Springbok Schools (and birthplaces)
The Springbok team has been announced. Alleluia! South Africa's millions are behind them as Francois Pienaar said memorably in 1995 when he received the trophy from President Nelson Mandela.
Much will be written and spoken about them over the next 70 days and beyond. How the millions will be uplifted and again sing in the streets if the 2nd November 2019 brings a third World Cup to South Africa, for that is the date of the final.
We have produced some brief notes on the magnificent 31 - where they were born and where they went to school. The schools are above the names, the place of birth in brackets after the names.
The school with most Springboks among its Old Boys is Paul Roos Gymnasium of Stellenbosch and Paul Roos is also the school with most Springboks in this World Cup squad. They have four.
Two schools have two each - Grey College of Bloemfontein and Hugenote of Springs. There are 23 schools proud to each have one Springbok in the squad.
Cape Town is the most frequent birthplace, the Western Cape the most frequent province of birth.
The Squad with School and Birthplace
Paul Roos Gymnasium
Schalk Brits (Empangeni)
Steven Kitshoff (Somerset West)
Willie le Roux (Cape Town)
Herschel Jantjies (Stellenbosch)
Grey College
Cobus Reinach (Bloemfontein)
François Steyn (Aliwal North)
Hugenote Hoërskool/Highschool
Vincent Koch (Empangeni)
Hugenote - Springs
Lood de Jager (Alberton)
Affies
RG Snyman (Potchefstroom)
Ben Vorster
Trevor Nyakane (Bushbuck Ridge)
Bethlehem Voortrekker
Bongi Mbonambi (Bethlehem)
Bishops
Francois Louw (Cape Town)
Brackenfell
Cheslin Kolbe (Kraaifontein)
Brits High
Franco Mostert (Bloemfontein)
De Vos Malan
Lukhanyo Am (King William's Town)
Florida Hoërskool
Elton Jantjies (Graaff-Reinet)
Grey High
Siya Kolisi (Port Elizabeth)
HTS Middelburg
Kwagga Smith (Alberton)
Jeppe
Sibusiso Nkosi (Barberton)
Jim Mvabaza High
Makazole Mapimpi (Mdantsane)
King Edward VII (School (KES)
Malcolm Marx (Germiston)
Maritzburg College
Jesse Kriel (Cape Town)
Milnerton
Damian de Allende (Cape Town)
Nelspruit
Duane Vermeulen (Nelspruit)
Outeniqua
Warrick Gelant (Knysna)
Paarl Boys' High
Frans Malherbe (Paarl)
Paarl Gim
Handré Pollard (Somerset West)
Peterhouse, Zimbabwe
Tendai Mtawarira (Harare)
Swartland
Pieter-Steph du Toit (Cape Town)
Tygerberg
Eben Etzebeth (Cape Town)
Waterkloof
Faf de Klerk (Nelspruit)