Early September the Ruggas.co.za Draft took place. This exercise started seven years ago when everybody questioned the South African Schoolboy Rugby's ability to provide sufficient talent for our professional franchises to not only compete but win the then Super Rugby competition.
To view the 2023 drafted teams click here
The competition between the six competing schoolboy rugby experts was fierce, however, it was clear that a lot of strategic decisions were taken. Game plans and the expected decisions from the rest of the panel played a major part in the bidding. Having a maximum budget also added to the stress.
Interestingly, top players like Janco Purchase and Batho Hlekani were more popular than any other players and secured the highest average bids but due to their "perceived" value were the second choice of the panel.
Speaking to the unions' scouts they admitted that they experience the same difficulties in real life, however, they do not have the luxury of closed bids and have to negotiate with agents and parents who are looking for the highest bid at all costs.
Unfortunately, our panel ran out of players when bidding on the replacements and reverted to their own schools' players which led to the decision not to publish the replacements as it was against the spirit as well as the reason for the draft. Therefore we decided that a panel member would not be allowed to draft more than three players of his school in 2024.
When two players attracted the highest bids we took the player with the highest average bids.
To participate in the 2024 draft please forward your details to news@ruggas.co.za with a detailed explanation of why you think you "deserve" to be part of the panel. The panel will be decided on before the end of February 2023.
Highest Bids per Position
1) Phiwo Kubheka (Maritzburg College) - R 5 000 000
2) Ruan Welman (Helpmekaar) - R 3 000 000
3) Simphiwe Ngobese (DHS) - R 4 000 000
4) Marno Stopforth (Grey College) - R 4 000 001
5) Ulrich van der Westhuizen (Monnas) - R 3 000 000
6) De Wet Fourie (Daniel Pienaar) - R 4 000 000
7) Divan Fuller (Paarl Boishaai) - 5 000 000
8) JJ Theron (Grey College) - R 7 000 000
9) Christiaan vs Westhuizen (Grey College) - R 4 000 001
10) Kyle Smith (Paarl Gim) - R 5 000 000
11) Jameel de Jongh (Paarl Boishaai) - R 4 000 000
12) Pieter vd Merwe (Grey College) - R 7 000 000
13) Gino Cupido (Strand) - R 5 000 000
14) Martin Botha (Grey College) - R 3 000 000
15) JC Mars (Paarl Boishaai) - R 5 000 000
Head of Rugby - Peter Engledow (DHS) - R 3 000 000
Head Coach - Jannie Geldenhuys (Grey College) - R 5 500 000
Forward Coach - Helmut Lehman (Paarl Gim) - R 3 000 000
Backline Coach - David Sadie (Boishaai) - R 3 000 000