Trialists for SA Schools
In August SA Schools take part in a quadrangular with England France and Wales. Instead of announcing an SA Schools team at the end of the Craven Week, the SA Schools selectors announced a group of 50 players to take part in a trial on 28 July, 2012.
This group will then be whittled down to 28 which will form the squad to play in the quadrangular.
SARU's Senior Manager: Club, Schools and University Development, Nico Serfontein, said: “We have opted for a change in selection strategy, where we have exposed our selectors to a broader base of players at the various Coca-Cola Youth Weeks, as well as a change in our preparation for incoming tests."
The change is a joint decision taken by SARU and the SA Schools Rugby Association (SASRA).
The Blue Bulls, who were clearly the strongest team at Craven Week, will have 14 players present at the trials. Of them 13 were at Craven Week. The 14th is Abongile Nonkontwana, who was at the Academy Week. A surprise omission is their enterprising fullback Jaco Hayward.
Leighton van Wyk, the big SACS centre, was also at the Academy Week.
There was no place for the Queen's College duo of JP Smith and Josh Stander, excluded by Border because they had signed for the Blue Bulls, or for Daniel Kriel of Maritzburg College, Jesse's twin brother, who is on his way back from injury.
The 50 trialists:
Blue Bulls: Abongile Nonkontwana (St Alban's, Academy Week), Caswell Khoza (Southdowns College), Dayan van der Westhuizen (Centurion), Heinrich Viljoen (Affies), Hyron Andrews (Garsfontein), Johan Bannink (Garsfontein), Jurie Linde (Affies), Justin Philips (Waterkloof), Nicholas Janse van Rensburg (Affies), Pierre Schoeman (Affies), Rohan Janse van Rensburg (Waterkloof), Ryno Eksteen (Affies), Marcus Kleinbooi (Affies), Thabo Mabuza (Centurion).
Boland: Courtney Cupido (Worcester Gim), François Esterhuizen (Overberg), Gideon Koegelenberg (Hugenote), Wilco Louw (Drostdy).
Border: Akhona Sihunu (Dale)
Eastern Province: Aidon Davis (Daniël Pienaar), Selwyn Davids (Nico Malan), Sergeal Petersen (Grey).
Free State: Edward Schmidt (Grey College), Ox Nche (Louis Botha).
Golden Lions: Christiaan Massyn (Monument), Dylan Smith (KES), Jaco van der Walt (Monument), Koch Marx (Alberton), Malcolm Marx (KES), Stephan Vermeulen (Monument).
Griffons: Reinhardt Snyman (Hentie Cilliers)
KwaZulu-Natal: Daniel du Preez (Kearsney), Jean-Luc du Preez (Kearsney), Jesse Kriel (Maritzburg College), Sandile Khubeka (Kearsney).
Limpopo: Matjikinyane Molapo (Ben Vorster)
Pumas: Jano Venter (HTS Middelburg)
South Western Districts: Duhan van der Merwe (Outeniqua), Ganfried May (Oudtshoorn), Warrick Galant (Outeniqua).
Valke: Johan Labuschagne (Dr EG Jansen)
Western Province: Chad Solomon (Paul Roos), Handré Pollard (Paarl Gim), Jason Worrall (Paul Roos), JD Schickerling (Paarl Gim), Leighton Rar van Wyk (SACS, Academy Week), Liam Hendricks (Paarl Boys' High), Ramone Samuels (Paul Roos), Wesley Adonis (Paarl Boys' High).