The Clover High School Sevens Series visits Bloemfontein on Saturday for the Jim Fouché Sevens.
While Grey College is always the team to beat in the Free State, the competition has improved over the last couple of years, with more teams being added to the lineup.
The seven-a-side format, which opens up more space on the field, is also more open to upsets.
The hosts, Jim Fouché, won the U17 title on home soil in 2024, although Grey College’s frontline team was in action in Potchefstroom that day. Two years on from that triumph, the participating sides now include Diamantveld, St Andrew’s School, Goudveld, Welkom Gimnasium, Trio, Hoërskool Bloemfontein, Duineveld, and a GW Invitational team. None of those were part of the 2024 event.
Welkom Gimnasium bears watching. Their game translates well from 15-man rugby to Sevens, and, in 2024, they won the Hoër Volkskool Heidelberg Sevens, beating Noordheuwel in the final.
Two years after winning the U15 title, Nories claimed the 2026 Heidelberg Sevens U17 title last weekend.
Trio is a dark horse and another potential title challenger, while teams like Landboudal, Sentraal, and Fichardtpark could spring a surprise or two.
Interestingly, in the U15 competition, Grey College has entered U14 and U15 teams. Trio and St Andrew’s also feature two sides in the age group.
U17 Section
Teams
Pool A: Grey College, HS Wilgerivier, GW Invitational, HTS Louis Botha
Pool B: HS Diamantveld, St Andrew’s School, HS Goudveld, HS Fichardtpark
Pool C: Welkom Gimnasium, Landboudal, HS Burgersdorp, HS Jim Fouché
Pool D: HS Trio, HS Bloemfontein, HS Duineveld, HS Sentraal
Fixtures at HS Jim Fouché
Pitch 1
08:20 – Grey College vs Wilgerivier
08:40 – GW Invitational vs HTS Louis Botha
09:00 – Welkom Gimnasium vs Landboudal
09:20 – Burgersdorp vs Jim Fouché
09:40 – Diamantveld vs Fichardtpark
10:00 – Goudveld vs St Andrew’s
10:20 – Trio vs Sentraal
10:40 – Duineveld vs Bloemfontein
11:00 – Grey College vs GW Invitational
11:20 – Landboudal vs Jim Fouché
11:40 – Wilgerivier vs HTS Louis Botha
12:00 – Welkom Gimnasium vs Burgersdorp
Pitch 2
08:20 – Diamantveld vs St Andrew’s
08:40 – Goudveld vs Fichardtpark
09:00 – Trio vs Bloemfontein
09:20 – Duineveld vs Sentraal
09:40 – Grey College vs HTS Louis Botha
10:00 – GW Invitational vs Wilgerivier
10:20 – Welkom Gimnasium vs Jim Fouché
10:40 – Burgersdorp vs Landboudal
11:00 – St Andrew’s vs Fichardtpark
11:20 – Bloemfontein vs Sentraal
11:40 – Diamantveld vs Goudveld
12:00 – Trio vs Duineveld
Semifinals
Shield
12:40 – A4 vs B4, Pitch 1
12:40 – C4 vs D4, Pitch 2
Bowl
13:00 – A3 vs B3, Pitch 1
13:00 – C3 vs D3, Pitch 2
Plate
13:20 – A2 vs B2, Pitch 1
13:20 – C2 vs D2, Pitch 2
Pitch 1
Cup Semifinals
13:40 – A1 vs B1
14:00 – C1 vs D1
Finals
Shield
14:20 – Winner A4 vs B4 vs Winner C4 vs D4
Bowl
14:40 – Winner A3 vs B3 vs Winner C3 vs D3
Plate
15:00 – Winner A2 vs B2 vs Winner C2 vs D2
3rd/4th
15:20 – Loser A1 vs B1 vs Loser C1 vs D1
Cup
15:40 – Winner A1 vs B1 vs Winner C 1 vs D1
U15 Section
Teams
Pool A: Grey College 14, HS Duineveld, HS Trio 2, HS Sentraal
Pool B: Grey 15, HS Fichardtpark, HS Goudveld, HS Landboudal
Pool C: HS Trio 1, St Andrew’s 2, HS Jim Fouché, HTS Louis Botha
Pool D: HS Diamantveld, Welkom Gimnasium, HS Wilgerivier, St Andrew’s 1
Fixtures at Joe Malherbe Fields
Pitch 1
08:20 – Grey College vs Duineveld
08:40 – Trio 2 vs Sentraal
09:00 – Trio 1 vs St Andrew’s 2
09:20 – Jim Fouché vs HTS Louis Botha
09:40 – Grey 15 vs Landboudal
10:00 – Goudveld vs Fichardtpark
10:20 – Diamantveld vs St Andrew’s 1
10:40 – Wilgerivier vs Welkom Gimnasium
11:00 – Grey College 14 vs Trio 2
11:20 – St Andrew’s 2 vs HTS Louis Botha
11:40 – Duineveld vs Sentraal
12:00 – Trio 1 vs Jim Fouché
Pitch 2
08:20 – Grey 15 vs Fichardtpark
08:40 – Goudveld vs Landboudal
09:00 – Diamantveld vs Welkom Gimnasium
09:20 – Wilgerivier vs St Andrew’s 1
09:40 – Grey College 14 vs Sentraal
10:00 – Trio 2 vs Duineveld
10:20 – Trio 1 vs HTS Louis Botha
10:40 – Jim Fouché vs St Andrew’s 2
11:00 – Fichardtpark vs Landboudal
11:20 – Welkom Gimnasium vs St Andrew’s 1
11:40 – Grey 15 vs Goudveld
12:00 – Diamantveld vs Wilgerivier
Semifinals
Shield
12:40 – A4 vs B4, Pitch 1
12:40 – C4 vs D4, Pitch 2
Bowl
13:00 – A3 vs B3, Pitch 1
13:00 – C3 vs D3, Pitch 2
Plate
13:20 – A2 vs B2, Pitch 1
13:20 – C2 vs D2, Pitch 2
Pitch 1
Cup Semifinals
13:40 – A1 vs B1
14:00 – C1 vs D1
Finals
Shield
14:20 – Winner A4 vs B4 vs Winner C4 vs D4
Bowl
14:40 – Winner A3 vs B3 vs Winner C3 vs D3
Plate
15:00 – Winner A2 vs B2 vs Winner C2 vs D2
3rd/4th
15:20 – Loser A1 vs B1 vs Loser C1 vs D1
Cup
15:40 – Winner A1 vs B1 vs Winner C 1 vs D1
