Nelson Mandela Bay’s rugby extravaganza continues with Craven Week

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After staging a highly successful international between the Springboks and Barbarians at the weekend, Gqeberha’s rugby extravaganza continues when it hosts the U18 Craven Week tournament at Grey High from July 5 to 11.

The last time SA’s biggest schoolboy rugby spectacle was held in the city was in 2012, when matches were staged at the Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium.

EP will face powerhouse team Western Province at Grey High on the opening day in a match that will attract a capacity crowd to watch SA’s rising stars.

In a first for Craven Week, the U18 girls’ tournament will run concurrently with the U18 boys’ event.

A powerful EP U18 rugby team, bristling with pace to burn in the back division and brute strength among the forward pack, has been selected to go into battle at the annual Craven Week tournament for schoolboys, which is held at Grey High in Gqeberha from July 5 to 11. Apart from the U18 Craven Week side, the EP selectors have named a strong team to participate in the U16 Grant Khomo Week, to be held in Durban from June 29 to July 3. In addition, a talented EP U18 Academy side has been selected to play at the Academy Week at Bergsig in Kariega from July 5 to 11. The last time SA’s biggest schoolboy rugby spectacle was held in Gqeberha was in 2012, when matches were staged at the Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium. It has been decided EP will face powerhouse team Western Province at Grey High on the opening day of Craven Week in a match that will attract a capacity crowd to watch SA’s rising stars. A well-balanced EP U18 girls team has also been selected to play in a tournament that will run concurrently with the U18 boys event at Grey High. The competition has become a hunting ground for talent scouts trying to find the best new players for their provinces, and many young upcoming stars see the tournament as an opportunity to further their careers The last time SA’s biggest schoolboy rugby spectacle was held in Gqeberha was in 2012, when matches were staged at the Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium. The fixtures on the opening day of Craven Week are (times to be decided): Boland v Leopards; Free State v Limpopo; Sharks v SWD Districts; and Western Province v Eastern Province. And on day 2: Border v Valke; Griquas v Pumas; WP XV v Griffons; and Bulls v Lions. After a gruelling vetting process that involved site inspections at fellow bidders such as the Border Rugby Union-backed Queen’s College in Komani and the Western Province Rugby Union-aligned Paarl Gymnasium, the Saru operations team decided to name Grey High as hosts. Craven Week started in KuGompo City (formerly East London) in 1964 and is named after the legendary Springbok player and coach Dr Danie Craven. The competition began with 15 teams in 1964, growing to 28 in 1987 and 32 in 2000. The format was changed in 2001 and now allows for 20 teams. Each of SA’s 14 provincial unions fields at least one team, with some unions sending two squads (one from their urban base and another representing country districts). The competition has become a hunting ground for talent scouts trying to find the best new players for their provinces, and many young upcoming stars see the tournament as an opportunity to further their careers. EP teams EP U18 Craven Week: Forwards: Neshaun Bester (Andrew Rabie), Henrico Bodenstein (Pearson), JG De Lange (Marlow), Jano Janse van Rensburg (Nico Malan), Daniel Naude (Grey), Akhona Njonjeni (Graeme), Silindisiwe Ntsokoma (Grey), Juan Potgieter (Grey), Sitenkhosi Qabaka (Kingswood), Ross Thompson (Kingswood), Rueben van Dyk (Nico Malan), Josh van Zyl (St Andrews), Micah Wessels (Grey). Backline: Luke Doyle (Graeme), Anfred Jansen (Grey), Tristan Kemp (Grey), Lucretia Magau (Graeme), Noah Mbizi (Grey), Erin Nelson (Graeme), Sibulele Nebula (Grey), Niel September (Spandau), Will Stevens (St Andrews), Nathan Trytsman (Grey). EP U18 Academy Week: Forwards: James Badenhorst (St Andrews), Charl Du Toit (Kingswood), Duncan Hudek (Grey), Luyolo Mapalala (Graeme), David Matiyani (Framesby), Dewald Niemand (Pearson), Mdinandi Tyuka (Itembilihle), Sinqobile Siyengo (Marlow), Marcus September (Marlow), Luciano Solani (Marlow), Dewald van der Merwe (Nico Malan), Lucas Wheeler, (Grey), Zola Yeye (Grey). Backline: Cole Hurter (Marlow), Matthew Goliath (Uitenhage Senior Secondary), Raquel Jaftha (Marlow), Ibenathi Kondile (Grey), Kaiden Kretzman (Pearson), Qhawe Madikizela (St Andrews), Michael Nyandoro (Grey), Ughena Ogukwekwe (Victoria Park), Asakhe Ranuga (Graeme), Logan van Vuuren (Marlow). EP U16 Grant Khomo: Forwards: Reagan de Beer (Framesby), Curtley Deyce (Grey), Alex Dorfling (Grey), Malcolm Leach (Marlow), Ncanywa Edward (Tsitsikamma), Bulele Mani (Nico Malan), James Muir (Graeme), Likhaya Maqwathi (Brandwag), 9 Samkele Nqaba (Graeme), Joshua Robyn (Grey), Nqaba Rwanga (Grey), Sibo Sigayi (Graeme), Anoyolo Tobeka (St Andrews). Backs: Jayden Allans (Nico Malan), Dewan Bezuidenhout (Framesby), Charles Broster (St Andrews), Kumnandi Buwa (Grey), Dian Derbyshire (Grey), Singa Gobingca (Grey) Lindo Mono (Graeme), Uyanda Mnayapa (Grey), Durandt Muller (Brandwag), Tiaan Nel (Grey). EP U18 Girls team: Forwards: Mkhoto Chopper (Itembelihle), Silakhe Masizana (Motherwell), Limise Njoli (KwaMagxaki), Caren Reiners (McCarthy), Likhanya Kaptein (Motherwell), Christina Mthembu (Motherwell), Natalie de Vos (Middelande), Asange Bhetere (Nzondelelo), Iviwe Malika (Molly Blackburn), Unolo Ngcofe (Vulumzi), Sisipho Mnylla (EZ Kabane), Mikhayla Webster (Middelande), Isabelle November (Booysens Park). Backs: Yuliswa Natio (Karoo), Latania Randells (Nzomzano), Anothando Mbade (Motherwell), Litabona Tom (Motherwell), Kimise Yona (Khumnulani), Chelsey Koeberg Alexandria), Chariva Visage (Middelande), Anganathi Marnie (Motherwell), Sumeyer van der Merwe (Middelande), Charnique Brown (Alexandria). Follow The Herald WhatsApp channel today and stay connected to the stories shaping our world. The Herald

Apart from the action at Grey High, schoolboy rugby stars will descend on Kariega when the Academy Week is held at Bergsig from July 5 to 11.

In the lead-up to the tournament, controversy reared its head when some EP coaches threatened to resign amid allegations of interference in team selection.

In a letter to EPRU president George Malgas, the unhappy coaches indicated they were prepared to take the drastic step if the changes remained in place and were not adequately explained.

Undeterred by the allegations, Malgas said his union had done the right thing in ensuring teams were representative of all areas in the region, particularly previously disadvantaged areas.

Story audio is generated using AI A row has erupted among warring officials about how EP Rugby went about selecting its teams for upcoming national youth weeks, with coaches threatening to resign after allegations of interference. Claims have surfaced that players were added to various EP squads after selectors had already submitted their final teams, resulting in official squads differing from those chosen. The allegations of interference come just weeks before EP hosts the U18 Craven Week at Grey High from July 5 to 11. In a letter to EPRU president George Malgas, a group calling itself “Grant Khomo Management”, who are responsible for the U16 squad, indicated they were prepared to step down if the changes remained in place and were not adequately explained. Malgas hit back and said his union had done the right thing in ensuring teams were representative of all areas in the region, particularly previously disadvantaged areas. He said the names had not been “thumb-sucked” by EP Rugby but had been proposed by selectors. The group alleged pressure was placed on EP to increase the representation of players from underprivileged backgrounds. The unhappiness extends to the EP U13 team, where questions regarding governance, transparency, selection procedures and potential conflicts of interest were raised. The letter to Malgas said: “We write to formally express our serious concern regarding the decision to include players in the final Grant Khomo squad who were not selected by the appointed coaching staff and selectors following the completion of the trial process. “As the management team responsible for evaluating players throughout the selection process, we are deeply troubled that several players who did not progress beyond the third round of trials have now been included in the final squad, while players who consistently demonstrated superior performance have been omitted. “The coaching and selection panel invested considerable time and effort in conducting a fair, objective and transparent selection process. “The amendments made to the squad have not been accompanied by any clear rationale and appear to disregard the outcomes of the trials. “This raises significant concerns regarding both the integrity and credibility of the selection process. “While we fully support the development of rugby talent across all communities and are committed to assisting promising players in reaching the required standard, we strongly believe that development should not come at the expense of player welfare, merit-based selection, or competitiveness of the team. “As educators, coaches and custodians of the game, we have a responsibility to uphold principles of fairness, honesty and integrity. “Unfortunately, we cannot confidently support or endorse a selection process that appears to have deviated from these principles. “We therefore, respectfully, request that this matter be reviewed as a matter of urgency and that the final squad be reconsidered based on the performances and recommendations arising from the official trial process. “Should the current selection remain unchanged without adequate justification, we will unfortunately find ourselves unable to associate our names with the process or its outcomes.” In response, Malgas said: “As far as the disgruntled group regarding the Craven Week, Academy team, and Grant Khomo is concerned, I want to put the following on record. “It became apparent to us that there were a lot of people who were in conflict with each other regarding the teams that were going to represent EP. “We received a list of the proposed players from the selectors last Thursday, and we scrutinised the list, and we discovered the list is not representative of EP’s demographics. “The team was largely made up of players from the NMB Metro, comprising three or four schools, and two schools from the Makhanda area. “We were not happy to accept this list. “It had not made any provision for players from the previously disadvantaged areas. “We requested the selectors to go back and find players who came through the system at the trials and/or at the Mali tournament. “The next morning, there were three names brought to us, and those named were not meant to be brought into the mix as intended by ourselves, but according to the selectors, had to be added into the group. “That would make our group not be in line with SA Rugby’s regulations regarding the sizes of the groups. “We then had an engagement with the selectors and asked them once again to wrap their heads around it. “We came up with the name of one boy only from out of town that could be brought into the team. “EP brought that boy in on the advice of the selectors and on merit as such. “We also brought in a second boy whose name was put on the table from the townships and an extra one for the standby list. “All these names were forwarded to us by the selectors. “We had no issues with the EP U13 and EP girls’ teams, which were fine and were signed off. “All the additional names were proposed by the selectors and discussed in a meeting. “I want to reiterate those names were given to us and not thumb-sucked by us. “I stand by what we did and how we came to it.” EP Rugby’s general manager, Mzi Mpofu, said: “We have a responsibility to ensure that youth representative teams are a reflection of the whole community that falls under the auspices of EPRU. “We cannot watch silently as children from disadvantaged and rural communities are systematically deprived of opportunities.” The Herald

It is against this unfortunate background of alleged selection interference that EP teams will go into battle in various tournaments.

Craven Week is not run as a knockout event to crown a champion.

Instead, it functions as a national festival where regional teams play matches across a single week to highlight individual talent and secure spots in national squads.

Unlike other tournaments, there are no semifinals, finals, or an official overall winner of the week.

However, the final Saturday traditionally features a main match between the two best-performing or most dominant teams of the week.

Record crowds are expected at Grey High, and EP are determined to impress in their first Craven Week tournament on home soil in 14 years.

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