Craven Week ‘champions’ Western Province have 10 players in the 30-man SA Schools squad, while Border have six.
Both WP and Border were unbeaten at the recent festival at Paarl Boys’ High.
Province’s contingent includes centre Brendan Venter, the son of former Springbok centre Brendan Venter.
Four players – including Rynhardt Jonker, the son of international referee Marius Jonker – were selected from the Sharks.
Free State have three players in the squad, the Golden Lions and Blue Bulls two and the Griffons, Pumas and Boland one each.
Bulls centre Diego Apollis and Lions hooker Morné Brandon, who were both standout performers for SA Schools in 2017, were omitted from the squad this year, as was centre Dawid Kellerman, who has been in form for Paarl Gym and WP throughout the season.
‘I am very happy with the quality of the players in the squad,’ said SA Schools coach Sean Erasmus. ‘All of the players performed well in the U18 Craven Week, and they showed that they can play an exciting brand of rugby. I was particularly impressed with the resilience and character they showed during the week and I am very excited to work with them.
‘The experience and leadership that the players such as Adrian, Celimpilo and Banele will bring is also good as they will set the pace and intensity at training.’
SA Schools take on France, England and Wales in the annual international U18 series in August.
SA Schools – Banele Mthenjane (Pumas), Jacques Goosen (Border), Hanru Jacobs (WP), Lunga Ncube (Glenwood), Adrian Alberts (WP), Tristan Dullisear (Lions), Mihlali Mgolodela (WP), Evan Roos (WP), Thomas Bursey (Border), Lionel April (Boland), Stravino Jacobs (WP), Brendan Venter (WP), Muzi Manyike (Lions), Wycliff Vlitoor (Free State), Darren Hendricks (WP), JJ Kotze (WP), Dewald Donald (Blue Bulls), Jacobus Aggenbach (Free State), Emile van Heerden (WP), Sibusiso Sangweni (Sharks), Celimpilo Gumede (Sharks), De Wet Marais (Free State), Keke Morabe (Griffons), Jurich Claassens (Blue Bulls), Juan Mostert (WP), Rynhardt Jonker (Sharks), Mnombo Zwelindada (Border), Sibabaalwe Xamlashe (Border), Jarrod Taylor (Border), Uzile Tele (Border).
Photo: Sydney Seshibedi/Gallo Images
