SARU's U16 camp ends

Fifty of the best young rugby players in South Africa concluded an intense week of elite coaching in Paarl on Saturday, starting their pathway to becoming fully fledged professional rugby players.

The Under-16 High Performance camp, organised by the High Performance Department of the South African Rugby Union (SARU) in conjunction with the Development Department, ended with a trial match where the 50 players could show off the on-field skills they learnt from a host of SA’s best coaches.  

Jurie Roux, SARU CEO, said: “This Under-16 programme is the vital first step in showing our best young players what it takes to be a professional rugby player.

“Our High Performance and Development departments worked very hard to refine the programme in certain areas to give the boys a more thorough grounding in the skills required to succeed as a professional rugby player.

“Some of these boys will go on to play for the Junior Springboks in a few years’ time and one or two might eventually become full Springboks. This is a critical age in the talent identification process.

“Instilling the right habits in the right players in this age group we expect will bear fruit in years to come.”  

The squad members were also exposed to disciplines as varied as mental coaching and life skills training during the week-long programme, was led by SARU’s Herman Masimla. The boys were divided into two squads run by Denver Wannies (Springbok Women’s coach) and Chris October (SA Schools coach).

Junior Springbok coach Dawie Theron, Springbok kicking consultant Louis Koen and Kaya Malotana (SA Women’s Under-21 and Sevens coach) were also involved, as well as Western Province defence coach Jacques Nienaber, Rassie Erasmus (SARU GM: High Performance) and former Springbok mental coach, Henning Gericke.  

Apart from group sessions on the field, all the players were given one-on-ones by the coaches, which included the discussion of issues such as mental preparation and coping with the demands of modern professionalism.  

Furthermore, Neville Heilbron, SARU Manager for Referees’ Training and Development, compiled an exam on the laws of the game which the players had to complete, while national selector Peter Jooste provided some valuable input in terms of team selection.

Roux said: “It was a very intense week for the boys. When they arrived they underwent physical testing during which we recorded one of the fastest 40m sprint times we have ever seen from a South African player.

“They also took skills tests to assess their rugby capabilities and were also coached in gym techniques. Sessions dealing with nutrition and the use of supplements in sport were also conducted.”  

All the players were registered on the SARU elite squad database and will be monitored until next year’s Under-17 camp. This system, also called the footprint system, is interactive and gives the player, coaches and selectors the ability to communicate on a day to day basis.

The programme included a trip to the top of Table Mountain as a break from the hard work.

Players were chosen to attend the SARU Under-16 High Performance camp

Fullbacks: Petrus van Wyk (EG Jansen, Valke), Tiaan Swanepoel (Stellenberg, Western Province), Kennett Sinclair (Helpmekaar, Golden Lions)

Wings: Llewellyn Hein (HTS Louis Botha, Free State), Tshepo Thulo (Golden Lions – Jeppe), André Manuel (Bergrivier, Boland), Kathlego Tsotetsi (St Benedict's, Golden Lions), Justin Bhana (Florida, Golden Lions), Siyabonga Nkosi (Pumas)

Centres: Julian Jordaan (Grey College, Free State), Ian Truter (HTS Witbank, Pumas), Morné Joubert (Glenwood, KwaZulu Natal), Barend Smit (HTS Middelburg, Pumas), Edrich Venter (Paul Roos Gymnasium, Western Province), Michael Andrade (Staatspresident Swart, Free State)

Flyhalves: Paul de Lange (Sentraal, Free State), Danrich Visagie (Boland Landbou, Western Province), Lohan Bennett (HTS Middelburg, Pumas), Fabio Afrika (Hopefield, Boland)

Scrumhalves: Dale Hendricks (Affies, Blou Bulls), Kwazi Khanyile (Glenwood, KwaZulu Natal), Ralton October (Florida, Golden Lions), Jaywinn Juries (Hentie Cilliers, Griffons)

Eighthmen: Luigi van Jaarsveld (Marlow, Eastern Province), Alexander Jonker (Grey College, Free State), Denzil Hill (Jeppe, Golden Lions)

Flanks: Jacques Oosthuizen (Paul Roos Gymnasium, Western Province), Jason Steyn (Selborne, Border), Nyasha Tarusenga (St Benedict's, Golden Lions), Peter John Toerien (Tygerberg, Western Province), Lamond Bouwer (Grey College, Free State), Kurt Webster (DHS, KwaZulu Natal), Pieter Gouws (Oakdale, South Western Districts)

Locks: Devon Henson (St John's, Golden Lions), Aston Fortuin (Queen's, Border), Eduard Zandberg (Outeniqua, South Western Districts), Rhyno Herbst (Monument, Golden Lions), Jaco Willemse (Paarl Gymnasium, Western Province), Stefanus Wessels (Sentraal, Free State)

Props: Gavin van der Berg (Paarl Gymnasium, Western Province), Reuben Terblanche (Grey College, Free State), Cauhen Mashaba (Pumas), Kabelo Matloung (Dr DF Malan, Valke), Ngoni Chidoma (Uplands, Pumas), Kaden Prince (Die Brandwag, Eastern Province), Siphe Mngadi (Glenwood, KwaZulu Natal)

Hookers: Rudolf Britz (Paarl Boys' High, Western Province), Adrian Snyman (Klerksdorp, Leopards), Mitch Mametsa (Ben Vorster, Limpopo), Brendon Smith (Centurion, Blue Bulls)

From SARU