After an action-packed Craven Week, the South African Schools rugby setup has seen a last-minute change—and it’s all thanks to an unfortunate injury.
One of Western Province’s top young talents, Josh Neill, has been ruled out with a rib injury, and his place in the SA Schools squad has now been filled by none other than Quintin Potgieter, also from Western Province.
A Tough Break for Josh Neill
Josh Neill, a dynamic loose forward who had been named in the SA Schools squad after his Craven Week performance, sustained a rib injury during the final U18 match on Saturday.
That injury unfortunately knocked him out of contention for the upcoming fixture. Neill’s injury has led to a reshuffling of players, with selectors having to make a quick call on a replacement.
Quintin Potgieter Gets His Chance
That replacement is Quintin Potgieter—a hard-working, no-nonsense flanker from the Bulls system and a product of Affies (Afrikaanse Hoër Seunskool).
With Neill out, Potgieter steps up to fill the gap in the SA Schools squad, ready to showcase his skills at the next level.
It’s a huge opportunity, and one he’ll no doubt be looking to grab with both hands.
Meanwhile, Elwin Janse van Vuuren, another standout from Affies, has been named in the SA Schools ‘A’ squad.
A Big Clash Looms in Middelburg
Both teams are now set for the big clash on Thursday afternoon at Hoërskool Middelburg, kicking off at 15:00.
The SA Schools vs SA Schools ‘A’ game is a highly anticipated fixture, always offering a glimpse into the future of South African rugby.
Updated SA Schools Squad
Here’s the revised SA Schools team list, featuring top performers from across the provinces:
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Forwards: Kai Pratt, Altus Rabe, Luan van der Berg, Lwandile Mlaba, AJ Meyer, Chinedu Amadi, Quintin Potgieter, Jacobus de Villiers
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Backs: Morne Noble, Liyema Nela, Jadrian Afrikaner, Markus Muller, Ethan Adams, Junaide Stuart, Zekhethelo Siyaya
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Reserves: Clinton Agu, Jordan Jooste, Matthew van der Merwe, Jayden Joubert, Wasi Vyambwera, Gert Kemp, Zirk Meyer, Ruben Groenewald, Nathan Aneke, Lamla Mgedezi, Thabiso Simelane
SA Schools ‘A’ Ready to Prove a Point
The SA Schools ‘A’ squad is also packed with talent and eager to make their mark.
e than capable of pushing their senior counterparts all the way.
Some key names include:
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Forwards: Andre Poulton, Keenan Myners, Bernhard du Toit, Diaan Augustyn, Juvan Burden, Caleb Koeberg, Elwin Janse van Vuuren
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Backs: Jayden Brits, Jeandre Uithaler, Ncuthu Kepe, Christian Vorster, Lucritia Magua, Junade Pasensie
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Reserves: Thomas Muller, Jeffrey Singo, JG Badenhorst, Lian Terblanche, Briint Davids, Mickyle Booise, Ethan van Biljon, Jeneall Davids, Pieter Cilliers, Toriq Schambreel
Strong Leadership Behind the Scenes
Both squads will be led by experienced coaching teams. SA Schools will be under the guidance of Lwazi Zangqa, while the ‘A’ team will be led by Flash Malinga.
The support staff includes seasoned physiotherapists, team doctors, and conditioning experts ensuring the players are in top form.