The Sharks finished the Academy Week as the top team of 2026, beating the Golden Lions 16-12 in the main match on the A Field at Bergsig LSEN School in Kariega on Friday.
With the win, the Sharks ended the Lions’ run as the top dogs of the Academy Week, which began in 2023. The year before that, 2022, the Sharks reigned supreme.
In Friday’s clash, both sides scored two tries in a very evenly contested clash. Wings Richaard Kriel and Lisa Sijadu dotted down for the KwaZulu-Natal outfit, while inside centre Juandré Ehlers and right-wing Loghan Langeveldt scored for the Gautengers.
Ultimately, kicking made the difference. Flyhalf Cameron Kourie successfully converted one try for the Lions. On the other side, Sondelani Sheleni had ice in his veins when he thumped over two penalties after coming off the bench for the Sharks.
Blue Bulls‘ lock Phillip Mans was the only try scorer in his side’s tight 11-9 win over Western Province (WP). Caleb Africa clinched a last-second winner with his second successful penalty strike.
SACS flyhalf Jake Dave slotted three penalties of his own to make up all of Province’s points.
It was an incredibly tense and physical game, with both sides throwing everything they had at one another. If not for a few mistimed runs and brilliant tackles on cover defence, the scoreboard would have been a lot busier.
The hosts, Eastern Province, ended their campaign with a convincing 28-7 triumph against the Pumas. Hooker Luciano Solani demonstrated his danger as a runner, scoring his third try in three matches for the Elephants.
Inside centre Carlo van Staden burst through the defensive line with one of his many strong carries to dot down the Pumas’ sole try.
Hooker WJ Dippenaar was a load off the back of the rolling maul for Free State, scoring twice in their comfortable 41-12 victory over Boland.
Outside centre Lino Mtwebana crossed the whitewash twice after finding space out wide, while flyhalf Christoff Crous scored a try and added four conversions. The Cheetahs‘ backline lived up to the name of the speedy feline, with their speedsters causing the Boland defence all sorts of problems.
South Western Districts (SWD) also ended on a high note. They turned a 12-10 halftime lead into a 34-29 defeat of the Golden Lions XV.
SWD blindside flank Callie Wannenburg put in a strong shift. He made plenty of carries and made the dive for five on two occasions. Flyhalf Mark-Hein Fourie was dangerous with the ball in hand, and he also dished out some lovely passes. He added nine points to the scoreboard from a try and two conversions.
The SWD win was emblematic of a theme of the Academy Week, which showed that the gap between the big unions and the smaller unions is currently narrowing. On their day, the smaller unions are capable of being highly competitive.
Scorers:
Sharks 16 (10) – Tries: Richaard Kriel, Lisa Sijadu. Penalties: Sondelani Sheleni (2). Golden Lions 12 (0) – Tries: Loghan Langeveldt, Juandré Ehlers. Conversion: Cameron Kourie.
Blue Bulls 11 (0) – Try: Phillip Mans. Penalties: Caleb Africa (2). Western Province 9 (3) – Penalties: Jake Dave (3).
Free State 41 (22) – Tries: WJ Dippenaar (2), Lino Mtwebana (2), Kia Babu, Christoff Crous. Conversions: Crous (4). Penalty: Crous. Boland 12 (7) – Tries: Edson Fredericks, Sebastien Bredell. Conversion: Ruan Nortjé.
South Western Districts (SWD) 34 (12) – Tries: Callie Wannenburg (2), Zivan Grobbelaar, Unathi Mgwexa, Gerrit Janse van Rensburg, Mark-Hein Fourie. Conversions: Fourie (2). Golden Lions XV 29 (10) – Tries: Ayanda Mabaso, Matthys de Koker, Sihle Mbambo, Thato Mapuru, Ray-Nathin van Kolver. Conversions: Van Kolver (2).
Eastern Province 28 (13) – Tries: Zola Yeye, Ibenathi Kondile, Keanu Linch, Luciano Solani, Kadin Kretzmann. Penalty: Cole Hurter. Pumas 7 (7) – Try: Carlo van Staden. Conversion: Gaston Brown.
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