Bad blood between Durban rivals
25 Jan 2013
Glenwood and Westville will aim to reconcile their differences in the coming weeks following a player eligibility row.
They are two of the oldest and top sporting schools in Durban, and their annual rugby derby is one of the most popular 1st XV fixtures in the province and country. However, Glenwood recently announced that they will not face Westville this season because of the animosity that has existed since March 2012, when Westville appealed against Glenwood prop Marne Coetzee’s selection.
Coetzee joined Glenwood from Waterkloof during his Grade 11 year in 2011. According to Glenwood principal Trevor Kershaw: ‘Coetzee was an U19 schoolboy who was registered for seven subjects in matric. His enrollment did not breach any agreements or rules.’
Kershaw decided to adhere to Westville’s appeal, but Glenwood was not happy with the way the opposition school handled the situation. Westville went on to win the 1st XV match 13-9.
After Glenwood announced that they would not play against Westville in 2013, the latter subsequently called off a 1st XI cricket match scheduled for this month.
KZN High Schools Rugby Association head Noel Ingle was not happy with this outcome.
‘The match between Glenwood and Westville is one the major fixtures on the 1st XV calendar,’ Noel told keo.co.za’s Schoolboy Derby. ‘To see sporting fixtures being cancelled and omitted is very disappointing. I’m sure the players, parents and fans are very disappointed too.
‘Unfortunately, this is not a situation the union can get involved in. Only the schools can decide on a way forward.’
When this site contacted both schools, it was confirmed that the two parties have already met. There are meetings scheduled over the next several weeks too. But even if peace is found, it is unlikely that Glenwood will add Westville to their busy 2013 schedule.
Meanwhile, Glenwood also confirmed that all disputes with DHS have been revolved.
The two schools met following rumours that Glenwood had poached a DHS cricket coach and planned to recruit a few 1st XI players, but these claims were proven to be false. A DHS cricket coach did join Glenwood recently, but he did so legally after an interview process.
The Glenwood-DHS annual derby will go ahead on 18 May.
By Gareth Duncan
24 Comments
25 Jan 2013, 08:06 am
Young Sharkie hopefuls in the making
25 Jan 2013, 08:17 am
True Blood….opnam guppie style.
25 Jan 2013, 08:21 am
Is this a story.
25 Jan 2013, 08:21 am
Ok then
Back to the Hore
25 Jan 2013, 08:25 am
“Glenwood also confirmed that all disputes with DHS have been revolved”
What a “turnaround”
25 Jan 2013, 08:27 am
Glenwood have been taking this whole ‘school boy rugby domination’ thing way too far for years now.
They really have taken the tradition and free spirit out of the game.
To me its not what school rugby is all about.
25 Jan 2013, 08:35 am
Immature comments from the blogger above aside…this rabid attitude that still exists in South African schools rugby is way out of control.
Having youngsters exposed to this does not reflect very well on the schools mentioned.
There should be more emphasis on Varsity and club rugby. Schoolboys should be honing their handling and basic rugby skills instead of having the burden of winning placed on their shoulders at such a young and influencial age.
Those teachers need to grow up and think of the bigger picture.
25 Jan 2013, 08:37 am
The peanut gallery is out in force today ‘my bray’..
25 Jan 2013, 08:38 am
@John Galt-6:
Ja, it’s quite pathetic. They probably poached Schoeman from Waterkloof (Bulls) in the first instance and that is were it all started. He seems to be a good player though and is currently with the baby Boks.
25 Jan 2013, 08:42 am
There used to be a time when the Hilton-Michaelhouse clash was the school rugby event of the year.
25 Jan 2013, 08:42 am
Sharkside Story.
25 Jan 2013, 08:52 am
I think it is Marne Coetzee and not Marne Schoeman?
25 Jan 2013, 08:54 am
@John Galt-6:
yes, it should never be what school rugby is about.
you want the kids to give it their all and conduct themselves like winning is everything, but to understand that it really isn’t at their age. participation, having fun and developing them to hopefully become good, well rounded, successful people as adults is the real focus. they may be sportspeople and they may not, but they could be good people.
of course the skills development will help those kids who actually want to pursue a career in rugby and this should be communicated to them.
the school authorities, teachers, coaches, parents need to change their focus.
25 Jan 2013, 09:03 am
If you look at the whole doping scenario and the school question at hand, makes you think that it might be interlinked, with all the pressures being put on these kids
25 Jan 2013, 09:09 am
More snotkoppe!
25 Jan 2013, 09:19 am
little guppy handbags.. .
25 Jan 2013, 09:31 am
@Transformation-16: Manbags…..
25 Jan 2013, 10:34 am
@Transformation-16:
25 Jan 2013, 11:29 am
What the hell is going on in Debben!
These are guppies ffs not siamese fighting fish.
25 Jan 2013, 15:49 pm
With Kershaw at the helm, I am often ashamed to call myself a Glenwood Old Boy…
Would much rather have a school that plays with passion and heart instead of a cheque book.
Kershaw must have New Zealand blood in him.
25 Jan 2013, 17:17 pm
Oh, what a lot of bull from some of the bloggers – all with biaised agendas no doubt. Recruiting, scholarships and the like have gone on for years! Unfair to smaller schools who can’t afford it – probably but also a fact of life. Get over it. I was at Marist years ago with 33 boys in matric and we beat the famed DHS cricket team with Richards, Irvine and 5 other Natal schools players. We did get hammered at rugbt though
26 Jan 2013, 08:15 am
What is most frustrating about all of this is the fact that there are so many school boys who are sacrificing their academics and their bodies in order to make the 1st XV and maybe one day play professional rugby. How many of these kids go on to do so ever?
I am a teacher and I see so many kids who blatantly disregard academics for their sport. Grade 11 is an extreme important academic year for them, but it is also their first chance to break into a 1st XV. They’ll practice 4 hours a day, do school work for maybe 1 hour. It’s crazy.
26 Jan 2013, 14:13 pm
Glenwood are the bad eggs in this cake.
23 Feb 2013, 20:55 pm
YeahHave your say
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