The South African Rugby Union on Tuesday announced a strong SA Under-18 Sevens squad – a group that includes two DHL Western Province stars – for the Youth Commonwealth Games which will take place in Apia, Samoa, from September 9 to 11.
Damian Willemse and Johan Visser – both key members of DHL WP’s all-conquering 2015 Craven Week team – were also part of the triumphant SA Schools squad that participated in the recently-completed Under-18 International Series campaign. The tournament featured England, Wales, France and Italy.
SA U18 Sevens team manager, Marius Schoeman, was pleased with the strength of the team and said their goal is to go one step further than the silver medal won at the previous edition of the tournament in the Isle of Man, where South Africa lost to England in the final. Paul Delport, a former Springbok Sevens star and current coach of the successful SA Sevens Academy team, will coach the team.
“This group is the result of an identification process that started two years ago at the Under-16 Coca-Cola Grant Khomo Week,” said Schoeman. “We have monitored their progress ever since, and they all came through a rigorous training camp hosted in April and last December.
“The majority of the squad consists of players who did very well for the SA Schools team in the recent Under-18 International Series against quality opposition. Although we won’t have much time together before we fly to Samoa, I am confident that the boys will perform well. ”
The squad will assemble next Thursday, August 28, in Johannesburg as part of the greater Team SA contingent for a three-day training camp, and are set to depart for the Pacific Islands on Sunday, August 30.
THE SA SEVENS UNDER-18 TEAM TO PARTICIPATE IN THE YOUTH COMMONWEALTH GAMES IN SAMOA IS AS FOLLOWS:
1. Manie Libbok (SWD, Outeniqua)*
2. Embrose Papier (Blue Bulls, Garsfontein) *
3. Francois Agenbag (Free State, Grey College)
4. Curwin Bosch (Eastern Province, Grey High) *
5. Heino Bezuidenhout (Eastern Province, Daniel Pienaar) *
6. Stedman Gans (Blue Bulls, Waterkloof) *
7. Donovan du Randt (KwaZulu-Natal, Glenwood)
8. Hacjivah Dayimane (Golden Lions, Jeppe)*
9. Johan Visser (DHL Western Province, Paarl Gymnasium)*
10. Damian Willemse (DHL Western Province, Paul Roos)*
11. JC Pretorius (Pumas, Middelburg)
12. Mfundu Ndlovu (Pumas, Standerton)
* Indicates representation in the SA Schools squad.
MANAGEMENT:
Manager: Marius Schoeman (SARU)
Coach: Paul Delport (SARU)
