Blitzboks snap up school stars

 Schoolboy-Derby-on-KEO

Blitzboks snap up school stars

9 Jul 2010

William Small-Smith, Craig Barry and Tshotsho Mbovane have signed contracts to play for the Springbok Sevens side for the next two years.

Small-Smith (Grey College) was part of the Free State side that defeated WP in the unofficial Craven Week final. Barry and Mbovane (both Paul Roos) represented WP in that tournament and were later selected for the SA Schools side. Small-Smith also made the cut.

The trio will represent the High Performance squad next week in three international fixtures against the U18 teams of France, England and Namibia. Their Sevens contracts will start from 1 January 2011, giving them the chance to complete their final school year.

Springbok Sevens coach Paul Treu believers the youngsters have made the correct decision to play Sevens.

‘It is crucial that we create opportunities for our many young promising players. South Africa is blessed with so much talent and not every youngster can break into the senior ranks,’ Treu said.

‘These three players represent the start of a new direction for us and I am confident that the High Performance programme will deliver many more players of their calibre in the future.

‘It would be great if we can go to the Olympics in 2016 and these three players are established players of the Springbok Sevens team.’

The Bok Sevens training squad assembles on Monday at their base in Stellenbosch.


3 Comments

  • 1.Cyborg: Reply to this comment
    9 Jul 2010, 13:29 pm

    Great move for the players. They’ll sharpen their skills under Paul Treu and eventually get back into the 15 man game better. Not every dragon can handle the physical demands of senior 15-man rugby at a young age. Maybe Nick Koster should give it a season in the seven man game.

  • 2.norman: Reply to this comment
    9 Jul 2010, 13:53 pm

    the sevens side had all the talent this year but did not live up to expectations
    they did lose a couple of stars along the weay but that still should not be seen as an excuse considering they have been given everything they have asked for and the abundance of talent at their beck and call

  • 3.mainland: Reply to this comment
    10 Jul 2010, 08:02 am

    any idea which province Craig Barry has or is planning to sign with?

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