Cape stars impress at FNB U18 Girls Week

Eastern Province, South Western Districts and Western Province claimed big wins in the first round of the FNB U18 Girls Week tournament at Grey High School in Gqeberha on Monday.

The final phase of the FNB Youth Weeks programme commenced on Monday, when the FNB U18 Craven Week and FNB U18 Girls Week tournaments kicked off at the same venue for the first time.

Boland, the Valke, EP, the Griffons, Golden Lions, SWD, WP and the Limpopo Blue Bulls recorded victories to begin their respective FNB U18 Girls Week campaigns on a winning note.

WP, who finished the 2025 tournament unbeaten, took some time to find their feet in the big clash against the Pumas. The Western Cape side delivered a more convincing display in the second stanza, scoring 17 points on their way to a 27-5 victory.

Earlier in the day, EP winger Chelsea Koeberg scored a brace while flyhalf Latania Randal slotted four conversions in an emphatic 38-8 win for the home team over the Blue Bulls.

SWD centre Naylha Jansen scored four tries in her team’s 44-5 demolition of the Leopards, while Griffons wing Oratilwe Moreki bagged a hat-trick in the Northern Free Staters’ 30-15 win against their neighbours to the south, Free State.

The Golden Lions made a positive start to the week when they beat Border 26-10; Boland downed KwaZulu-Natal 27-10; the Valke proved too strong for Griquas in their 24-10 victory; and the Limpopo Blue Bulls fired late to down the Eastern Province XV 24-15.

The FNB U18 Girls Week tournament will continue at Grey High from 09h30 on Wednesday, with the big match of the day at 13h15 when WP take on the Golden Lions.

FNB U18 Girls Week results – day one (Monday, 6 July):

KwaZulu-Natal 10 (5) Boland 27 (10)
Valke 24 (0) Griquas 10 (0)
Blue Bulls 8 (0) Eastern Province 38 (21)
Free State 15 (10) Griffons 30 (10)
Golden Lions 26 (21) Border 10 (10)
South Western Districts 44 (19) Leopards 5 (5)
Western Province 27 (10) Pumas 5 (0)
Limpopo Blue Bulls 24 (12) Eastern Province XV 15 (5)

FNB U18 Girls Week fixtures – day two (Wednesday, 8 July):

B-field:

09h30: Pumas vs KZN
10h45: Border vs Blue Bulls
12h00: EP vs Boland
13h15: WP vs Golden Lions

C-field:

09h30: Griquas vs Leopards
10h45: Valke vs Free State
12h00: Limpopo Blue Bulls vs Griffons
13h15: SWD vs EP XV

Issued by SA Rugby Communications