U16 Opportunity in Italy
The team is being organised by Theo Pieterse, a well-known and dedicated rugby coach in Port Elizabeth and Jannie du Preez.
This year Hoërskool Brackenfell took their Under-16 side to the 41st such tournament, which they have attended 15 times and where they are heading again in 2016. That all sounds a really good advertisement for the tournament which the players enjoy thoroughly.
There is a chance to wander a bit in preparation for the tournament and afterwards. Rovigo is south west of Venice and about 70 km away. That makes a trip to Venice easy and special. In fact this year Brackenfell flew via Dubai to Venice.
The standard varies, depending on how many overseas sides attend. This year there were composite teams from Munster, Northamptonshire and Armagnac in southwest France. Brackenfell found their opponents bigger than they were and ended fifth where the year before they had come third.
Attendance is by invitation.
The Eastern Cape team is intended to be a composite team, as has happened in the Western Cape in the past. This year's players must be born between 1 January 2000 and 31 December 2001.
Important: there is a meeting planned for 10.00 at Linkside High School on 21 November 2015. Parents are welcome to attend as there are financial implications in making the trip.
The team are expected to pay for their flights, travel documents and for days they spend in Italy outside of the tournament.
The tournament itself lasts just two days – 30 April and 1 May 2016. The hosts cover the costs during the tournament – lodging and meals, and according to Brackenfell this is generous. In fact they praised the hospitality they received in Italy.
Rovigo is a rugby town. Much of the strength of Italian rugby is in the north and Rovigo have for years and years been one of the strongest clubs
In the past several South Africans have played there – Naas Botha, Danie Gerber, Rob Louw, Nelie Smith, Gert Smal, Christian Stewart, Nick Mallett and Groot Schalk Burger, all Springboks.
The organisers are Theo Pieterse, Jannie du Preez, who looks after support for Eastern Province rugby, and Pierre Matthee of the university.
Their e-mail addresses are below:
Photo: Theo Pieterse and Jannie du Preez
