The 2013 Coca-Cola Youth Weeks are expected to switch into a higher gear on Monday as the U16 Grant Khomo Week and U18 Academy Week players receive the opportunity to make their presence felt.

The Coca-Cola Grant Khomo Week will be hosted at the Isak Steyl Stadium in Vanderbijlpark, while Durban’s Glenwood High plays host to the Academy Week – with DHL Western Province looking to add to their unbeaten runs at last week’s Under-13 Craven Week and the LSEN Week.

With these Youth Weeks playing a vital role in grooming players for senior provincial and national rugby in future, the tempo and competitiveness between the sides is expected to be intense.70-270

One could sense the focused attitude among the Under-16 teams, in particular, as they arrived in Vanderbijlpark on Sunday ready to stamp their authority.

Western Province, who dominated the Grant Khomo Week last season with Eastern Province, will feature in the opening match of this year’s tournament against the Leopards at 09h00. This will mark the beginning of an action-packed day of rugby featuring 20 teams – including Namibia and Zimbabwe.

The other big clashes are expected to be the Blue Bulls lining up against Eastern Province, Free State taking on Border and the Golden Lions going up against the Valke.

Namibia and Zimbabwe, meanwhile, also face tough afternoon clashes against Griquas and Griquas Country Districts, respectively.

The Academy Week also features a string of intriguing clashes on the opening day, including the Golden Lions meeting South Western Districts, the Blue Bulls battling it out with Boland, and hosts KwaZulu-Natal, lining up against the Leopards.70-410

Western Province, who also emerged as one of the top teams in the Academy Week last year, will take on the Red Valke at 12h00.

With the DHL WP Under-13 team emerging as the only unbeaten side in the Coca-Cola Under-13 Craven Week at Warmbad Hoerskool in Bela-Bela last week, their senior counterparts will be determined to build on their impressive performances last season as they look to continue their dominance in youth rugby.

DAY ONE FIXTURES:

Coca-Cola Under-16 Grant Khomo Week:
09h00: DHL Western Province v Leopards
09h00: KwaZulu-Natal v Limpopo Blue Bulls
10h30: Blue Bulls v Eastern Province
10h30: SWD v Griffons
12h00: Free State v Border
12h00: Border CD v Valke XV
13h30: Boland v Pumas
13h30: Griquas CD v Zimbabwe
16h00: Valke v Golden Lions
16h00: Griquas v Namibia

Coca-Cola Under-18 Academy Week:
08h00: Blue Falcons v Eastern Province
08h00: Limpopo Blue Bulls v Border
09h20: Golden Lions v SWD
09h20: Namibia v SA LSEN
10h40: Pumas v Free State
10h40: Griquas v Griffons CD
12h00: Red Valke v DHL Western Province
12h00: KZN XV v Griquas CD
13h20: Blue Bulls v Boland
13h20: Leopards CD v Border CD
15h00: KZN v Leopards

15h00: KZN CD v Pumas CD