Western Province announces strong squad for Craven Week in Krugersdorp

The Western Province’s u18 squad for the Stadio Craven Week in Krugersdorp stands on the edge of glory.

They will face the Sharks during the tournament’s opening day hosted by Monument on the Ras van Rooyen.

If the Class of 2024 manages to reach its fourth successive main match of the prestigious tournament and secure a victory it will be the union’s 15th successive victory at the Craven Week.

This will better the previous tournament record of 14 consecutive matches without defeat which is also held by the union. These were recorded by the teams who attended the tournament between 1970 to 1974.

Back to the future three players from last year’s victorious Western Province side – Riley Norton (lock), Oliver Read (prop) and Yaqeen Ahmed (flyhalf) will once again showcase their talent.

Norton made the SA Schools’ side last year and is without a doubt a strong contender to lead this year’s SA Schools side. Ahmed made the SA Schools A-side last year and would like to upgrade to the national schools side in 2024. Norton also made the SA Schools’ cricket side in 2023 becoming the first to manage this double in his grade 11 (or standard nine) year.

Only the eighthman, Torren February (Wynberg Boys’ High) made the jump from the Western Province second stringers of 2023 into the WP select side of 2024. The Western Province XV also attends the Craven Week.

Flanker Rubin Dames (Paarl Boys’ High) and fullback, David Simon (Rondebosch Boys’ High) will attend their second Craven Week as part of the Western Province XV.

The last time the flagship team of Western Province suffered a defeat at the Craven Week was on the final day of the 2017-edition in Johannesburg at the hands of Free State (33-54).

The unbeaten Paul Roos Gimnasium has with six representatives the biggest representation within the side.

The teams are: 

Craven Week: 15 Dylan Miller (Rondebosch Boys’ High), 14 Freek de Kock (Paarl Gimnasium), 13 Samuel Badenhorst (Paul Roos Gimnasium), 12 Kobus Blanckenberg (Paarl Gimnasium), 11 Emanuel Prinsloo (Paarl Gimnasium), 10 Yaqheen Ahmed (Wynberg Boys’ High), 9 Ashwin Cox (Hoërskool Bellville), 8 Torren February (Wynberg Boys’ High), 7 Josh Neill (Rondebosch Boys’ High), 6 Alutha Wesi (Rondebosch Boys’ High), 5 Riley Norton (Paul Roos Gimnasium), 4 Truspe Schoeman (Paul Roos Gimnasium), 3 Cruz Davey (Paarl Boys’ High), 2 Xabiso Mkiva (Wynberg Boys’ High), 1 Oliver Reid (Paul Roos Gimnasium). Replacements: 16 Almero Keizer (Stellenberg), 17 Jordan Jooste (Paarl Boys’ High), 18 Henry du Plessis (Paul Roos Gimnasium), 19 Quintin Potgieter (Paarl Gimnasium), 20 Aden da Costa (Wynberg Boys’ High), 21 Adeeb Borraine (Paul Roos Gimnasium), 22 Viaan Mentoor (Paarl Boys’ High), 23 Caleb Engelbrecht (Hoërskool Durbanville).

6 Paul Roos Gimnasium | 4 Paarl Gimnasium | 4 Wynberg Boys’ High | 3 Rondebosch Boys’ High | 3 Paarl Boys’ High | 1 Stellenberg | 1 Hoërskool Bellville | 1 Hoërskool Durbanville

Craven Week XV: 15 David Simon (Rondebosch Boys’ High), 14 Aiden Jacobs (Paarl Boys’ High), 13 Randall-John Davids (Rondebosch Boys’ High), 12 Markus Muller (Paarl Gimnasium), 11 Ashwin Swarts (Paarl Boys’ High), 10 Retagan van Rooi (Boland Landbou), 9 Jayden Brits (Boland Landbou), 8 Reuben Kruger (Paul Roos Gimnasium), 7 Gert Kemp (Paul Roos Gimnasium), 6 Rubin Dames (Paarl Boys’ High), 5 Ruan Viviers (Boland Landbou), 4 Tom Barnard (Rondebosch Boys’ High), 3 Ikhona Maxegwana (SACS), 2 Altus Rabie (Paul Roos Gimnasium), 1 Derik du Preez (Boland Landbou). Replacements: 16 Sango Zangqa (SACS), 17 Luqobo Makwedini (Rondebosch Boys’ High), 18 Matthew van der Merwe (Rondebosch Boys’ High), 19 Tjeripo Karuhumba (Wynberg Boys’ High), 20 Briint Davids (Milnerton), 21 Tyron Gombe (Wynberg Boys’ High), 22 Danté Christians (Boland Landbou), 23 Morgan Lodewyk (Milnerton).

5 Rondebosch Boys’ High | 5 Boland Landbou | 3 Paarl Boys’ High | 3 Paul Roos Gimnasium | 2 Milnerton | 2 SACS | 2 Wynberg Boys’ High | 1 Paarl Gimnasium

Academy Week: 15 Morné Noble (Wynberg Boys’ High), 14 Albert Lourens (Wynberg Boys’ High), 13 Jordan Steenkamp (Paul Roos Gimnasium), 12 Matthew Kleyn (Paul Roos Gimnasium), 11 Keenan Stoffels (Paul Roos Gimnasium), 10 Chandler Green (Paarl Gimnasium), 9 Josh le Roux (Paarl Boys’ High), 8 Nicholas Nel (Paarl Gimnasium), 7 Wihan Kotze (Paarl Gimnasium), 6 Jan Koegelenberg (Paarl Gimnasium), 5 Matthew Gabriel (Milnerton), 4 Luke Kent (Paul Roos Gimnasium), 3 Eli Williams (Paarl Gimnasium), 2 Liam Burger (Paarl Gimnasium), 1 JJ du Preez (Paarl Gimnasium). Replacements: 16 Ismail Conrad (Rondebosch Boys’ High), 17 Henry Rudder (Boland Landbou), 18 Luchayito Mbaliswana (Paul Roos Gimnasium), 19 Jayten Orange (Wynberg Boys’ High), 20 Colin Kemp (Rondebosch Boys’ High), 21 Lucca Mynhardt (Diocesan College), 22 Chadwin Sellidon (Milnerton), 23 Keagan Wood (Milnerton).

7 Paarl Gimnasium | 5 Paul Roos Gimnasium | 3 Milnerton | 3 Wynberg Boys’ High | 2 Rondebosch Boys’ High | 1 Boland Landbou | 1 Diocesan College | 1 Paarl Boys’ High

Grant Khomo Week: 15 Tylo Hess (Hoërskool Durbanville), 14 Tyrese Geneker (Zandvliet), 13 Tiaan Basson (Paul Roos Gimnasium), 12 Dayyaan Conrad (SACS), 11 Kyle Doyle (Hoërskool Durbanville), 10 Ethan van Biljon (Stellenberg), 9 Mickey Booise (Paarl Gimnasium), 8 Hendré van Zyl (Paarl Gimnasium), 7 Devine Kabadi (Tygerberg), 6 Christiaan le Roux (Paul Roos Gimnasium), 5 Juan Dreyer (Paarl Gimnasium), 4 Daniel Fwita (Tygerberg), 3 Lehan Barnard (Paul Roos Gimnasium), 2 Kwaza Gabinga (Rondebosch Boys’ High), 1 Sian van Heerden (Paul Roos Gimnasium). Replacements: 16 Charles Whitehead (Paarl Gimnasium), 17 Nakeer Dusty (Tygerberg), 18 Anessu Muswandigere (Rondebosch Boys’ High), 19 Juvan Burden (Stellenberg), 20 Eas van der Schyff (Wynberg Boys’ High), 21 Lian de Villiers (Paarl Boys’ High), 22 Teves Cupido (Paul Roos Gimnasium), 23 Travis Pheiffer (Paul Roos Gimnasium).