The second @lantic Provincial Under-18 sevens tournament will take place on 4 and 5 October at the LC de Villiers Stadium at Tukkies. Sixteen provincial Under-18 teams will participate in the tournament.
Thys Bezuidenhout, chairman of the South African Schools Rugby Association, said: "This is the second time that we will present this tournament and it is truly a breakthrough. We are very excited about the tournament.".
Paul Treu, the coach of the BlitzBokke, said: "The provincial tournament will certainly make a contribution to the national sevens team. We have been struggling for years to bring about a feeder system for the national team. It has always been a problem to see the players in the 15 man code participate and then to hope that they will bring these skills, that we identified there, to the sevens game. The tournament will help in establishing a culture of Sevens and be an opportunity for us to identify the best skilled Sevens players in the code. During last years historic first tournament a number of players were identified, who are now part of the SA Sevens Academy."
Treu and the Springbok team will attend the tournament in Pretoria before they depart for Australia to participate in the IRB Sevens series.
The @lantic Sevens Series has already contributed a number of Springboks, like Hoffman Maritz, Branco du Preez and Jumba Ulenga to the national team. Other players like Gerhard van den Heever, Siya Kolisi and Danie Poolman also honed their skills in the @lantic Sevens Series.
The tournament promoter, Willem Strauss said: "The provincial tournament is a continuation and culmination of the @lantic Sevens Series that has been held over the past six years. The players who were overlooked for the Coca-Cola Craven Week, can use this opportunity to participate at provincial level and be identified. The tournament will further raise the status of Sevens rugby in South Africa."
Players who are identified at this year's tournament could possibly be in action for the Springboks at the 2016 Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro.
Dederick Venter, marketing director of @lantic said: "We have now been involved in sevens rugby for six years through the @lantic Sevens Series. Six years ago we identified a void in South African schools rugby and made an investment to address this need. The provincial tournament is the highlight of our attempts to promote the game. We have always worked towards establishing a sanctioned provincial tournament. This tournament is a milestone and acknowledges all the coaches, players, sponsors and promoters who have worked hard to make every tournament a success,."
The matches kick-off on Thursday morning at 10.30. The matches will be televised live on Friday from 13.55 on Supersport 6. Fridays matches commence at 09.20 with the finals as follows:
14.40: Shield final
15.00: Bowl final
15.20: Plate final
15.40: 3/4th play-offs
16.00: Cup final
16.30: Prize giving
The defending champions are the Blue Bulls.
Pools
Pool A
Blue Bulls
Border
Boland
KwaZulu Natal
Pool B
Eastern Province
Leopards
Valke
South Western Districts
Pool C
WP
Griquas
Limpopo
Pumas
Pool D
Golden Lions
Border Country Districts
Griffons
Free State
Teams
Blue Bulls: Thabo Mabuza (Centurion), Steven Meiring (Affies), Heinrich Viljoen (Affies), Andre van Wyk (Wonderboom), Brandon Hewit (Centurion), Jurie Linde (Affies), Jaco Hayward (Centurion), Barend Potgieter (Zwartkop), François Steyn (Affies), Viandré Delport (Zwartkop), Marcus Kleinbooi (Affies), Jameel Warnick (Garsfontein)
Coaches: Fielies Coetzee, Ludwiche van Deventer
Border: Akhona Sihunu (Dale), Malotana Khaya (Dale), Somila Jho (Dale), JP Smith (Queen's), Harty Jedwin (Selborne), Bingwa Siphamandla (Hudson Park), Dobela Dalu (Hudson Park), Miles Andrew (Selborne), Justin Hollis (Queen's), Ponco Mandilakhe (Queen's), Kevin Kaba (Queen's), Taylor Flanegan (Stirling)
Coaches: Anthony Jacobus, Mark Farnham
Eastern Province: Ivan du Preez (Die Brandwag), Siwa Mandilakhe (Pearson), Jordan Turner (Grey High), Renaldo Meyer (Gill), Malcolm Jaer (Brandwag), Bantu Kwatsha (Grey High), Phelo Mfini (Grey High), Selvyn Davids (Nico Malan), Bantu Mene (Itembehlihle), Matthew Albrough (Grey High), Wesley Jones (Pearson), Whayburn Howley (Despatch)
Coaches: Gerald Antonie, Andrew Buys
KwaZulu Natal: Robert Anderson (Michaelhouse), Brad Els (Westville), Unathi Makasi (Glenwood), Mthokozisi Mkhabela (Glenwood), Joshua Moon (Michaelhouse), Michael Mvelase (Michaelhouse), Bryce Nicholson-Dey (Michaelhouse), Mondle Nkosi (George Campbell), Christopher Schoeman (Michaelhouse), Ayron Schramm (Kearsney College), Carel Swart (Glenwood), Corne Vermaark (Glenwood)
Coaches: Rayno Combrinck, Rudi Dames
Leopards: Thomas Dreyer (Potch Gimnasium), Henco vd Walt (Potch Volkskool), Iniël Schoenfeld (Potch Volkskool), Armand du Preez (Potch Volkskool), Jaco Hattingh (Potch Volkskool), Gideon van der Merwe (Potch Gimnasium), Andries Hattingh (Klerksdorp), Gopolan Molefe (Thekwana M School), W.J. Herbst (Potch Volkskool), Eugene Hare (Potch Volkskool), Arthur Vivier (Potch Gimnasium), Bertho van Wyk (Rustenburg)
Coaches: Thabo Molete, Hennie Pretorius
Golden Lions: Wiaan Jacobs (Monument), Bradley Jansen Van Rensdburg (KES), Dwayne Marx (Randburg), Byrone Kennedy (St Benedict's), Bouke Gouws (Florida), Brandon Riek (Florida), Reinhard Kruger (Jan Viljoen), Ruan Ferreira (Florida), Steven du Plessis (Florida), Prince Sishi (Queen's), Godfrey Ramaboea (KES), Christof Venter (Monument)
Coaches: Johan Erasmus, Riaan van Blerk
South Western Districts: Jeandré Rudolph (Oakdale), Wikus Oosthuizen (Langenhoven Gimnasium), Piet-Louw Strauss (Oakdale), Leighton Eksteen (Outeniqua), Dewald Human (Outeniqua), Warrick Gelant (Outeniqua), Duhan van der Merwe (Outeniqua), Geor Malan (Outeniqua), Remu Malan (Outeniqua), Dean January (Oudtshoorn), Lorenzo Gordon (Oakdale), Myburg Briërs (Oakdale)
Coaches: Milton Prodehl, Malan du Plessis
Valke: Gerrie Labuschange (Anker), Junius Deysel (HTS Vereeniging), Henry Badenhorst (Jeugland), Jamie Campbell (Kempton Park), Sydney du Plessis (Kempton Park), Cameron Rooi (Anker), Jacqone de Villiers (Vereeniging), Michiel Mostert (Kempton Park), Jacques Fick (Hugenote), Armand Slabbert (Jeugland), Tiaan Vorster (Stoffberg), Eldrone van Rooyen (Vereeniging)
Coaches: A Geyser, A Burger
