A new champion will be crowned during this year’s annual SASRA u17 National Sevens tournament, hosted at Heidelberg Volkskool in Heidelberg from Friday.
Last year’s champions, Boland, won’t attend, and Western Province also won’t make the trip to Gauteng. Last year’s hosts, Boland, defeated the champions of 2024, South Western Districts, by 29-5 in the final on Trappes Park in Worcester.
SWD will open the tournament in the opening with a Pool A clash against the Limpopo Blue Bulls. Hoërskool Pietersburg was crowned champions of the Virseker Noordvaal Sevens last week and will provide the backbone to their provincial team.
Limpopo’s Juan Dreyer, also represented the union at the FNB u18 Craven Week earlier this year. Pool A is also probably the toughest group, as the Sharks will also be serious title contenders.
The Golden Lions could also be title contenders with Blessing Monareng, who will be playing a vital role in their campaign. The Lions will take on Namibia. Free State and the Leopards in their Pool C clashes.
The Free Staters could also produce some good performances during the tournament, as Zachary Walburgh, who scored more than 30 points during a match for them during the Craven Week, will be one of his side’s key players.
The Pools:
Pool A: Sharks, Limpopo Blue Bulls, South Western Districts, Valke Invitational.
Pool B: Pumas, Griffons, Valke.
Pool C: Namibia, Golden Lions, Free State, Leopards.
Pool D: Blue Bulls, Griqualand West, Eastern Province.
The Fixtures:
Friday, 2 October 2026
09:00 – Limpopo Blue Bulls vs South Western Districts; 09:20 – Sharks vs Valke Invitational; 09:40 – Pumas vs Griffons; 10:01 – Namibia vs Golden Lions; 10:21 – Free State vs Leopards; 10:41 – Griqualand West vs Blue Bulls; 11:02 – South Western Districts vs Sharks; 11:22 – Limpopo Blue Bulls vs Valke Invitational; 11:42 – Griffons vs Valke; 12:03 – Golden Lions vs Free State; 12:23 – Leopards vs Namibia; 12:43 – Blue Bulls vs Eastern Province; 13:04 – South Western Districts vs Valke Invitational; 13:24 – Limpopo Blue Bulls vs Sharks; 13:45 – Pumas vs Valke; 14:05 – Golden Lions vs Leopards; 14:25 – Namibia vs Free State; 14:46 – Griqualand West vs Eastern Province.
