Latest news with #FNBYouthWeeks
The Citizen
06-07-2025
- Sport
- The Citizen
Excitement builds for Craven Week and Academy Week in Middelburg
With excitement building towards the upcoming Craven Week and Academy Week taking place at Hoërskool Middelburg, Middelburg Observer spoke to Piet Bothma, chairperson of the Puma High Schools' Rugby Association. The election of Bothma as chairperson is another acknowledgement of Middelburg's standards in school rugby, alongside the privilege of playing host to the prestigious FNB Youth Weeks, for not the second but the third time in history. Bothma has ample experience in rugby coaching, and as principal of Steelcrest High School, he was elected by all high schools in Mpumalanga to act as chairperson of the association. According to Bothma, it is an immense honour and privilege to work alongside Hoërskool Middelburg, its principal, vice principal and the school's governing body. 'Without their support, it would have been a mammoth task to organise an event of such magnitude, and it begs to be said that Hoërskool Middelburg is one of the few schools with the facilities to host both the Craven Week and Academy Week at the same time and in the same location. The two have previously taken place after each other.' Bothma also said that Hoërskool Middelburg will be hosting 36 teams, 16 teams in Craven Week and 20 teams in Academy Week. Craven Week will kick off on Monday with WP XV facing the Griffons first at 09:30, followed by the Free State vs SWD Eagles at 11:00, the Bulls vs Lions at 12:30, the Craven Week opening ceremony at 14:00, and the Pumas vs Limpopo as the final match for the day at 14:30. Bothma said there is no tournament format. 'The tournament is all about rugby, meaning winners will play winners and losers will play losers. A ranking committee will determine match fixtures according to points.' Bothma also spoke about how Craven Week and Academy Week will contribute towards the development of talent in school rugby. 'The standard of school rugby in our community is already at a high level, however, both events will offer the opportunity for aspiring players to watch the matches and learn more about rugby at a professional level.' 'The Vuka League will also contribute towards the development of school rugby aside from Craven Week and Academy Week.' According to Bothma, this is the fourth time Mpumalanga will be hosting the tournament, with Hoërskool Middelburg hosting it the first time in 1978, then HTS Middelburg in 2014, and Hoërskool Middelburg hosting it now. It was also hosted in Mbombela previously. Breaking news at your fingertips… Follow Caxton Network News on Facebook and join our WhatsApp channel. Nuus wat saakmaak. Volg Caxton Netwerk-nuus op Facebook en sluit aan by ons WhatsApp-kanaal.
The Citizen
04-07-2025
- Sport
- The Citizen
Steelcrest's Piet Bothma speaks of Craven Week as chair of Puma Rugby Association
With excitement building towards the upcoming Craven Week and Academy Week taking place at Hoërskool Middelburg, the Middelburg Observer spoke to Piet Bothma, chairperson of the Puma High Schools' Rugby Association. The election of Bothma as chairperson is another acknowledgement of Middelburg's standards in school rugby, alongside the privilege of playing host to the prestige FNB Youth Weeks, for not the second but the third time in history. Bothma has ample experience in rugby coaching, and as principal of Steelcrest High School, he was elected by all high schools in Mpumalanga to act as chairperson for the association. According to Bothma, it is an immense honour and privilege to work alongside Hoërskool Middelburg, its principal, and vice principal, as well as the school's governing body. 'Without their support, it would have been a mammoth task to organise an event of such magnitude, and it begs to be said that Hoërskool Middelburg is one of the few schools with the facilities to host both the Craven Week and Academy Week at the same time and in the same location. The two have previously taken place after each other.' Bothma further said that Hoërskool Middelburg will be hosting 36 teams in total, 16 teams in the Craven Week and 20 teams in the Academy Week. The Craven Week will be kicking off on Monday with WP XV facing the Griffons first at 09:30; followed by the Free State vs SWD Eagles at 11:00; the Bulls vs Lions at 12:30; the Craven Week opening ceremony at 14:00; followed by the Pumas vs Limpopo as the final match for the day at 14:30. Bothma further informed that there is no tournament format, 'The tournament is all about rugby, meaning winners will play winners and losers will play losers. A ranking committee will determine match fixtures according to points.' Bothma also spoke about how the Craven Week and Academy Week would contribute towards the development of talent in school rugby. 'The standard of school rugby in our community is already at a high level, however, both events will offer the opportunity for aspiring players to watch the matches and learn more about rugby at a professional level.' 'The Vuka League will also contribute towards the development of school rugby aside from the Craven and Academy Week.' According to Bothma, this is the fourth time Mpumalanga will be hosting the tournament, with Hoërskool Middelburg hosting it the first time in 1978, then HTS Middelburg in 2014, as well as Hoërskool Middelburg hosting it now. It was also hosted in Mbombela previously. At Caxton, we employ humans to generate daily fresh news, not AI intervention. Happy reading!
The Citizen
27-06-2025
- Sport
- The Citizen
Youth Weeks: What you need to know as provincial rugby fever grips SA
Youth Weeks: What you need to know as provincial rugby fever grips SA The FNB Youth Weeks have never been just tournaments. They are platforms where dreams take shape and potential is given a path. These are the words of SA Rugby president Mark Alexander, who spoke to Caxton Local Media ahead of the start of the series of rugby tournaments. 'From the FNB U18 Craven Week through to the FNB U16 Grant Khomo and Academy weeks, they have served as engines of opportunity and inclusion, developing talent while also contributing to nation-building. These gatherings offer young athletes exposure, mentorship and competition, but more than that, they cultivate character, discipline and a sense of belonging to something larger than themselves.' Here's what you need to know about the tournaments, which kick off on Monday. FNB U16 and U18 Girls Weeks Venue: Queens High School in Bezuidenhout Valley, Johannesburg Hosts: Golden Lions Rugby Union Alexander says the evolution of these girls' weeks has been nothing short of nation-shifting. 'They are instruments of progress, opening rugby's gates wider than ever before. Girls now have structured, high-profile avenues to express and elevate their talent – platforms that were unimaginable not long ago. This isn't just about athletic development; it's about transforming perceptions and normalising girls' rugby as a proud, powerful part of our national sporting fabric,' he adds. According to Bedfordview and Edenvale News, Queens High School is expected to be a hive of excitement as families, learners and supporters gather to back the rising stars of the game. Fixtures: View this post on Instagram A post shared by Caxton Network News (@caxtonnetworknews) FNB U16 Grant Khomo Week Venue: St. Alban's College in Lynnwood Glen, Pretoria Hosts: Blue Bulls Rugby Union (BBRU) BBRU president Willem Strauss tells Caxton that it is an honour to be hosting the FNB U16 Grant Khomo Week. 'It is part of the pipeline and ecosystem of our rugby. It starts at the U13 Craven Week, then Grant Khomo and the U18 [youth weeks] before eventually senior rugby. It is, therefore, an important part of our pipeline and we look forward to great rugby at St Alban's.' According to Pretoria Rekord, this year marks only the second time in the tournament's 22-year history that it will be hosted in Pretoria. The previous time was in 2014, when it was hosted at the Tshwane University of Technology sports grounds in Pretoria West. View the programme here. The newspaper states that St Alban's College has already produced two Springboks: Double Rugby World Cup winner Bongi Mbonambi and former Bulls lock Jason Jenkins, who currently plays for the Sharks. In addition to other first-class facilities that suit a tournament like this perfectly, the school boasts two well-maintained rugby fields, on which the tournament's matches will be played. Fixtures: View this post on Instagram A post shared by Caxton Network News (@caxtonnetworknews) Academy Week Venue: Middelburg Hoërskool (MHS) in Middelburg, Mpumalanga Hosts: Pumas Rugby Union According to the Middelburg Observer, MHS received confirmation last August that it would be the host, and preparations have been underway ever since. To ensure the fields are in top condition, MHS has employed additional workers to maintain them, with the A field – where some of the Academy Week's fixtures will be played on the final day (July 11) – being covered nightly to protect it from frost. The school has completed several upgrades, including improvements to the dressing rooms, ablution facilities, hostels, gymnasium and pavilion. A new cafeteria has been constructed to cater to the influx of players and supporters, and a new scoreboard has been installed on the B field. Fixtures: View this post on Instagram A post shared by Caxton Network News (@caxtonnetworknews) FNB U18 Craven Week Venue: Middelburg Hoërskool (MHS) in Middelburg, Mpumalanga Hosts: Pumas Rugby Union Middelburg Observer reports that MHS, affectionately known as Middies, will be hosting the FNB U18 Craven Week for the second time in the school's history. 'It's a big honour and achievement to be selected to host Craven Week. It places Middelburg Hoërskool on the map as an institution that holds itself to a high standard in sport and organisation,' says vice-principal Dave Osborn. He adds that the investments made in preparation for both Craven Week and Academy Week will have lasting benefits for the school's sporting infrastructure and overall development. 'The school's learners will benefit from the valuable exposure to top-level rugby, which serves as motivation for younger players to work harder and strive towards becoming part of future teams.' Fixtures: View this post on Instagram A post shared by Caxton Network News (@caxtonnetworknews) Remember that all the action from the abovementioned tournaments can be watched live on SuperSport Schools. Youth Weeks Two other notable Youth Weeks: The U18 LSEN [Learners with Special Education Needs] Week and the U13 Craven Week will also be played. The LSEN Week will be held at Hoërskool Hoogenhout in Bethal, Mpumalanga, from tomorrow, while the U13 Craven Week takes place at Selborne College in East London from Monday. Alexander says that by investing in these tournaments, SA Rugby is not just growing a sport, it's rewriting a narrative. 'One that says rugby excellence knows no gender and that the next icon of the game could just as easily emerge from a girls' scrum on a windswept pitch in Gqeberha as from any traditional stronghold. It's a cultural shift that will echo into classrooms, homes, communities and, eventually, into packed stadiums both here and abroad. 'We still have work ahead. But these FNB Youth Weeks, especially for young girls, are a bold and necessary step toward a future where rugby reflects the full spirit of our nation – diverse, determined and united.' Breaking news at your fingertips… Follow Caxton Network News on Facebook and join our WhatsApp channel. Nuus wat saakmaak. Volg Caxton Netwerk-nuus op Facebook en sluit aan by ons WhatsApp-kanaal.
