A total of 13 players from the various SA Schools squads named earlier this year have been included in a group of 53 to attend SA Rugby’s U17 Boys Elite Player Development (EPD) camp in the Western Cape.
The camp will run from Saturday, 29 November to Saturday, 6 December, and will be hosted at Hoër Landbouskool Boland near Paarl.
Diaan Augustyn, Lwandile Mlaba, Jacobus de Villiers, Nathan Aneke, Thabiso Simelane, and Lamla Mgedezi all featured for the SA Schools team, while the SA Schools ‘A’ representatives amongst the camp invitees are Juvan Burden, Nhlanhla Ndlovu, Mickyle Booise, Ethan van Biljon, Erin Nelson, Lucritia Magau, and Ncuthu Kepe.
The technical aspects of the camp will be driven by the SA Schools and ‘A’ team coaches, Lwazi Zangqa, Cobus van Dyk, Flash Malinga and Clinton van Rensburg, while the Junior Springbok coaching team are also expected to attend certain sessions.
“The U17 camp will see continuation of the functional and positional skills started during the players’ U16 year,” said Herman Masimla, SA Rugby’s Senior Manager for Development.
“However, this camp will also have a strong focus on the implementation of the game model that will be utilised during the SA Schools and SA U18 programmes, and beyond for these players, while mental conditioning will also be a focus area.”
SA Rugby U17 Boys Elite Player Development squad:
Props: Zeake Mata (Border, Queens College), Clement Makelele (Sharks, Kearsney College), Matthew Prins (SWD, Oakdale), Makomborero Mandhihza (Lions, St Johns), Aphelele Chamane (Sharks, Michaelhouse), Nicolas Salamousas (Sharks, Michaelhouse), Lehan Barnard (WP, Paul Roos Gymnasium), Stephan Jansen van Rensburg (Limpopo Bulls, Pietersburg).
Hookers: Adrian Smith (SWD, Oakdale), Charl Els (Bulls, Affies), Charles Whitehead (WP, Paarl Gimnasium).
Locks: Diaan Augustyn (SWD, Oakdale), Lwandile Mlaba (Sharks, Westville), Martin van Niekerk (Bulls, Affies), Juvan Burden (WP, Stellenberg), Jean Dreyer (WP, Paarl Gimnasium), Sambesiwe Ndamase (Sharks, Glenwood).
Loose forwards: Nhlanhla Ndlovu (Sharks, Kearsney College), Queenton Mcube (Bulls, Pretoria Boys’ High), Mihle Dyakala (Lions, Jeppe), Zay-Winn Januarie (WP, Durbanville), Hendrik van Zyl (WP, Paarl Gimnasium), Zander Muller (Sharks, Hilton), Bulelani Cebani (Sharks, DHS), Jacobus de Villiers (SWD, Oakdale), Jamie Wimble (Sharks, Northwood).
Scrumhalves: Liam de Villiers (WP, Paarl Boys’ High), Mickyle Booise (WP, Paarl Gimnasium), Luke Doyle (EP, Graeme College), Caleb Bell (WP, Rondebosch).
Flyhalves: Ethan van Biljon (WP, Stellenberg), Anthony Jaydon Viljoen (Lions, Monument), Travis Pheiffer (WP, Paul Roos Gymnasium), Achmat Behardien (WP, Wynberg), Louis Koen (WP, Paarl Gimnasium).
Centres: Dylan Stumke (Bulls, Menlopark), O'Ryan Kleyn (Cheetahs, Grey College), Ethan Barker (WP, Paarl Gimnasium), Olwethu Kosani (Sharks, Maritzburg), Nathan Aneke (Sharks, DHS), Phano Letsie (Lions, Jeppe), Erin Nelson (EP, Graeme College), Tiaan Basson (WP, Paul Roos Gymnasium).
Outside backs: Ncuthu Kepe (Border, Queens College), Lucritia Magau (EP, Graeme College), Mendriano Abrahams (Bulls, Menlopark), Thabiso Simelane (Bulls, St Albans), Tylo Hess (WP, Durbanville), Rhandzu Mkhabela (Pumas, Nelspruit), Drewyn Baron (Bulls, Garsfontein), Lamla Mgedezi (Cheetahs, Grey College), Lwazi Mbebe (Sharks, Kearsney College), Luxolo Sonkononkono (Sharks, Westville).