Grey look for a challenge
15 Feb 2010
Grey College, South Africa’s No 1-ranked rugby school, have organised a tough schedule for 2010.
The Bloemfontein boys will begin their season with two matches in Welkom and Upington, before taking part in two festivals where they will play against some of the country’s top rugby schools.
‘We usually face seven big schools outside of Bloem during the year – such as Grey High, Affies and Glenwood – but we will play against more this season,’ 1st XV coach Dries van der Wal told keo.co.za.
‘Our first match of 2010 will be against Harmony Sports School in Welkom. They’re one of the best schools in terms of developing black players, so it will be a difficult one first up. We then travel to Upington to face Hoërskool Duineveld and Hoërskool Upington, who are the toughest schools in the Griquas region.
‘We will be also competing in two festivals, starting with the Kearsney College Easter Festival, where we will play the hosts, EG Jansen and Monument. We will then face Paarl Gymnasium at the Wildeklawer Festival, which will be hosted by Affies.’
Van der Wal has not yet finalised his 1st XV squad because of summer sport commitments, but should do so within the next fortnight.
‘We have 28 rugby teams to draw up at the school, which includes 12 U19 sides. We want to give every boy a fair opportunity to get a first-team place, and it involves a lot of planning.
‘I should confirm my final first-team squad within the next two weeks, and I’ll select my captain at the same time.’
By Gareth Duncan
16 Comments
15 Feb 2010, 12:12 pm
champion school
15 Feb 2010, 13:16 pm
Brilliant. Grey will go unbeaten this year. Watch for their captain, and star center – William Small Smith. The boy ooooooozzesss class. Not to mention guys like Johan Goosen who has now got SA Schools creds behind his name.
15 Feb 2010, 13:49 pm
Go for it Grey – all the best! Arguably the greatest rugby school on the planet, certainly in SA – Grey Bloem, year after year, is the nursery of SA rugby. For decades they have been the conveyor belt of top rugby talent in SA – only for Free State to lose their services to the wealthier Unions in SA.
Especially Northern Transvaal (Bulls) and Natal have benefitted immensely over the years from Grey Bloem – and, to a lesser extent, Transvaal (Lions) and WP too.
SARU should investigate a possible transfer fee system – whereby the home Union earns a fee when players, who’ve grown through their systems (incl schools) – are compensated when a player transfers to another Union. This way – a province like Free State would earn a much fairer slice of the ‘money-pie’ in SA rugby. Money they could then use to retain more of their players and, in turn, give some there-of to a school like Grey – making the school even stronger.
Go Grey! Go Vrystaat!
15 Feb 2010, 15:10 pm
Yeah i’d also argue it’s the best rugby school on earth. Has probably produced more Bokke than all the other sa schools combined. I’ll have to get the Annual Schools Derby to confirm. But anyway, Grey will beat any school in SA by 50+. Regularly scoring centuries :O
15 Feb 2010, 15:14 pm
@Partizan: You’ll be surprised to know which school produced the most Springboks. Remember there is more than a 100 years of history to consider…
15 Feb 2010, 16:17 pm
@Partizan: I think Bishops holds the record – only cause of their early days. post 92 Grey has far more springboks than any other school (17 i think).
I THINK Grey are second or even third on the “Bok list” – with Bishops 1, and another Cape School 2. Speak under correction though.
15 Feb 2010, 17:15 pm
in the early days only wp and griquas made up the boks so obviously cape schools would have the majority.
measured post ww2 i would think grey takes it easily
15 Feb 2010, 17:17 pm
@charo: & Tvl
15 Feb 2010, 17:20 pm
& EP + Border
15 Feb 2010, 17:22 pm
@Dantalian:
talking the very early years when bishops got a lot of caps
15 Feb 2010, 17:23 pm
SACS is the oldest school. Played polo in a tournament there a few years ago
15 Feb 2010, 20:02 pm
@Partizan: There are a couple of posters here from SACS, including myself.
15 Feb 2010, 23:24 pm
I’d like to see Grey take on Bishops.
That’ll be one hell of a game…
16 Feb 2010, 00:39 am
Paul Roos Gimnasium holds the record for the most Springboks produced.
16 Feb 2010, 08:34 am
@Cheetah Champs: I know William’s dad, top bloke! didnt know his son was such a good rugga player.
Good luck Grey!
16 Feb 2010, 08:37 am
@Dorflingssj: Yeah, but that is because PRG is alot older than Grey Bloem, If you would count the number of boks produced when Grey started they win hands down….. much the same as WP holds the record for the most Currie Cup wins, but if that stat is taken from when NTVL (now Blue Bulls) started in the competition the Bulls edge it
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