National Elite Under-16 squad announced
The South African Rugby Union’s High Performance department on Friday announced the names of 18 players that have been selected to form part of a National Elite Under-16 squad.
The 18 players were selected after they attended SARU’s National Under-16 High Performance Camp which was held in Cape Town earlier this month. Fifty players were invited to the week-long camp following their impressive performances at the 2010 Coca-Cola Under-16 Grant Khomo Week.
“We trust that unions will give their support in the development of these players as we believe that the Elite Squad programme in High Performance will give us a competitive advantage,” said the Convener of National Selectors Peter Jooste.
These players will be monitored by SARU’s High Performance department in consultation with the provincial unions and their respective schools. SARU will assist these players by providing assistance to develop their positional specific needs. Players will also be assisted with their fitness and physical conditioning development.
At the National Under-16 camp players were exposed to positional specific training under the guidance of former Springbok players. These players include former Bok captain Bobby Skinstad, Owen Nkumane, Ashwin Willemse, Os Du Randt, Louis Koen, Werner Swanepoel, Hennie Bekker, Ian McDonald and Marius Hurter.
Players who graduated from last year’s Under-16 Camp such as winger Jean-Paul Lewis who earned his SA Schools colours after he represented Western Province during the 2010 Coca-Cola Under-18 Craven Week which was held in Welkom.
Other players who attended last year’s camp were prop Tsepo Motale and Sikumbuzo Notshe who also competed in this year’s Coca-Cola Craven week before being selected to the SA Under-18 High Performance squads.
“We will be in constant contact with the respective unions to closely monitor the holistic development of these players who were selected to the elite squad,” said SARU High Performance Manager Herman Masimla.
“With the High Performance Player continuum that includes U16, U18, U19 and U20 High Performance squads, this system not only provides good synergy but also provide entry at various points for late developers.”
National Elite Under-16 Squad: Backs – Selwyn Davids (Eastern Province), Siyabonga Tom (Kwazulu Natal), Pieter Jordaan (Free State), Wesley Cupido (Western Province), Cashwell Khoza, Richard Janse van Rensburg (Blue Bulls), Handre Pollard (Western Province), Andre Esterhuizen (Platinum Leopards). Forwards – Ramone Samuels (Western Province), Thabu Mabuza (Blue Bulls), Eduard Schmidt (Free State), Malcolm Marx (Golden Lions), Martinus Vermeulen (SWD), Wayne Allen (Pumas), Dayan van der Westhuizen (Boland), Johan Bannink (Limpopo), Chad Solomon, Wesley Adonis (Western Province).
Related Posts
« Vodacom WP Amateur team compete in final Preliminary Springbok Training Group announced »
