Michaelhouse win KZN award
There isn't a league or a knockout competition in KwaZulu-Natal, but with all the top rugby schools playing against one another on an annual basis, there is opportunity to compare the KwaZulu-Natal Interschools results in any given season and determine who the top team is.
This is the exact purpose for which the eighth annual Traditional Rugby Schools Awards Luncheon was held on 15 August, 2012.
Founded and conceptualised by a group of North Coast old boys of the top seven rugby schools in KZN in 2004, this now popular awards luncheon has become a noteworthy part of the KwaZulu-Natal schools rugby calendar with the highlight being the handing over of the trophy to the winning school.
Many well-known rugby personalities have been invited as guest speakers including President of the KwaZulu-Natal Rugby Union Peter Hassard, Springbok skipper Gary Teichmann, rugby commentator Hugh Bladen, Natal’s first Currie Cup-winning captain Craig Jamieson and Springbok 2007 World Cup winner Butch James. This year the honour fell on Springbok Stefan Terblanche who is now the Executive Director of the SA Rugby Legends Association Legendary. African adventurer Kingsley Holgate and legendary Sharks coach Ian MacIntosh were also present.
Michaelhouse emerged as the clear-cut winners, having the best record of all the top schools in the province. It has been an outstanding season for the private school from Balgowan. Six players Justin Moberly (captain), Stephan Hardman, Joshua Moon, Robert Anderson, Michael Mvelase and Bruce Arnott were selected to play at Craven Week 2012. Cian Grendon made the Academy team and Christopher Brits, Gordon Laubser-Hattingh, Zaahir Harribance and Bryce Nicolson-Deh all took part in the final round of KwaZulu-Natal Under-18 trials.
Michaelhouse coaches Michael Schwartz and Andre van Wyk accepted the trophy on behalf of the school.
Kearsney claimed second place. There was a tie for third place between Maritzburg College and 2011 winners Glenwood. Westville was in fifth place, Hilton sixth and DHS seventh. St Charles College was one of the original schools considered for the trophy when the luncheon began in 2004 and it was announced that they would be back in the mix in 2013.
By Beet