Much anticipated Wildeklawer Schools Tournament takes place from 30 April to 2 May

Apr 21 • School, School Rugby Festivals, School Rugby Fixtures • 2669 Views • Comments Off on Much anticipated Wildeklawer Schools Tournament takes place from 30 April to 2 May

The much anticipated Wildeklawer Schools Tournament takes place from 30 April to 2 May, 2011 at Hoërskool Diamantveld in Kimberley. The three-day event, sponsored by Wilderklawer and Absa, attracts some of the high performing South African rugby and netball schools to showcase the abundance of talent that this country has to offer.

The Wilderklawer schools tournament started in 2009 where it was successfully hosted by Paarl Gymnasium in the Western Cape. In 2010 the community of Pretoria witnessed the growth of the tournament when it was hosted by Affies, one of the high performing schools in Pretoria.

The tournament now moves to Northern Cape where Kimberley has enthusiastically embraced the event and will ensure that Hoërskool Diamantveld will continue to uphold the remarkable reputation that the tournament has built up over the years.

Wilderklawer and Absa are proud to be associated with one of the biggest schools tournaments in South Africa. The Wilderklawer schools tournament is viewed as a major developmental platform for promising talent and provides a great opportunity to showcase some of our up-and-coming players.

Some of the promising top players who have passed through this annual schools festival include Vodacom Free State fly-half, Johan Goosen, who is also part of the Under/20 national squad. Others include Frans Malherbe of Vodacom Stormers as well as Jan Schoeman and Ruan Venter who are part of the Under/20 team.

Wilderklawer owner Louis de Kock said they decided to concentrate on schools sport because this is where future stars are produced.

“Super Schools aligns well with our Wilderklawer brand which is about growing the finest quality fresh produce designed to provide energy and good health to all. This is exactly what our growing sportsmen and women need,” added de Kock.

Absa Deputy Group Chief Executive, Louis von Zeuner had this to say about Absa’s involvement in the tournament: “Our support of the Wilderklawer Schools Festival signifies Absa’s support to developing and nurturing young talent. We believe that investment in pupils at this level not only provides the platform for lifelong friendships to be formed, but also plays a pivotal role in the success and sustainability of any child’s sporting career.”

Amongst others, Absa’s sponsorship of the Springboks, the Absa Currie Cup, the Absa Premiership, Bafana Bafana and the Absa Cape Epic evidently illustrate a proudly South African bank with long-standing support for various sporting codes in the country.

Absa’s association with this well-established schools initiative is part of its broad Corporate Social Investment (CSI) programme.

Who knows, perhaps the next Springbok or Sevens player will emerge from the ranks of this year’s tournament. The Wildeklawer Tournament has become a great platform for players to spring board into the Baby Boks, Sevens and Absa Currie Cup teams.

The tournament schedule will include: Registration on Friday, 29 April; 8 Rugby Matches and 24 Netball matches on Saturday, 30 April; the Absa kicking course with Morne Steyn and Vlok Cilliers on Sunday, 01 May; and, 8 Rugby matches and 16 Netball matches on Monday, 02 May.