The excitement following the announcement of the SA Schools and SA Schools "A" teams that will play against international opponents during the latter part of August 2022 is once again "marred" by century-old questions regarding the timing of the "scheduled" u/18 internationals.
Unfortunately, no "reasonable" agreement could or seemingly would be reached in the foreseeable future.
According to "informed" sources the two SA Schools teams will convene in Stellenbosch on 14 August 2022 and play matches on 19,23 and 26 August whereafter the boys will be going back to their respective schools.
Several requests were made that the international must be moved as the Noordvaal Competions' semi-finals and finals are played on 20 August and 27 August respectively.
This will result in Monnas and Garsfontein going into the playoffs without several of their stars. Garsfontein will be without Steven Nell and Michail Damon while Monnas will be without Jan Botes, Ulrich van der Westhuizen and Sifiso Magwaza. None of the two schools will cry foul, however, the influence of SA Schools players has had a definite impact on the winners of this competition in recent history.
Grey College will be without seven players against their end-of-the-year fixture against Paul Roos who will only miss Jurenzo Julius while Outeniqua will miss four players for their trip to Drostdy HTS.
In the Eastern Cape, Dale College will miss one player while their opponents Queens College will miss two boys when they face each other in Queenstown on 20 August 2021. Nico Malan will certainly miss their flanker, Max du Pisani in their match against Framesby.