The host province, KwaZulu-Natal Inland, has named a strong 16-member u18A side, with three sides contributing roughly equal numbers to the squad for the forthcoming SASHOC National U18 Inter-Provincial Hockey Tournament (IPT), to be hosted by Hilton College from 28 June to 4 July 2026.
After an underwhelming ninth-place finish last year, they have a second chance to impress at home.
In recent years, their best placings were as the back-to-back runner-up in 2018 and 2019.
Maritzburg College has the most players in the side with six representatives: Viwe Ndlovu, Ethan Fabre, Caden Francis, Andile Lembethe, Sbuyiselwe Mchunu, and Matthew Smith.
The other 10 places are equally divided between Hilton and Michaelhouse. Ben Wilson, Ethan Maltby, Wanga Zulu, Oyena Zulu, and Nicandro Padayachee will fly the Hilton College flag. The quintet of Graydon Leslie, Thandanani Zuma, Ben Heuer, Rourque van Rooyen, and Henry Yeadon represents Michaelhouse.
Ndlovu, a star at the back for Maritzburg College, will be the last line of defence.
Fabre, Francis, Leslie, Padayachee, and Wilson will form the defensive wall that will endeavor to ensure that Ndlovu isn’t a busy man.
Lembethe, Zuma, Heuer, Maltby, and Wanga Zulu will control the tempo of the game in the midfield, with the attack featuring the talents of Mchunu, Van Rooyen, Smith, Oyena Zulu, and Yeadon.
The outfit combines experience with young blood. Four players – Viwe Ndlovu, Andile Lembethe, Thandanani Zuma, and Ben Heuer – represented the u18A side in 2025, while Ethan Fabre, Graydon Leslie, Ethan Maltby, Wanga Zulu, and Oyena Zulu featured in the u18B team that competed in the B section. Ben Wilson and Sbuyisiwe Mchunu were members of the u16A side.
The team has an experienced coaching outfit behind them. Nick Bérichon, under whom Michaelhouse’s hockey fortunes have risen, is the head coach. He will be assisted by Maritzburg College’s head coach Mark Sanders, while Mfundo Gumede, from Hilton College, handles strength and conditioning, and Michaelhouse’s Sihle Ngcongo serves as the team manager.
The hosts get their campaign underway with a contest against Western Province B. That should be a challenging opener. The Province B team topped Pool B last year before going on to finish fourth overall.
Team:
Viwe Ndlovu (Maritzburg College), Ben Wilson (Hilton College), Ethan Fabre (Maritzburg College), Caden Francis (Maritzburg College), Graydon Leslie (Michaelhouse), Andile Lembethe (Maritzburg College), Thandanani Zuma (Michaelhouse), Ben Heuer (Michaelhouse), Ethan Maltby (Hilton College), Sbuyiselwe Mchunu (Maritzburg College), Wanga Zulu (Hilton College), Oyena Zulu (Hilton College), Nicandro Padayachee (Hilton College), Matthew Smith (Maritzburg College), Rourque van Rooyen (Michaelhouse), Henry Yeadon (Michaelhouse).
