Some intriguing and exciting contests are lined up for the opening day of the u18 Academy Week, which is being hosted by Bergsig LSEN School in Kariega from Monday, 6 July, to Friday, 10 July.
The week runs on a slightly different schedule to the u18 Craven Week, which is taking place in nearby Gqeberha at Grey High.
The Craven Week fixtures include matches from Monday to Thursday, followed by a break on Friday, and the last round of matches on Saturday. The Academy Week’s scheduling, meanwhile, mimics the Grant Khomo Week, with matches scheduled to be played on Monday, Wednesday, and Friday.
The event features 20 teams, with 10 games of action a day being split between the A and B Fields.
After Monday’s results are concluded, Wednesday’s day two fixtures will be decided. Friday’s schedule will be determined by Wednesday’s results. Tuesday and Thursday will be rest days.
On Monday, Border and the Pumas kick things off on the A Field at 08:30. In any given year, both sides could potentially challenge one of the big unions, and they will want to make a statement in the opener to perhaps earn a shot at one of those big-name outfits on day two.
The showdown between Western Province and the Sharks at 12:30 should be a cracker. Both sides won two of their three games last year, while the majority of the Sharks’ lineup, which is an u17 squad, is comprised of players who helped them go three for three and win the main game at the u16 Grant Khomo Week last year.
South Western Districts performed phenomenally well in 2025. They went undefeated, including a 25-7 win over Free State. They’ll be dark-horse candidates to once again disrupt the pecking order at the national week, and the Blue Bulls, their first day opponent, will need to be dialled in when they kick off at 13:50.
In the main game on the first day, the home side, Eastern Province, can expect strong support when they take on the Lions, whose u16 side emerged as the top u16 unit at the recent Grant Khomo Week at Kearsney College.
On the B Field, Griquas and Border Country Districts (Border CD) open the day’s play at 08:30. The Northern Cape representatives featured some impressive talent at the Grant Khomo Week. The question is whether they have a similar depth of talent at u18 age level.
Namibia and Zimbabwe will have opportunities to sharpen their game, with the Namibians taking on the Limpopo Blue Bulls at 11:10, while the Valke will aim to impress against the Zimbabweans when they meet at 12:30.
Fixtures – Day 1 – Monday, 6 July:
A Field
08:30 – Border vs Pumas
09:50 – Free State vs Griffons
11:10 – Lions XV vs Boland
12:30 – Western Province vs Sharks
13:50 – South Western Districts vs Blue Bulls
16:00 – Lions vs Eastern Province
B Field
08:30 – Griquas vs Border Country Districts (Border CD)
09:50 – Leopards vs LSEN
11:10 – Limpopo Blue Bulls vs Namibia
12:30 – Valke vs Zimbabwe
- Sharks and Lions shine bright during Academy Week’s opening day - 2026-07-06
- Results – Academy Week 2026 – Day 1 - 2026-07-06
- Teams for the 2026 Academy Week - 2026-07-05
