The power of South African schoolboy rugby laid without a doubt within the Western Cape in 2015, but it seems that schools North of the Vaalriver had the upperhand in the opening round of SuperRugby in 2016. Or at least within the group of players who undertook their maiden voyage in the competition over the weekend.
No less than 21 players made their SuperRugby debuts for the five South African franchises over the weekend. Six of this 21 players completed their school careers in Pretoria. Three of them Jannes Kirsten, RG Snyman and Juan Schoeman attended Affies, while two is products from the new rugby powerhouse of Pretoria and Beeld Trophy champions, Garsfontein. Snyman represented the South African Schools’ side in 2013.
| Player | School |
| Warrick Gelant | Outeniqua |
| Jannes Kirsten | Affies |
| RG Snyman | Affies |
| Lizo Gqoboka | Ntabankulu |
| JD Schickerling | Paarl Gimnasium |
| Leolin Zas | Hermanus |
| Hyron Andrews | Garsfontein |
| Jean-Luc du Preez | Kearsney College |
| Juan Schoeman | Affies |
| Garth April | Bergrivier/Florida |
| Dylan Smith | King Edward VII |
| Nic de Jager | St. John’s College |
| Ruan Ackermann | Garsfontein |
| Rohan Janse van Rensburg | Waterkloof |
| CJ Velleman | Grey High School |
| Leighton Eksteen | Outeniqua |
| Louis Albertse | Michaelhouse |
| Uzair Cassiem | Strand |
| Ox Nche | Louis Botha |
| Paul Schoeman | Marlow Landbou |
| Reniel Hugo | Paul Roos |
Sharks’ lock Hyron Andrews and the Lions’ replacements loose forward Ruan Ackermann both attended Garsies. Ackermann captained them to the Beeld Trophy final for Macro Schools in 2014 which they lost 19-20 to Nelspruit. The other player from the Jacaranda City is Rohan Janse van Rensburg of the Lions who attended Waterkloof. He was part of the Klofie’s team of 2011 which was one of the top school teams in the country.
Janse van Rensburg was also the standout player at the Coca-Cola Craven Week of 2012 in Port Elizabeth. Grey High School and the Toyota Cheetahs’ winger Sergeal Petersen was however named Player of the Tournament by the South African Rugby Union.
The Kwaggas from George also had reason to celebrate this weekend with to old boys, Warrick Gelant (Bulls) and Leighton Eksteen (Kings), making the step-up to SuperRugby. Garth April of the Sharks was one of Boland’s star players at the Craven Week of 2008 in Pretoria. He attended Bergrivier, but moved to Roodepoort for 2009 where he attended Florida.
The Boland can also celebrate the debuts of Cheetahs’ flanker Uzair Cassiem (Strand) and Stormers winger Leolin Zas (Hermanus). And also the two locks JD Schickerling (Paarl Gimnasium) and Reniel Hugo (Paul Roos Gimnasium) to some extend. Schools from Paarl and Stellenbosch fall under Boland in all sports except for in rugby where they are part of the Western Province system.
