Botha’s Hill takes centre stage for South Africa's top junior players
NEWS: South Africa’s top junior players are set to light up the U16 Grant Khomo Week and U16 Girls Week tournaments staged at Kearsney College in KwaZulu-Natal next week, when 38 teams from across the country will converge on the town of Botha’s Hill near Durban.
In a change to the format used in previous years, both Under-16 tournaments will be staged at a single venue this year, and will mark the start of SA Rugby’s annual Youth Weeks programme.
The two U18 weeks – the U18 Craven Week and the U18 Girls Week – will take place at Grey High School in Gqeberha from 6 to 11 July.
The U16 Grant Khomo Week kicks off at Kearsney College on Monday morning, with the Blue Bulls XV tackling Kenya in the opening fixture.
The Blue Bulls and Sharks – who both recorded three wins at the 2025 tournament – will be in action later in the day when they face Eastern Province and the Golden Lions respectively.
A total of 22 teams will compete across the three match days, between 29 June and 3 July.
Meanwhile, the U16 Girls Week will be staged at the same venue on alternate days, between 30 June and 4 July.
The Pumas will battle Border Country Districts at Kearsney College on Tuesday morning, while Western Province are set to tackle hosts KwaZulu-Natal later in the day.
The Opening Ceremony on Tuesday afternoon will be followed by a clash between the Golden Lions and Blue Bulls, who both finished the 2025 competition unbeaten.
Day One fixtures (all times are SAST)
U16 Grant Khomo Week (Monday, June 29):
08.30: Blue Bulls XV v Kenya, B Field
09.30: Griquas v Limpopo Blue Bulls, A Field
09.45: Iqhawe v Border Country Districts, B Field
10.45: South Western Districts v Free State, A Field
11.00: Leopards v Valke, B Field
12.00: Western Province v Griffons, A Field
12.30: Border v Namibia, B Field
13.30: Blue Bulls v Eastern Province, A Field
13.45: Boland v Pumas, B Field
14.45: Sharks v Golden Lions, A Field
15.00: Sharks XV v Zimbabwe, B Field
U16 Girls Week (Tuesday, June 20)
09.30: Pumas v Border Country Districts, A Field
09.30: Griffons v Free State, B Field
10.45: Border v Eastern Province, A Field
10.45: Boland v Griquas, B Field
12.00: Western Province v KwaZulu-Natal, A Field
12.00: South Western Districts v Leopards, B Field
13.30: Opening Ceremony
14.30: Golden Lions v Blue Bulls, A Field
14.30: Limpopo Blue Bulls v Valke, B Field
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