The Blue Bulls had the majority of their squad called up for the SA Schools trials later this month, which was announced at the conclusion of the Coca-Cola Under-18 Craven Week in Port Elizabeth.Following a joint decision by the South African Rugby Union (SARU) and the SA Schools Rugby Association (SASRA), the SA Schools selectors on Saturday named a 50-man trials squad instead of an SA Schools team, as has been the custom at previous Under-18 Craven Weeks.
The SA Schools trial match will take place on 28 July, with a squad of 28 set to be named afterwards to take on Wales, France and England next month.
“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,” said SARU's Senior Manager: Club, Schools and University Development, Nico Serfontein.
Western Province's Chris October will coach the SA Schools team, with Boland's David Coert the team manager.
SA Schools Trials Group
| ||
No
|
Player
|
Provincial Union
|
1
|
Abongile Nonkontwana
|
Blue Bulls
|
2
|
Aidon Davis
|
Eastern Province
|
3
|
Akhona Sihunu
|
Border
|
4
|
Caswell Khoza
|
Blue Bulls
|
5
|
Chad Solomon
|
Western Province
|
6
|
Christiaan Massyn
|
Golden Lions
|
7
|
Christiaan Meyer
|
Valke
|
8
|
Courtne Cupido
|
Boland
|
9
|
Daniel du Preez
|
KwaZulu-Natal
|
10
|
Dayan van der Westhuizen
|
Blue Bulls
|
11
|
Duhan van der Merwe
|
South Western Districts
|
12
|
Dylon Smith
|
Golden Lions
|
13
|
Edward Schmidt
|
Free State
|
14
|
Francois Esterhuizen
|
Boland
|
15
|
Ganfried May
|
South Western Districts
|
16
|
Gideon Koegelenberg
|
Boland
|
17
|
Handre Pollard
|
Western Province
|
18
|
Heinrich Viljoen
|
Blue Bulls
|
19
|
Hyron Andrews
|
Blue Bulls
|
20
|
Jaco van der Walt
|
Golden Lions
|
21
|
Jano Venter
|
Pumas
|
22
|
Jason Worrall
|
Western Province
|
23
|
JD Schickerling
|
Western Province
|
24
|
Jean Luc du Preez
|
KwaZulu-Natal
|
25
|
Jesse Kriel
|
KwaZulu-Natal
|
26
|
Johan Bannink
|
Blue Bulls
|
27
|
Johan Labuschagne
|
Valke
|
28
|
Jurie Linde
|
Blue Bulls
|
29
|
Justin Philips
|
Blue Bulls
|
30
|
Koch Marx
|
Golden Lions
|
31
|
Leigton Rar van Wyk
|
Western Province
|
32
|
Liam Hendricks
|
Western Province
|
33
|
Malcolm Marx
|
Golden Lions
|
34
|
Marcus Kleinbooi
|
Blue Bulls
|
35
|
Matjikinyane Molapo
|
Blue Bulls
|
36
|
Nicholas Janse van Resnburg
|
Blue Bulls
|
37
|
Ox Nche
|
Free State
|
38
|
Pierre Schoeman
|
Blue Bulls
|
39
|
Ramone Samuels
|
Western Province
|
40
|
Rohan Janse van Rensburg
|
Blue Bulls
|
41
|
Rynard Snyman
|
Griffons
|
42
|
Ryno Eksteen
|
Blue Bulls
|
43
|
Sandile Kubeka
|
KwaZulu-Natal
|
44
|
Selwyn Davids
|
Eastern Province
|
45
|
Sergeal Petersen
|
Eastern Province
|
46
|
Stephan Vermeulen
|
Golden Lions
|
47
|
Thabo Mabuza
|
Blue Bulls
|
48
|
Warrick Galant
|
South Western Districts
|
49
|
Wesley Adonis
|
Western Province
|
50
|
Wilco Louw
|
Boland
|
Source: SA Rugby
