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Next generation honoured at WPRFU capping ceremony

PUBLISHED: June 23, 2016


The players set to represent DHL Western Province at the upcoming national Youth Weeks were honoured at the Western Province Rugby Football Union schools capping ceremony on Tuesday.

The players set to represent DHL Western Province at the upcoming national Youth Weeks were honoured at the Western Province Rugby Football Union schools capping ceremony on Tuesday.

The squads which are set to compete in the Coca-Cola Under-13 Craven Week, Coca-Cola U16 Grant Khomo Week, the Coca-Cola U18 Academy Week and the Coca-Cola U18 Craven Week all received their DHL Western Province caps, with the U18 LSEN, U16 XV, U18 Girls and U16 Girls teams capped on Wednesday.

The event, which was held at DHL Newlands, saw the cream of schoolboy rugby talent in Western Province gathered together in recognition of their selection for the respective DHL Western Province teams.

President of the WPRFU Mr Thelo Wakefield, who spoke passionately about the history, heritage, pride and tradition of Western Province Rugby, symbolised by the Disa and blue and white hoops of the jersey, congratulated the players, their parents and coaches for what they have already achieved, and wished them well for the national Youth Weeks.

“It is my pleasure to welcome all of these talented young players into the DHL Western Province fold, and I am looking forward to seeing what they can produce on the field in the various Youth Weeks.

“Whilst the athletes all play for various schools and clubs, they are now unified as DHL WP players.

“Of course we must thank tournament sponsors Coca-Cola as well as our DHL Western Province associate sponsors DHL, Land Rover, Adidas and BrightRock for their contributions to developing young rugby talent,” he said.

Of the four teams that played last year, only one game was lost between them, and President Wakefield reminded the players of the high standards they were pledging to uphold.

DHL Western Province Coca-Cola U18 Craven Week captain Salmaan Moerat, who was capped by his father Nazeem Moerat, addressed the gathering along with DHL Western Province Coca-Cola U13 Craven Week captain Jacobus de Villiers.

Moerat is one of four players, along with Khanya Ncusane, Manuel Rass and Damian Willemse who were part of the all-conquering 2015 DHL Western Province Coca-Cola U18 Craven Week team, and he spoke passionately about the honour of doing the blue and white hooped jersey and Disa proud.

There were a few memorable moments during the capping ceremony as former Springbok centre Brendan Venter capped his son Brendan who will represent the DHL Western Province U16 Grant Khomo Week team, whilst Mr Wakefield also paid tribute to the parents of Khanya and Lindokuhle Ncusana who were named in the DHL Western Province U18 Craven Week and DHL Western Province U16 Grant Khomo Week team respectively.