Paarl Boys’ High will host the U18 Craven Week and Academy Week from 8-14 July next year in celebration of the school’s 150th anniversary.

The U13 Craven Week and U16 Grant Khomo Week, meanwhile, will be hosted at Hoërskool Diamantveld in Kimberley from 1-6 July.

In a fresh introduction to the U18 Craven Week, the Blue Bulls, Golden Lions and Western Province will field invitational sides in addition to their regular Craven Week teams, while Zimbabwe, Namibia, Eastern Province Country Districts, Griquas CD and Border CD will only play in the Academy Week and no longer field U18 Craven Week teams.

The revised team make-up in the respective competitions will see the U18 Craven Week feature 18 teams and the Academy Week 28.

‘It is fitting that the U18 Craven Week and Academy Week will be hosted at Paarl Boys’ High as they celebrate their 150-year anniversary,’ said SA Rugby CEO Jurie Roux.

‘Boys’ High has a rich rugby history and is renowned as one of the top rugby schools in the country, with a number of Springboks being borne from its ranks, including Corné Krige, Gurthrö Steenkamp, Carel du Plessis and Mannetjies Roux.’

Of the competition makeover, Roux said: ‘Two of the main objectives of the SA Rugby Youth Weeks are to create a platform for the players to test their skills and develop as players against the best possible opponents, and the best way to achieve that is by ensuring that all the matches are competitive.

‘We believe these changes will benefit the participating players and teams in both competitions, and contribute to a more exciting product for the spectators alike.’