape

South Africa’s leading schoolboy rugby players will face England, Ireland, France and Georgia after the SA Under-18 and SA U18 ‘A’ squads were announced for the U18 International Series in the Western Cape from 7 to 15 August.

The two South African teams will compete in three rounds of international rugby at school venues in and around Cape Town. The series is a key part of SA Rugby’s Elite Player Development (EPD) pathway, giving the country’s most promising young players the chance to measure themselves against leading opposition from abroad.

The age-group tournament has become an important step towards junior representative rugby and, ultimately, the senior levels of South Africa’s rugby system.

Lwazi Zangqa will again coach the SA U18 side, assisted by Heinrich Martin. Flash Malinga will lead the SA U18 ‘A’ team, with Cobus van Dyk as his assistant. Both teams will share defence coach Clinton van Rensburg.

Ten players selected for the South African squads also represented the country at this level last year: Juvan Burden (Western Province), Jacobus de Villiers (SWD), Mickyle Booise (Western Province), Ethan van Biljon (Western Province), Ncuthu Kepe (Border), Erin Nelson (Eastern Province), Lamla Mgedezi (Free State), Thabiso Simelane (Blue Bulls), Nathan Aneke (KZN) and Lucritia Magua (Eastern Province).

The opening round will be held at Hoerskool Durbanville on 7 August, followed by the second round at Boland Landbou outside Wellington on 11 August. Stellenberg High School will host the final round on 15 August.

Friday, 7 August – Hoerskool Durbanville

11h30: SA U18 ‘A’ vs Ireland 13h30: England vs Georgia 15h30: SA U18 vs France

Tuesday, 11 August – Boland Landbou

11h30: SA U18 ‘A’ vs Georgia 13h30: England vs France 15h30: SA U18 vs Ireland

Saturday, 15 August – Stellenberg High School

11h30: SA U18 ‘A’ vs France 13h30: Ireland vs Georgia 15h30: SA U18 vs England

SA U18 squad

Props: Aphelele Chamane (Sharks, Michaelhouse), Ruben Lombard (Blue Bulls, Garsfontein), Clement Makelele (Sharks, Kearsney College), Nic Salamousas (Sharks, Michaelhouse)

Hookers: Theo Boshoff (Sharks, Maritzburg College), Charles Whitehead (Western Province, Paarl Gimnasium)

Locks: Juvan Burden (Western Province, Stellenberg), Jean Dreyer (Western Province, Paarl Gimnasium), Glodi Tshipamba (Golden Lions, Jeppe)

Loose forwards: Jacobus de Villiers (SWD, Oakdale), Siphesihle Marule (Pumas, HS Middelburg), Stefan van der Vyver (Blue Bulls, Garsfontein), Hendre van Zyl (Western Province, Paarl Gimnasium), Jamie Wimble (Sharks, Northwood)

Scrumhalves: Mickyle Booise (Western Province, Paarl Gimnasium), Luke Doyle (Eastern Province, Graeme College)

Flyhalves: Achmat Behardien (Western Province, Wynberg), Ethan van Biljon (Western Province, Stellenberg)

Centres: Ethan Barker (Western Province, Paarl Gimnasium), Tiaan Basson (Western Province, Paul Roos Gymnasium), Erin Nelson (Eastern Province, Graeme College)

Outside backs: Ncuthu Kepe (Border, Queen’s College), Anesu Kuzonyei (Sharks, Northwood), Lamla Mgedezi (Free State, Grey College), Thabiso Simelane (Blue Bulls, St Alban’s), Luxolo Sonkonokono (Sharks, Westville)

Management: Head coach Lwazi Zangqa; assistant coach Heinrich Martin; defence coach Clinton van Rensburg; S&C coach Adriaan Jansen; team manager Mandla Mdaka; team doctor Gershwin Kortje; physiotherapist Robin Williams.

SA U18 ‘A’ squad

Props: Sebastiaan Bekker (Western Province, Paarl Gimnasium), Max Malan (Western Province, Paarl Boys’ High School), Matthew Prins (SWD, Outeniqua), Priden Sibiya (Sharks, Durban High School)

Hookers: Charl Els (Blue Bulls, Affies), Kwaza Gobingca (Western Province, Rondebosch)

Locks: Bulelani Cebani (Sharks, Westville), AD Faul (Western Province, Paarl Boys’ High School), Bernhardt Schulze (Western Province, Paarl Gimnasium), Martin van Niekerk (Blue Bulls, Affies)

Loose forwards: Werner de Bruin (Western Province, Paul Roos Gymnasium), Niel du Randt (Free State, Grey College), Nala Shabangu (Sharks, Northwood), Linakho Mehlomakulu (Western Province, Rondebosch)

Scrumhalves: Liam de Villiers (Western Province, Paarl Boys’ High), Rufagon Hendricks (SWD, Outeniqua)

Flyhalves: Travis Pheiffer (Western Province, Paul Roos Gymnasium), Jaydon Viljoen (Golden Lions, Monument)

Centres: Nathan Aneke (Sharks, Durban High School), Alex Jankowich (Sharks, Michaelhouse), Amogelang Mataboge (Sharks, Durban High School)

Outside backs: Drewyn Baron (Blue Bulls, Garsfontein), Ruan Genis (Golden Lions, Monument), Lucritia Magua (Eastern Province, Graeme College), Rhlabeni Mkhabela (Pumas, Nelspruit), Thomas Saunders (Western Province, Paarl Gimnasium)

Management: Head coach Flash Malinga; assistant coach Cobus van Dyk; defence coach Clinton van Rensburg; S&C coach Sihle Ndlovu; team manager Zingi Hela; team doctor Gershwin Kortje; physiotherapist Rob Sims.