Captain's profile: Gideo Beukes
Grey College are currently ranked fifth on our Schools Top 20 while their hosts occupy second place. This is certainly going to be a tough battle and Beukes knows they will be in for a real humdinger.
"Grey and Affies have been playing against each other for years but in the past few years, Affies have had the upperhand. However, both squads this year are fairly even.
"We are expecting a hard, physical battle from them especially seeing that it is on their home ground, so they will make sure they give everything they have," Beukes said.
College have yet to lose a game this season and are aiming to keep that record in tact, despite having a relatively young squad with a few injuries.
"We have had a very successful season until this point and we have a good group of players who all contribute immensely to the success of the team. I just want my team mates to go out on the field, enjoy the match and the moment and to play for each other.
"We have a relatively young team in terms of experience and unfortunately, we have one or two injuries but we remain 100 percent positive about each member of the squad," he added.
Beukes is no slouch on the field, as the tighthead prop has played representative rugby since Under-12. Since then, he has represented Free State at the U-13 Craven Week, U-16 Grant Khomo Week and the U-18 Craven Week.
Despite these achievements and playing against the best the various provinces has to offer, Beukes describes his highlight as the day he was asked to captain Grey's first XV squad.
"Those competitions are really tough because you are playing against the best each province has to offer. But for me, the highlight of my career was definitely the day I was chosen to be the captain of the first XV and it is really a major honour to lead such a wonderful team," he stated.
The 17-year-old has an important message to share with his team mates ahead of this massive Classic Clash.
"There is no such thing as an easy game at this level and it is of high importance that we give everything in each match. We need to remember that there is always a little boy in the stands who wants to be just like us. So it is up to us to perform in such a manner that we don't disappoint him," he said.
Beukes has set the bar high for himself once he completes his schooling as he plans to head to France to further his playing career.
