High Performance Squad to be named

SARU will announce a 32-man Under-18 High Performance Squad at the conclusion of the 2010 Craven Week tournament in Welkom that will compete in international friendlies against France, England and a Namibian Invitational side.

The South African Rugby Union (SARU) will announce a 32-man Under-18 High Performance Squad at the conclusion of the 2010 Craven Week tournament in Welkom that will compete in international friendlies against France, England and a Namibian Invitational side.

The squad that will be selected from players who have excelled in the Coca-Cola Under-18 Craven Week, and the recently concluded Under-18 Academy Week, will assemble in Cape Town on Monday, July 12 to prepare for the three internationals which forms part of SARU's Elite Player Development Programme.

"Our aims are to give Under-18 players some international exposure," said SARU High Performance Manager Herman Masimla.

"Only when guys compete will we know who the possible players are that could make it on the international stage. Hopefully, there will be guys that have attended this workshop who will one day represent the SA Under-20 team, Springbok Sevens side or ultimately play for the Springboks.

"We identified that the lack of international competition for our juniors in comparison with our overseas competitors could be one of our weaknesses. The European nations compete in an Under-20 Six Nations competition for example."

Competing teams at the Coca-Cola Under-18 Craven Week in Welkom participated in a SARU High Performance Workshop in Welkom which was hosted by SARU's High Performance Department. SA Sevens coach Paul Treu, SA Under-20 coach Eric Sauls and national selectors Peter Jooste, Ian McIntosh and Marais Bester (SA Sevens) were all in attendance.

Each player received a DVD which included an all-year conditioning programme and electronic software to rate himself against the country's best players in his age group. The training programme and software were provided by the Sports Science Institute of South Africa.

Players had the opportunity to chat and interact with SARU's High Performance delegation and also had the chance to interact with the different teams competing at the Coca-Cola Under-18 Craven Week in Welkom.

South Africa Under-18 International fixtures:
Friday, July 16: SA v France - East London
Tuesday, July 20: SA v Namibia - George
Friday, July 23: SA v England - Port Elizabeth