Wynberg set sights on Ireland
It really looks like wanderlust has grabbed the minds of the leading southern suburbs schools in the Cape. Scarcely had SACS revealed their itinerary for a mid-year trip to Zimbabwe when Rondebosch gave notice of a March-April jaunt to Wales and Ireland.
Only a busy festive period and hectic fund-raising efforts have kept the usually effusive Gus Leslie, who returns to the helm of the Wynberg First XV after a few years building up the age-group sides, from letting the rugby365.com fraternity know that his guys are also off to the Emerald Isle at the end of the first term.
With Gus’s long-time fellow-coach Gerry Posthumus now plying his trade at St Andrew’s in Grahamstown, Riaan Barnard and Craig Childs will be assisting Leslie this season.
Justifiably restless campers after enduring several indifferent seasons, the Lovers Walk faithful will be hoping that the new squad learns the ropes early on.
The ‘Berg will be using the tour to help knit a combination that, despite the continued presence of skipper Sikhumbuzo Notshe, features much young talent.
They certainly appear to be going about things the hard way: Methodist College have been Irish schools champions several times in recent years and are currently in the 2011-2012 semifinals, while RS Armagh are also regulars among the nation’s top four.
As both Rondebosch and Wynberg leave South Africa in the week of the Prestige Day at Newlands, they felt it would be tempting fate to take part in that event. Supporters of both schools who were curious about their absence can now rest easy!
Wynberg tour itinerary:
Saturday, 24 March: Wynberg vs Methodist College (Belfast)
Monday, 26 March: Wynberg vs Portadown
Wednesday, 28 March: Wynberg vs Royal School Armagh
Friday, 30 March: Wynberg vs Limavady
By Tony Stoops
