The Blue Bulls had the majority of their squad called up for the SA Schools trials later this month, which was announced at the conclusion of the Coca-Cola Under-18 Craven Week in Port Elizabeth.
Following a joint decision by the South African Rugby Union (SARU) and the SA Schools Rugby Association (SASRA), the SA Schools selectors on Saturday named a 50-man trials squad instead of an SA Schools team, as has been the custom at previous Under-18 Craven Weeks.
The SA Schools trial match will take place on 28 July, with a squad of 28 set to be named afterwards to take on Wales, France and England next month.
“We have opted for a change in selection strategy, where we have exposed our selectors to a broader base of players at the various Coca-Cola Youth Weeks, as well as a change in our preparation for incoming tests,” said SARU's Senior Manager: Club, Schools and University Development, Nico Serfontein.
Western Province's Chris October will coach the SA Schools team, with Boland's David Coert the team manager.
SA Schools Trials Group |
No |
Player |
Provincial Union |
1 |
Abongile Nonkontwana |
Blue Bulls |
2 |
Aidon Davis |
Eastern Province |
3 |
Akhona Sihunu |
Border |
4 |
Caswell Khoza |
Blue Bulls |
5 |
Chad Solomon |
Western Province |
6 |
Christiaan Massyn |
Golden Lions |
7 |
Christiaan Meyer |
Valke |
8 |
Courtne Cupido |
Boland |
9 |
Daniel du Preez |
KwaZulu-Natal |
10 |
Dayan van der Westhuizen |
Blue Bulls |
11 |
Duhan van der Merwe |
South Western Districts |
12 |
Dylon Smith |
Golden Lions |
13 |
Edward Schmidt |
Free State |
14 |
Francois Esterhuizen |
Boland |
15 |
Ganfried May |
South Western Districts |
16 |
Gideon Koegelenberg |
Boland |
17 |
Handre Pollard |
Western Province |
18 |
Heinrich Viljoen |
Blue Bulls |
19 |
Hyron Andrews |
Blue Bulls |
20 |
Jaco van der Walt |
Golden Lions |
21 |
Jano Venter |
Pumas |
22 |
Jason Worrall |
Western Province |
23 |
JD Schickerling |
Western Province |
24 |
Jean Luc du Preez |
KwaZulu-Natal |
25 |
Jesse Kriel |
KwaZulu-Natal |
26 |
Johan Bannink |
Blue Bulls |
27 |
Johan Labuschagne |
Valke |
28 |
Jurie Linde |
Blue Bulls |
29 |
Justin Philips |
Blue Bulls |
30 |
Koch Marx |
Golden Lions |
31 |
Leigton Rar van Wyk |
Western Province |
32 |
Liam Hendricks |
Western Province |
33 |
Malcolm Marx |
Golden Lions |
34 |
Marcus Kleinbooi |
Blue Bulls |
35 |
Matjikinyane Molapo |
Blue Bulls |
36 |
Nicholas Janse van Resnburg |
Blue Bulls |
37 |
Ox Nche |
Free State |
38 |
Pierre Schoeman |
Blue Bulls |
39 |
Ramone Samuels |
Western Province |
40 |
Rohan Janse van Rensburg |
Blue Bulls |
41 |
Rynard Snyman |
Griffons |
42 |
Ryno Eksteen |
Blue Bulls |
43 |
Sandile Kubeka |
KwaZulu-Natal |
44 |
Selwyn Davids |
Eastern Province |
45 |
Sergeal Petersen |
Eastern Province |
46 |
Stephan Vermeulen |
Golden Lions |
47 |
Thabo Mabuza |
Blue Bulls |
48 |
Warrick Galant |
South Western Districts |
49 |
Wesley Adonis |
Western Province |
50 |
Wilco Louw |
Boland |