SARU revises U18 fixtures after French withdrawal

NEWS: The French Under-18 team has decided to withdraw from the international series, following the tragic event earlier this week.

One of the French players, Medhi Narjissi, was swept out to sea during a recovery session at Cape Point.

The annual U18 series in South Africa is scheduled to start on Monday in Cape Town. The French squad returned home on Friday.

The schedule for the series has been revised following the withdrawal of France, with each round consisting of two matches which ensures that none of the remaining travelling teams’ fixtures are affected.

The first round kicks off at Stellenberg High School in Cape Town on Monday, with the SA U18 clash with France cancelled, while the SA U18 ‘A’ team’s three matches were reduced to one, against Georgia.

Georgia, who were originally scheduled to play the SA U18 ‘A’ side twice and France once, will now face England in their second match on Friday, August 16, and they will play Ireland next Tuesday, August 20 on the last of the three match days.

Mark Alexander, President of the South African Rugby Union, earlier this week sent a message of condolences to the Narjissi family and the French rugby community following the tragic events a few days ago.

Revised fixtures for the Under-18 international series:

Monday, August 12 (Stellenberg HS)
13.30 England vs Ireland
15.30 South Africa ‘A’ vs Georgia

Friday, August 16 (Paarl Gimnasium):
13.30: Georgia vs England
15.30: South Africa vs Ireland

Tuesday, August 20 (Paarl Boys’ HS)
13.30 South Africa vs England
15.30 Ireland vs Georgia