Stars of the Craven Week

SPOTLIGHT: Rugby365 highlights the most prolific performers at the Under-18 Craven Week tournament and looks ahead to the annual SA Schools clash in Gqeberha.

The U18 Craven Week was staged at Grey High in Gqeberha this past week, and featured 16 provincial teams from around the country.

Following the unofficial final at the Kolisi Field, the SA Schools and SA Schools ‘A’ teams were unveiled. The two teams will meet at Grey High on July 16.

Rugby365 shines a light on the Craven Week stars and some of the more interesting SA Schools selections.

ACHMAT BEHARDIEN

There was a lot of buzz in the schoolboy rugby community after Ethan van Biljon and Travis Pheiffer were selected for Western Province and Western Province XV, respectively.

As it panned out, utility back Achmat Behardien was one of WP’s most valuable players over the course of the Craven Week campaign, which culminated in a 40-24 win over WP XV in the unofficial final this past Saturday.

Behardien finished the tournament with 34 points – behind the likes of Ruan Fluks (41, Blue Bulls), Jaydon Viljoen (36, Golden Lions) and Zachary Walbrugh (35, Free State).

That said, WP may not have progressed to the final if not for Behardien’s accurate goal-kicking in the earlier rounds.

Playing at fullback in the decider, the Wynberg product slotted five conversions.

Behardien and Pheiffer have made the cut for the SA Schools team, while Van Biljon has been included as a utility back.

LAMLA MGEDEZI

Grey High witnessed a number of high-scoring contests over the course of the five match days, with Marques Jantjies (six, Leopards), Anwill Jacobs (five, Boland) and Qlin Booyse (five, Griffons) leading the try-scoring stats.

Free State fullback Lamla Mgedezi was among the best attacking players on show, scoring four tries for his team and creating several more for his teammates.

While they didn’t qualify for the Craven Week final, the Cheetahs won their first two matches before losing 29-30 to the Blue Bulls on Saturday.

Following three sparkling performances for his province, Mgedezi has been selected for SA Schools for the second year in a row.

It was recently confirmed that the Grey College fullback will link up with the Stormers in 2027.

THEO BOSHOFF

On the third day of the Craven Week, the Sharks dominated WP for much of the contest, before losing control in the dying stages and going down 22-24.

Maritzburg College hooker Theo Boshoff was at the heart of a superior forward effort and scored two tries in that fixture.

Boshoff has been selected for a SA Schools side that boasts a strong Sharks flavour in the pack – seven KwaZulu-Natal forwards have been included.

GLODI TSHIPAMBA

The Lions bossed WP XV in the early stages of the recent Craven Week meeting, before losing 33-43 at the death.

Jeppe lock Glodi Tshipamba was one of the standouts in that contest, and carried strongly throughout the tournament, an effort that earned him two tries.

Tshipamba is the only Lions player who has made the SA Schools side cut – and the main team boasts other good second-row options such as Juvan Burden and Jean Dreyer, who enjoyed strong Craven Week campaigns for WP.

JACOBUS DE VILLIERS

Paul de Villiers made a statement in the Springboks’ 42-28 win against Scotland in Pretoria on Saturday.

Earlier in the day, his younger brother Jacobus led South Western Districts at the Craven Week tournament for the second-straight year.

The younger De Villiers has excelled for Oakdale and SWD this season, although both teams have failed to replicate their 2025 form.

Nevertheless, the powerful No.8 delivered across this year’s Craven Week competition and will enjoy a second stint with the SA Schools side as a result.

The SA Schools loose forward group won’t be short on power or pace, and the likes of Nhlanhla Ndlovu (Sharks) and Stefan van der Vyver (Blue Bulls) will bear watching in the wake of their explosive Craven Week performances.

LUKE DOYLE

Eastern Province made a bright start to their home tournament when they pushed favourites WP close on the opening day.

Scrumhalf Luke Doyle scored a try in that fixture, and was named Man of the Match in the subsequent game against Boland after producing an influential display in a dramatic 32-31 win.

Doyle has earned a SA Schools call-up, and the Graeme College product will share the No.9 duties with another form player in Mickyle Booise, who has been outstanding for WP and a dominant Paarl Gimnasium side this season.

SA Schools squad:

Props:
Clement Makelele (Sharks, Kearsney College)
Matthew Prins (SWD, Outeniqua)
Ruben Lombard (Blue Bulls, Garsfontein)
Nic Salamousas (Sharks, Michaelhouse)

Hookers:
Theodorus Boshoff (Sharks, Maritzburg College)
Iglesias Bruiners (Sharks, Durban High School)

Locks:
Lwandile Mlaba (Sharks, Westville)
Juvan Burden (WP, Stellenberg)
Jean Dreyer (WP, Paarl Gimnasium)
Glodi Tshipamba (Lions, Jeppe)

Loose forwards:
Nhlanhla Ndlovu (Sharks, Kearsney College)
Stefan van der Vyver (Blue Bulls, Garsfontein)
Jamie Wimble (Sharks, Northwood)
Jacobus de Villiers (SWD, Oakdale)

Scrumhalves:
Mickyle Booise (WP, Paarl Gimnasium)
Luke Doyle (EP, Graeme College)

Flyhalves:
Travis Pheiffer (WP XV, Paul Roos Gymnasium)
Achmat Behardien (WP, Wynberg)

Centres:
Olwethu Kosani (Sharks, Maritzburg College)
Ethan Barker (WP, Paarl Gimnasium)
Erin Nelson (EP, Graeme College)
Tiaan Basson (WP, Paul Roos Gymnasium)

Outside and utility backs:
Ncuthu Kepe (Border, Queens College)
Lamla Mgedezi (Free State, Grey College)
Ethan van Biljon (WP, Stellenberg)
Luxolo Sonkononkono (Sharks, Westville)

SA Schools ‘A’ squad:

Props:
Max Malan (WP, Paarl Boys’ High)
Aphelele Chamane (Sharks, Michaelhouse)
JW Coetzee (Free State, Grey College)
Priden Sibiya (Sharks, Durban High School)

Hookers:
Charl Els (Blue Bulls, Affies)
Charles Whitehead (WP, Paarl Gimnasium)

Locks:
Werner de Bruin (WP, Paul Roos Gymnasium)
Akho Tonjeni (EP, Graeme College)
Martin van Niekerk (Blue Bulls, Affies)

Loose forwards:
Siphesihle Marule (Pumas, Middelburg)
Hendre van Zyl (WP, Paarl Gimnasium)
Linakho Mehlomakulu (WP, Rondebosch)
Niel du Randt (Free State, Grey College)
Luniko Marivate (EP, Kingswood College)

Scrumhalves:
Shaye Lourens (Lions, Helpmekaar)
Rufagon Hendricks (SWD, Outeniqua)

Flyhalves:
Ruan Fluks (Blue Bulls, Garsfontein)
Jaydon Viljoen (Lions, Monument)

Centres:
Alex Jankowitz (Sharks, Michaelhouse)
Ruan Roux (Free State, Grey College)
Nathan Aneke (Sharks, Durban High School)

Outside and utility backs:
Anesu Kuzonyei (Sharks, Northwood)
Ruan Genis (Lions, Monument)
Amogelang Mataboge (Sharks, Durban High School)
Rhandzu Mkhabela (Pumas, Nelspruit)
Drewyn Baron (Blue Bulls, Garsfontein)