Eastern Province Schools Sevens
There will be 16 teams taking part – the 14 provinces (Western Province, Boland, South Western Districts, Eastern Province, Border, KwaZulu-Natal, Mpumalanga, Valke, Golden Lions, Blue Bulls, Free State, Griffons, Leopards and Griquas) plus Limpopo and either Namibia or Zimbabwe.
Eastern Province held trials at the NMMU Missionvale campus, one of the university's six campuses, and has announced its team.
Of the team Kwezi Mafu has recently played for SA Schools, a big, mobile eighthman with lots of skill – an ideal Sevens player. Riaan van Rensburg played for SA Schools A – a brilliant, attacking fullback, one of the stars of the Eastern Province side.
Apart from Mafu and Van Rensburg, scrumhalf Louis Strydom was in the Eastern Province team at Craven Week this year while Xander Stotter and wing Gevanhier Blom were also at Craven Week but in the Eastern Province Country Districts team. Flyhalf Denver Klue, hooker Themba Boltina and flank Jean Smal were at the Academy Week
The Eastern Province Sevens squad: Malan Swanepoel (Framesby), Themba Boltina (Pearson), Khwezi Mafu (Grey), Louis Strydom (Framesby), Denver Klue (Daniël Pienaar), Austin Frederick's (Westville), Gevanhier Blom (Midlands), Jean Smal (Daniël Pienaar), Pieter Swanepoel (Nico Malan), Xander Stotter (Marlow), Jacques Steenberg (Daniël Pienaar), Riaan van Rensburg (Framesby).
Coaches: Gerald Antonie (Ndzondelelo), André Strümpher (Daniël Pienaar)
The team train every Wednesday at the NMMU Missionvale Campus at 14.30.
Photo Gevanhier Blom scoring a try at Craven Week
