Griffons pick school teams
The Northern Free State Griffons have announced their school sides for the 2009 Craven, Academy and Grant Khomo Weeks.
The Griffons have had some difficulty in finalising their sides, after the withdrawal of players from Harmony Sport Academy. These players are not eligible as the Sports Academy does not officially take part in the school leagues. The school teams may therefore be subject to change as SA rugby will still need to approve the selected teams, with transformation targets a possible hurdle.
The Sports Academy provided a large proportion of last year's Craven Week team, but this year the Afrikaanse Hoërskool Kroonstad is well represented due to their successful season.
Craven Week
Griffons:15 Niel Neethling (Voortrekker), 14 Mochesela Mvula (Ficksburg), 13 Andries Kruger (AHS Kroonstad) , 12 Helgard Raubenheimer (Vrede), 11 Jonè Jansen (Gimnasium), 10 Ryno Venter (Hentie Cilliers), 9 Michael du Plessis (Goudveld), 8 Jacques Steyn (Goudveld), 7 Cloete Wessels (AHS Kroonstad), 6 Lomon van der Merwe (Voortrekker), 5 Pieter Griesel (AHS Kroonstad), 4 Jaco Taljaard (Wessel Maree), 3 P.W. Botha (Ficksburg), 2 Lenro Vergotinni (AHS Kroonstad), 1 Janno van Niekerk (Voortrekker)
Replacements: 16 Sello Mati (Goudveld), 17 Tumelo Nkopane (HTS), 18 Pierre Botes (Vrede), 19 Mandla Refilu (Marquard), 20Arend Corbett (Voortrekker), 21 Simon Marcus (Wessel Maree), 22 Siviwe Booi (HTS)
Coach: Mr. Wilfred Berling
Assistants:Mr. K. Kasselman Mr. J. Malan
Academy Week
Griffons:15 Nelson Oliphant (Hoërskool Kroonstad), 14 Nkululeku Mnthambo (Voortrekker), 13 Riaan van Zyl (Voortrekker), 12 Jeremiah Tumane (Gimnasium), 11 Modise Motati (Gimnasium), 10 Luan Janse van Rensburg (AHS), 9 Richard Weber (AHS), 8 Johnty Human (Hoërskool Kroonstad), 7 Trevor Ogilvie (Hoërskool Kroonstad), 6 Robert Ntlatsane (HTS), 5 Hanru van der Westhuizen (Gimnasium), 4 Francois Posthumus (Witteberg), 3 Jan Basson (Gimnasium), 2 Pieter Erasmus (H/S Kroonstad), 1 Everhard Laing (AHS)
Replacements: 16 Rudi van Niekerk (Gimnasium), 17 Lwazi Mabaso (Voortrekker), 18 Kagiso Metsing (Gimnasium), 19 Tembolane Mabomba (HTS), 20 Gladman Nchodu (HTS), 21 Adriaan Jordaan (Hoërskool Kroonstad), 22 Reinhardt Erasmus (AHS Kroonstad)
Coach: Mr. Koalepe
Assistants: Mr. R. Bezuidenhout , Mr. H. Pelster
Grant Khomo Week
Griffons: 15 Francois Pretorius (Voortrekker), 14 Royden Tobias (Witteberg), 13 Ruben Botha (Hoërskool Kroonstad), 12 Jaco Enslin (Hoërskool Kroonstad), 11 Junior Odendaal (Vrede), 10 Pieter Zietsman (Hoërskool Kroonstad), 9 Pierre Uys (AHS), 8 Johan Botes (H/S Kroonstad), 7 Elandrè Janse van Rensburg (Hoërskool Kroonstad), 6 Masala Pitso (Hentie Cilliers), 5 Coenie Westraad (Hoërskool Kroonstad), 4 Stefan Groenewald (AHS), 3 Gustav Potgieter (Hentie Cilliers), 2 Bertus Linde (Wilgerivier), 1 Francois Poolman (AHS)
Replacements:16 Toka Masitsa (Riebeeckstad), 17 Heinrich Pretorius (Ficksburg), 18 Freddie van Molendorff (Reitz), 19 Leonard van der Walt (Wessel Maree), 20 Seabello Senatla (Riebeeckstad), 21 Darius Ackerman (Witteberg), 22 Ashwin Williams (Ficksburg)
Coach: Mr. M. Ponase
Assistants: Mr. N. Pretorius, Mr. P. de Wet