Vlnr: Caleb Abrahams, Alfondso Isaacs, Juanré Breitenbach, JF van Heerden, Neels Volschenk, Jean Smith en Johan Louw
Sewe rugbymanne van Grey Kollege in Bloemfontein is tans by die SA o18 Elite hoë prestasiekamp. Dié kamp op Loftus aangebied.
Die spelers is Caleb Abrahams, Alfondso Isaacs, Juanré Breitenbach, JF van Heerden, Neels Volschenk, Jean Smith en Johan Louw. Hulle vertrek dié naweek na Georgia waar hulle 4 wedstryde gaan speel. Die opponente is die Georgia o18 span.
Die SA Rugby Direkteur van Rugby, Rassie Erasmus verduidelik dat die rol van die EPD program is om o18 spelers te identifiseer. Verder moet hulle ontwikkel en voorberei word vir internasionale mededinging.
The coaching duo is Lynch, the head coach and Van Dyk the assistant coach. The Junior Springbok head coach Bafana Nhleko, will join them for the matches against the Georgian U18 team in Tbilisi. 38 Players are named in the squad from SA Rugby’s Elite Player Development (EPD) pathway.
“The Under-18 programme forms an integral part of our EPD pathway. It was very important for us to give these players the opportunity to experience international rugby.
“Due to the COVID pandemic as well as the cancellation of our annual Under-18 International Series for a second year in a row, we’ve looked for an alternative to give these players a taste of international rugby. We are also very grateful for the opportunity to travel to Georgia,” said Erasmus.
“Despite the lack of rugby for our best schoolboy players, our EPD programme ran non-stop with Herman Masimla and Nico Serfontein. They did great work in ensuring these players don’t fall off the radar. They are obviously the Junior Springboks and Springboks of the future.
“This tour will undoubtedly ensure some continuity in the EPD programme. These players will progress to Under-20 rugby. That is why Bafana is joining them on tour. He will assist with the coaching and mentor the coaches.
“Furthermore, the match schedule is crafted on the same principles as the World Rugby U20 Championship. Matches are played every four days, so that the players will get used to that kind of intensity.”
According to Lynch, the aims of the tour will be to establish a team culture. They will also start building camaraderie with an eye on the 2023 World Rugby U20 Championships. They will get to know the players, and align then with the SA Rugby playing styles, philosophies and game plans.
“We’ve been monitoring these players since they were 15 years old. The majority of them were part of the Under-16 EPD Camp in 2019. The also attended the EPD programmes in 2020 and 2021”, said Lynch.
“The squad consists of a combination of 17 and 18-year-olds. That will ensure continuity at international level in the next two years. We also have a group of players who will not go on tour. They are part of our wider high-performance squad and are still part of our plans.”
According to Lynch, the aims of the tour will be to establish a team culture and start building camaraderie with an eye on the 2023 World Rugby U20 Championships, to get to know the players, and to align then with the SA Rugby playing styles, philosophies and game plans.
“We’ve been monitoring these players since they were 15 years old and the majority of them were part of the Under-16 EPD Camp in 2019, and our EPD programmes in 2020 and 2021,” said Lynch.
“The squad consists of a combination of 17 and 18-year-olds, that will ensure continuity at international level in the next two years. We also have a group of players who will not go on tour, but who are part of our wider high-performance squad, and who are still part of our plans.”
According to Lynch, the aims of the tour will be to establish a team culture and start building camaraderie with an eye on the 2023 World Rugby U20 Championships, to get to know the players, and to align then with the SA Rugby playing styles, philosophies and game plans.
The matches against Georgia U18 are scheduled for 4, 7, 11 and 14 August.
Geniet elke oomblik, manne!
#ViveLaGrey#Grey2Gold#GreyRugby#rugby
Meer oor Grey Kollege:
Sedert so vroeg as 1873, het Dr. Johannes Brill (rektor), besluit dat sport ‘n integrale deel van Grey Kollege sal word. Dit is om vriendskapsbande tussen leerders te smee.
Rugby was reeds vroeg ‘n gewilde keuse. Volgens rekords is die eerste rugbywedstryd teen St. Andrews Skool in Bloemfontein, op 4 Junie 1881 gespeel.
In 1894 het twee onderwysers , EJ Spurway (Queenstown) en D. Pyne-Mercier (Ierland) by Grey begin skoolgee. Hulle kan basies as die pioniers van rugby-afrigting by Grey Kollege beskou word.
Met die uitbreek van die Anglo Boereoorlog, was rugby reeds ‘n goed gevestigde en beslis die gewildste sportsoort by Grey Kollege.
Grey Kollege is alombekend vir hul uitstaande rugbyprestasies en die skool het al ook 46 Springbokke opgelewer.
https://schoolsthatrock.co.za/category/other-provinces/freestate/freestate-schools/