RUGBY
2018 Kearsney Easter Rugby Festival wrap
A highly successful 11th Standard Bank Kearsney Easter Rugby Festival wrapped up with three teams ending the festival unbeaten and the announcement of four players who each received bursaries to the Sharks Academy for 2019.
Two KZN teams, Durban High School and Glenwood, as well as Hoerskool Framesby from Port Elizabeth, were unbeaten at the festival.
The bursary recipients are HTS Drostdy centre Christie Grobbelaar, Glenwood flank Lindokuthle Luthuli, and two Kearsney players, flank Sibusiso Sangweni and fullback Jacques Odendaal. The bursaries, each valued at over R100 000, include a contract with the Academy next year, accommodation and a tuition bursary with one of its education partners.
Photo Tracey van den Aardweg. Kearsney’s Sbu Sangweni against PBHS.
Glenwood was presented the floating trophy for having played the most attractive rugby at the festival.
Photo Tracey van den Aardweg. Glenwood captain Conan le Fleur scores in the win against HTS Drostdy.
Announcing the awards, Sharks Academy managing director Etienne Fynn said spectators had been treated to some outstanding rugby over the weekend, with many evenly matched teams which made for exciting games.
“The results from DHS were a great surprise, with the team remaining unbeaten against three traditional Eastern Cape powerhouses,” Fynn said.
Photo Tracey van den Aardweg. DHS try scorer and prop Mthokozisi Gumede in the game against Dale College.
DHS beat Selborne College from East London 16-13, Queen’s College from Queenstown 24-7 and Dale College 39-0. Glenwood’s victories were against DHS Drostdy (29-26), Dale College (39-0) and Welkom Gimnasium (24-10). The third unbeaten team, Hoerskool Framesby beat Dale College 5-15, Pretoria Boys High 13-10 and Hoerskool Noord-Kaap 30-8.
In a cracker final game of the festival, Kearsney dominated the match against Pretoria Boys High. With a half-time 19-7 score in the hosts’ favour, they won 40-33 after Pretoria scored a converted try after full-time.
Since its inception 11 years ago, many gifted players have been discovered by talent scouts at previous Kearsney rugby festivals and they have now progressed to playing for the Springboks, SA Sevens, Sharks and other provincial teams, becoming household names in South Africa and even internationally.
Fynn said the festival played an important role in exposing the quality of available young talent from around the country.
“The Sharks Academy is proud to be associated with the Kearsney Easter Rugby Festival. The length of our involvement is testament to its on-going high standards and continued focus on the camaraderie and ethos of the game. Only at these festivals is the weekly grind of school derbies removed, and players can be allowed the freedom to play the game without that very obvious pressure,” he said.
Handre Pollard represented Paarl Gimnasium at the 2011 and 2012 festivals, where even then his brilliance entertained spectators. He played against Jan Serfontein (Grey College 2010 and 2011) and Robert du Preez (Kearsney College 2011) at the festival. Others who played at Kearsney festivals are Sbura Sithole (Queen’s College 2008), Fred Zeilinga (Glenwood 2010), Paul Jordaan and Johan Goosen (both Grey College 2010), and SA 7s player Warrick Gelant (Outeniqua 2013).
In 2008 Dale College eighth man Lubabalo ‘Tera’ Mthembu impressed, returning the following year to captain his school’s 1st XV at the festival. He was awarded a bursary to The Sharks Academy which, he says, provided a kick start to his life and career. “It gave me an opportunity to express myself, but also a lifetime opportunity to study and do what I love – which is playing rugby – at the same time.”
FESTIVAL RESULTS
Day 1 – Thursday 29 March
Kearsney College 25 – 26 HTS Middelburg; Queen’s College 10 – 14 Pretoria Boys High; Glenwood 29 – 26 HTS Drostdy; Dale College 5 – 15 Hoërskool Framesby; Selborne 13 – 16 DHS; Welkom Gimnasium 28 – 3 Hoërskool Noord-Kaap
Day 2 – Saturday 31 March
Hoërskool Framesby 13 – 10 Pretoria Boys High; DHS 24 – 7 Queen’s College; Kearsney College 20 – 11 Hoërskool Noord-Kaap; Glenwood 39 – 0 Dale College; HTS Drostdy 22 – 14 Welkom Gimnasium; Selborne 33 – 19 HTS Middelburg
Day 3 – Monday 2 April
Glenwood 24 – 10 Welkom Gimnasium; Hoërskool Noord-Kaap 8 – 30 Hoërskool Framesby; HTS Middelburg 35 – 17 Queen’s College; DHS 39 – 0 Dale College; HTS Drostdy 29 – 26 Selborne; Kearsney College 40 – 33 Pretoria Boys High
Text & images supplied by:
Kearsney’s Sue Miles
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St Charles vs Maritzburg College rugby
St Charles College first XV meet home side Maritzburg College at 3.15pm on Goldstones Saturday. For the first time since 1977.
Here’s some of the history, from Jos Robson.
In 1882 Maritzburg College hosted St. Charles College, which was the first ever official schools rugby fixture in KZN. The Natal Witness reported on the game which was won 3-2 by Maritzburg College.
Earlier in 1870 it was also reported in the Natal Witness that Maritzburg College then Pietermaritzburg High School had played a 15 man game against the German school of Hemansberg, which history tells us that this was in fact the first 15 man rugby match played on African soil. College also won that game 2-0.
So it took 12 years before schools began officially playing against each other with Michaelhouse and Hilton joining in on the great schools rugby journey in the late 1800’s early 1900’s.
It was in the early 1950’s that a young man arrived at St. Charles who would later become a close friend of the legendary Maritzburg College coach Skonk Nicholson. He was Patrick Kennedy who went on to play for Natal Schools in 57 and 58 and became what Skonk always said to me his best ever Natal Schools Captain.
In 58 he was joined by team mate Dudley Crooks in the Natal Schools side and in 57 Paddy was on the flank alongside prop Finton Jungle Jackson, R.V. Vanderplank whose dad Bertrum played for the Springboks in 1924, J.W. Grice, M.H. Mordaunt and H.C. van Rooyen
Interestingly enough in 58 Kelvin McIlrath was the only Nat Schools representative in the class of 58 but he did captain the Schools side the following year.
In the early years St. Charles were extremely competitive but never grew in numbers and somehow never had the depth in later years with the two schools last officially meeting in 1977.
College beat St. Charles 42-6 in that last match so here we are 41 years later the two schools that started it all 136 years ago celebrating their moment in history as the two grand old schools prepare to do battle once again this Saturday.
Paddy sent his two boys Ric Kennedy and Bryan Kennedy to Maritzburg College when St. Charles went through a bad patch and almost closed. The Old Boys rallied to the cause and here we are…The Red Black and White up against the mighty Amalachites once again.
There is a full day of rugby at Maritzburg College on Saturday with the hosts taking on St Charles College, Voortrekker and Howick.
Photo supplied
A taste of things to come
Photo Jono Cook : Maritzburg College first XV rugby captain Ntuthuko Mchunu and backline player Nkondlo Radebe.
Edited extract of an informative report off the Glenwood FB page by Beet on the KZN pre-season schoolboy 1st XV rugby 🏉 warm-up mini matches at King’s Park Saturday.
“These were just warm-ups to aid the players’ and coaches’ prep,” said Beet.
Westville 5 Glenwood 5
“I thought Glenwood were fantastic in this match.
“They fielded a 2nd team and the players played out of their skins. They were hungry and created an even contest against Westville.
“Westville scored a lovely try. Flank Dylan Jung had a decisive carry and fed it to big Okkie Barnard who was wearing the no.8 jersey.
“This gave them serious front-foot ball and flyhalf Kyle Forsyth came up with a class chip to the corner which wing Grove Akker did not waste.
“From the kick-off Westville failed to control and Glenwood pounced. The ball was hacked ahead and a loose forward won the race to re-gather and dotted down to level matters.”
Maritzburg College 0 DHS 0
“Surprisingly this game failed to produce a score.
“DHS still have strike players. If everybody does their job by putting in the hard yards, these go-to players can make a difference.
“The top-rated Horsefly Celimpilo Gumede did not play because he was with the SA U18 Sevens team, so that tells you something about the 1,9 metre young man’s mobility and skill-set.
“DHS have a decent front-row. Celimpilo’s brother Mthokozisi Gumede is a useful all-round player and showed it with a good carry during this game.
“Marcel Nel is really big now and Donovan Adams is a livewire hooker with a lot of heart. Asande Mnguni definitely had his moments last season. He can be lethal as ball runner and is a turnover specialist.
“In the backs, flyhalf Shakur la Douce has a big boot and KZN Craven Week centre Lwandile Menze, who was so destructive as a big metres-gaining 12 last year is back, but playing 13 now.
“There are also useful backs in versatile Lwazi Moletshe and determined Malusi Ntuli.
“The Maritzburg College pack could be developed into a major asset this season if they get the self-belief system to the level it needs to be.
“Props Ethan Hodgson and Sphekahle Dube are a part of the reason why impressive no.8 Nthuthuko Mchunu has been so effective off the back of the scrum.
“The Maritzburg College captain has been ticking all the right boxes and is arguably the best individual player in KZN pre-season.
“For Maritzburg College to do well this season all they need is a few others to close the gap on Mchunu and they will be a handful to deal with.
“Maritzburg College may be a bit short on X-factor players this year.
“The College backline still need a lot of work on attack and the coaching staff are going to have to work extra hard on this aspect of play to make them more effective.
Westville 10 College 7
“Maritzburg College didn’t bring a big squad to King’s Park and had to stay on the field for a second successive game so it was interesting to see if this continuity helped or hurt them and how the fewer subs would impact on their day.
“They subbed who they could and struck first blood. MC fullback Matthew Willemse had scored an absolute gem of a solo try against Westville at the Vories Night Series a week earlier and continued to haunt them when his chip-and-chase down the middle had the Westville fullback in a spot of bother and forced a turnover via a scrum.
“A free-kick and quick tap followed and with the ball spun wide it finally resulted in no.18 scoring a try, which Keegan Collyer then turned into 7 with a good kick.
“With consistency, Willemse is the kind of player College could build attacking plays around.
“Westville fullback Nqubeko Mkwanazi looks like he is going to pick up from where he left off last season, as a create-something-out-of-nothing player.
“Mkwanazi played a big part in Westville’s first try thanks to a good run. The try-scorer was scrumhalf Stanley Giani. After that, Mkwanazi combined with wing Akker.
“Akker stabbed the ball ahead and dived on it in-goal to push Westville into a 10-7 lead, which could have increased when the no.11 wing came close.
“Then at the death College were denied what would have been a wonderful try.
“Mchunu had one of his now trademark carries. After he was stopped in the 22 the ball was recycled and what looked like a brilliant skip pass by a front-rower out to the left and into the breadbasket of unmarked wing Siphesihle Kekana was judged to be forward by the assistant referee.
Glenwood 3 DHS 3
“DHS showed lots of commitment to hold off a strong Glenwood team.
“Glenwood seem to bring out the best in DHS. Glenwood looked like they were about to get going on several plays but never really got out of the low gears.
“The most interesting of the positional set-ups was that Joe Poen Jonas played fullback. Rynhardt Jonker and La Douce traded penalties.”
DHS 14 Westville 0
“A quick tap-and-go penalty taken by DHS flank Mnguni caught Westville unawares.
“He then drew and passed to scrumhalf Jaydian Cedares, who turned out to be a bit of a pocket rocket. He jet-shoed his way to the tryline from about 40m out.
“The little scrummy wearing 21 also had a part in School’s second try. His box kick was well placed and forced pressure near the touchline in Westville territory.
“DHS then worked the ball well and, aided by some soft hands, no.11 (Moletshe) got in for the try. Both tries were converted by La Douce.
“Westville were not outplayed by any means but just couldn’t come up with any plays to breach the DHS defence.
Sadly, Mkwanazi picked up an injury during this match. Hopefully it’s not serious.”
Glenwood 7 College 0
“The Maritzburg College pack started to get the hang of things during this match and with more effort like that they stand a good chance to dominate others in KZN.
“From a College lineout gone wrong Glenwood sprung into action and gave a taste of the firepower they are capable of producing.
“Centre Jason Conradie did very well and a useful pass by a wing to the flying, powerfully-built centre Conan le Fleur saw him race in. Jaden Hendrikse the scrumhalf succeeded with the difficult conversion.
“Hendrikse also impressed with the hang time on his big base kicks.”
* Thanks Beet and the Glenwood Facebook page for the info.
It’s TIME ⌚!!!! 😁
by Jos Robson & Ryan Lawler
St Charles College vs Maritzburg College – Saturday, 17th March – the wait is finally over.
In 1882, St Charles played against Maritzburg College for the first time. The schools then played each other on regular occasions from the 1930’s up until 1977. During this early period, St Charles got given the nickname “The Amalekites”.
This stems from the colours of St Charles’ blazer but what also contributed to the fact of the spirited school was the small number of boys the 1st Teams could choose from and yet, the spirit of the boys is what kept them together and which saw them “fight, until they can fight no more”.
This has seen a 41 year period where the schools have not played each other in a full set of fixtures.
With just 10 school days to go until the rivalry is once again ignited, we look forward to a healthy, competitive day of winter sport.
The 1st XI hockey are due to start at 10:20am and the 1st XV will kick off at approximately 2:45pm on Goldstones.
Feelings are temporary, beliefs are forever!
Braam the best thing for St Charles College rugby
“Braam picked up technically our seam bowler was struggling with stiffness and he sorted out the problem in no time,” says Irons.
Braam studied physical treaining , everything he knows comes from coding and hours of working with players, trial and error, information he has gathered over time.
“I develop things I don’t copy and it all comes from working with 100s of young boys as well as professionals.,”
“St Charles is a great establishment, it’s in pristine condition and I was always made to feel very welcome by the staff, you want to be part of it, I learnt this when St Charles hosted our Investec Rugby Academy courses in PMB.”
The name Braam van Straaten is internationally known, so it’s a big name in terms of publicity for Saints.
But that’s not why they employed him.
“What attracted us was watching how Braam ignited the passion in the young boys at the Investec Academy and his ability to get the boys to believe in their capabilities, which is aligned with the ethos of St Charles College,” says Irons.
“Another attraction is Braam is a trained teacher so all he does comes from an educational perspective and that is important to us,” adds Irons.
Braam believes his priority is instilling in his boys an understanding of the game, this is what gives him satisfaction.
“I see myself as a technical performance coach who enables the player to understand why it is he is being asked to do what the coach asks of him.”
Rowan sees Braam’s task as contributing to bringing St Charles College’s winter sports up to the level that is currently being enjoyed by the summer sports.
“We also want to keep the focus on education through sport and with the processes Braam brings and his attention to detail we have goals that don’t just stop in PMB – it’s a process that we are committed to and excited about.”
Braam believes if players get the correct information it eliminates a whole heap, of time wasted on the training field.
“Things can change very quickly in a team – and a school – we’re looking to hit the ground running at St Charles. I’ve been fortunate to coach all around the world, and learn from some of the best coaches so if you instil a belief, for me it’s not about a five year plan it’s about getting it right from the word go and I have done this before in just 10 sessions.
“I have taken a team within a 10-session period and as a sa-schoolsports.co.za first XV ranked 90th in SA and they have beaten a school first XV ranked 12th in the country , it was this year, Northern Cape versus Diamantveld on their derby day 32-17.”
That speaks volumes for the calibre of coach and mentor St Charles College have at their disposal.
“It is about progression from session to session rather than week to week or month to month, with the correct information it can happen a lot quicker.
“You can change something in a three-hour period, that is what I have learnt in 12 years of coaching, you have to get the young player to understand why they are doing it, they have to understand the logic of the skill and what the benefit of doing that drill is going to give them.”
This is what gives a lesser-profile school’s players the self-belief necessary to beat a high school far more highly regarded .
“I am a firm believer that in SA we have not given the players the technical know-how of playing what they see in front of them; ability is born and not coached, but that natural ability can mask the fact that every player who has aspirations must learn the why of what he is doing.”
Van Straaten has developed an athlete profile that reveals the perception the players have of their knowledge base.
“ I think a fault in SA is that we over-complicate things, we need to break it down and simplify the process, to get the players to understand why they are doing what they are doing.”
The five schools in one that is St Charles College means that much of Braam’s focus will be on the junior school section.
“Analysis and feedback on a day to day basis is essential.”
Van Straaten says rugby teaches a player life lessons that he can take with him in his day to day life,.
“Rugby is the sport that teaches you so much about life, it taught me everything I need to know;, we need to find what makes St Charles College special, we want to inspire young boys to be better people, better rugby players and better athletes.”
It is clear that St Charles rugby is on the right track and in Braam van Straaten they have the strategist with the technical and practical knowledge to steer the school into a bright new rugby era.
Ryan Kyle wears the cap well
JONO COOK talks to Maritzburg College first XV head coach Ryan Kyle
The surnames Kyle and Thompson have been regular occurrences in Maritzburg College first XV team sheets since the 1960s and one of the brotherhood, Ryan Kyle, is head coach of the school’s premier team this year.
Ever since Ryan Kyle can remember, there have been stories swopped and tales told amongst his worthy band of kith and kin who have represented the Red, Black and White’s first XV on the fabled turf at Goldstones, Maritzburg College .
“As a family, the Kyle and Thompson clan have been blessed with the memories and opportunities that College provided. It’s wonderful to reminisce on family holidays of each one’s memories, memories that we all talk about with such gratification. Maritzburg College is close to all of us.”
No less than 12 members of the family played for the Maritzburg College first XV. Ryan’s uncle Rodney, a front-ranker, was the first of the clan to earn the much-coveted White Badge on his jersey. The 11 that followed were either flanks or wings – a remarkable statistic.
Ryan Kyle played on the wing for the Maritzburg College first team in 2000, “the year that College went to New Zealand, winning all seven tour games, under the watchful eye of Messrs Dave Anderson, Lance Veenstra and Bruce Collocott, great rugby men from whom I learnt a lot”.
So, he personally understands what that recognition means, taking the field for the first XV.
“It is a great honour to have been appointed to coach this team; it is an institution that many hold so dear. It is a massive responsibility and one that I looked forward to tackling from the outset. We have a team of passionate coaches and medical staff that all have the same objective – to see the team succeed. The urge to do well and the commitment to this cause is something that drives me.
“Like I said to the players, wearing the Red, Black, and White jersey and the White badge and representing so many current College boys – and the ones that have gone before – is one of the biggest privileges and responsibilities a College boy or coach could have. It’s a team effort.”
So, what is Ryan Kyle’s coaching pedigree?
“I am a World Rugby Educator and have an IRB [International Rugby Board] level 2 coaching qualification. I have coached the Maritzburg College U15A team for two seasons, coached the Southern KZN U21 side for two seasons, was the assistant coach of the KZN U18 Country Districts’ team in 2013 and the head coach of the same side in 2014.
“I have coached 7’s teams to Mauritius as well as assisted with a SA Platteland U19 side that toured the UK in 2011. I coached my previous school’s 1st XV, Creston College, for six years.”
Ryan Kyle is much more than “just” the Maritzburg College first XV head coach – he follows the tradition of teacher/coaches. It is a tradition that appears to be on the way out at many schools.
What is his opinion on the merits and pitfalls of what are essentially, two different job descriptions? There are surely positives and negatives in each case?
I have always had a real love for teaching and it is something that I really enjoy doing. As school sport has become so professional, many don’t see the two working hand in hand. For me it’s really important to interact in the classroom with the boys who I coach in the afternoon. You get such a better understanding of the whole player and not just the boy who rocks up and practices in the afternoon. It is a very busy program and you have to juggle it effectively. I still feel though that you have a more holistic understanding of your players when you also teach them.”
A gentleman in the finest tradition, Ryan is also a geography teacher, the admissions PRO, a life orientation teacher, and a boarder master at Hudson House. A husband and father, too.
How does he fit it all in?
“I am very fortunate that my wife is exceptionally supportive of my career and she has really involved herself in her support of what I do. My kids have grown up next to the rugby field and they absolutely love the game. It’s a very fine balance, I am after all a husband and father first. Education and coaching is a calling, these young players become like your own kids. It’s a real privilege to try and build into their lives.”
In 2015, under then Maritzburg College first XV head coach Francois Lubbe, and again in 2016 under Kevin Smith, Ryan Kyle assisted on the sideline during games.
“We are all passionate rugby chaps and it was wonderful to have been able to assist with calls and general game management on Saturdays. It allowed Francois and Kevin to work through me to the players on the field. I really enjoyed this role. The excitement on Saturday afternoons and the passion during the games are memories I will savour.”
Pre-season plays an important role in readying body and mind for the challenges ahead. How did College approach their pre-season and who was involved?
“The pre-season went well. The players had a positive approach to all their training. They worked very hard during the December holidays on the areas that needed work. Our biokineticist, Jason Greeff, does a great job with the boys’ conditioning. We also brought in an American sprint coach, Chris White, who worked with the boys’ running and sprinting technique on Friday afternoons.”
Is Chris also involved during the actual season?
“Our programme is just so full so we have to balance out our training effectively. I would really like to see athletics become a priority amongst KZN schools again. I firmly believe that athletics and rugby complement each other so well. We are hoping to involve Chris White more and more into the future. We are also really lucky to have an IAAF athletics stadium going up 50m from the school and we hope to make good use of the facility.
“There were some very hot days during pre-season training in the first term, which the boys wanted to work through. It indicated a positive attitude amongst the players. As a coach, that player positivity is exciting to work with.”
So how well has Ryan Kyle managed to gel with his first team squad players?
“I have really enjoyed my time with the team. We have training sessions, gym sessions and video sessions which take up 5 afternoons of the week, so I have got to know them all really well. It’s important to understand that there are 15 different characters and that in order to get the best out of each player one needs to know each individual well. It’s a real brotherhood. It’s often a very nostalgic feeling for me and often brings back fond memories of my time here almost 20 years ago.”
Given the non-negotiable commitment of his players, a coach in the Ryan Kyle mould will give them every possible chance to succeed.
Every coach worth his salt is not afraid to call on outside expertise, when needs be. Indeed, it is as much the people in supporting roles who give the head coach the space, time and opportunity to make his mark.
“Kevin Smith is our director of rugby and is always willing to assist. Tim Orchard, who has been coaching at College for many years, is our forwards coach. He did a great job with the forwards in 2016 and I have enjoyed working with him this season – he is a proud College rugby man. Cameron Fraser, our backline coach, coached the second XV last year. He had a good season with them. He is also the KZN Country Districts backline coach and is a real student of the game.
“Our support team includes our bio, Jason Greeff, who I previously mentioned, as well as our physios, Mike Denton and Kent Yateman, who do a great job in keeping the players on the park.”
As to the available talent this year – and whether it is harvesting its potential at this stage of the season?
“Our aim has been to ensure that the players have the tools they need. So much of where success comes from emanates from having the correct mindset and attitude. The players are extremely motivated to succeed. I believe these ingredients enable the boys to perform at their best.
“Maritzburg College rugby has always prided itself on a very hardnosed, no-nonsense forward dominated game which allowed the backs to get ball on the front foot and score tries. If we get good ball to our backs we have the skill and explosive arsenal to score tries.
“We take each game as it comes, concentrating on how we want to execute our game plan against the team in front of us. Having said that, every coach’s ideal is to dominate upfront and allow the backs to exploit that dominance.”
As many a coach will tell you, executive and administrative support is critical to on-field success, so does the Maritzburg College executive provide Kyle with the necessary backing to secure a strong base?
“I have always received the backing that I need from the executive. They are very supportive and I have appreciated that. Many of them are also passionate sportsmen and women, and are genuinely interested in the wellbeing of rugby and all sports at College.”
At the time of writing, in mid-May – following the meritorious 49-31 victory over long-time rivals Michaelhouse on Maritzburg College’s much-celebrated annual Reunion Day – the Red, Black and White’s first XV had played eight matches, won five and lost three.
That first official match of the 2017 season, Grey College – on Goldstones on the last Saturday of March – it doesn’t come any bigger… and there was talk amongst schoolboy rugby fans that perhaps the timing wasn’t ideal.
In terms of result, Grey won 30-3, but in the greater scheme of things did the scheduling of the fixture at that early stage of the Maritzburg College season bring more positives than negatives?
“We often play Grey at either the beginning or right at the end of the season. They are a wonderful rugby school and their rugby history speaks for itself. We want to test ourselves against the best and for us the timing of the game this year gave us a good indication of what we needed to work on for the rest of season.”
Next up was the St Stithians Easter Festival during the April holidays.
Ahead of the season, Kyle had said he was excited about the different challenges his men in Red, Black and White would face: “Every game is a fresh challenge and our focus centres on controlling what we can control. This approach allows us the opportunity to be the best we can be.”
Looking back, did the Saints Fest deliver the hoped-for outcomes?
“Absolutely, festivals allow you to test the depth of your squad and it’s a great time to build some spirit in the camp before the full season starts. We enjoyed our time at Saints and found full value in what we wanted to achieve there.”
Northwood and Pretoria Boys’ High were consecutive away matches successfully negotiated before hundreds of Maritzburg College boys and scores of staff trekked up to Johannesburg and the annual fixtures with their friends at King Edward VII School (KES).
Those three matches, an overall impression please coach?
“Our fixture against Northwood was played under lights during the week. It was a great experience for the players who don’t often get the opportunity to play a night game. We played well and scored some well worked tries. We did a lot of travelling to the Highveld at the start of the season and we knew that Pretoria Boys High would be tough, especially at home. Both schools share a similar ethos and its one of our highlights during the season. We were down 10-19 at one stage but did well to finish the game strongly, winning 36-24. It was then up to Johannesburg to take on our friends at KES. They are having a wonderful season and we knew it would be a great challenge. We were up at half time but unfortunately ran out of steam right at the end, KES running out deserved winners.”
* Then it is DHS plus the rest of the fixtures – Hilton College on Goldstones at the end of May followed by Westville at home in early June and a set of away matches versus Kearsney College and Glenwood before the July holidays break.
The season wraps up in the third term with Affies in Pretoria, before Pretoria Boys’ and KES at home, the Skonk Nicholson 7’s on August 19 bringing the curtain down on the 2017 Maritzburg College rugby year.
One can only wish the thoroughly likeable Ryan Kyle and his team everything of the best for the rest of the season.
********
A family’s association with the Maritzburg College first XV
The Kyle/Thompson dozen who played matches for the 1st XV in their day:
Rodney Thompson (Uncle) – 66&67 (Natal Schools) Prop
Geoff Thompson 69/70 Flank
Colin Kyle (Uncle) – 65,66&67 (Natal Schools) Wing
Peter Kyle (Father) – 73&74 (Natal Schools) Wing
Malcom Thompson (Uncle) – 73&74 (SA Schools) Flank
Bash Kyle (Uncle) – 75&76 (Natal Schools) Captain Flank
Mark Kyle (Cousin) – 93 (Natal Schools) Wing
Roger Thompson (Cousin) – 93 Flank
Barry Kyle (Cousin) – 94&95 Wing
Brad Thompson (Cousin) – 96 Flank
Ryan Kyle – 2000 Wing
Shawn Kyle (Cousin) – 01 Flank
Athletics makes better rugby players
The outstanding performances of the KZN U16 and U18 rugby teams at Grant Khomo and Coca-Cola Craven Week this year were exceptions to the generally disappointing performances over the past number of years.
In one-on-one situations the boys from outside KZN over the years have generally appeared to have the upper hand on their KwaZulu-Natalian counterparts.
Why is this? One man who has experience from inside the KZN enclave and on the Highveld strongly believes (and he is not alone among KZN schoolboy rugby aficionados) it is due to the fact that those provinces such as the Western Cape and Gauteng placing a greater emphasis on the athletics sports code produce better rugby players as a rule. Affies, Waterkloof, Menlo Park, Paarl Boys, Paarl Gim, Grey College etc.
Ruan Lombard played scrumhalf for Affies (Die Witbulle), has a degree in sports psychology from UJ, is head of physical education at Maritzburg College and was the MC U16A rugby head coach in 2017. Next year he moves to DHS where teaching mathematics and coaching the U16A are his initial priorities.
“Going back a bit, if you look at Springbok Fourie du Preez… (who became one of the greatest scrumhalves in the world). Before playing for the Witbulle it was said that he was too slow to get higher honours in rugby … so during the December holidays he did speed work with the athletes and that helped him (achieve at Affies and thereafter). Another bloke is Bulls and Bokke number eight Pierre Spies… Pierre Schoeman and Jean Schoeman, the Sharks and Bulls front-rankers, both did shot put at school.
Ruan Lombard continues: “You can see the difference on the rugby field. In my matric year (2008) both our wings ran 10.4 and 10.9 respectively for the 100m event and our 8th man Hendrik Hoogenboezem was part of the relay team. Our one centre was the javelin champion. That’s just to name a few. Affies prides itself on its 100m relay sprint teams and so this filters through onto the rugby field.”
Ruan says athletics, particularly in the first school term gives boys a physical, mental and emotional self-confidence, self-discipline to tackle the rigours of the looming rugby season – and this can be applied to boys in the other major winter sports codes, hockey and soccer.
“Athletics is all about competition, it’s a breeding ground for mental- and self-discipline. In Gauteng, for example the Inter-High Athletics we have 25 schools coming to watch, you want to be the best. This can be done in the KZN capital and midlands, as well as the Durban region. Then a KZN Athletics Day bringing the best together… then the community gets involved, they become hugely popular calendar events.”
The 100m, 200m track events and long jump are focus areas for the backline rugby players and possibly one or two loose forwards; maybe the 400m to 800 and 1500m for stamina in the case of certain rugby players and positions; the field events like shot put, discus, javelin for the front-rankers and locks plus plus…
“They help rugby players and those in other sports codes develop agility, balance, their speedwork… Once you go into the rugby or hockey season the difference now is that your speedwork, agility etcetera is already done (and it’s not just “boring” shuttle runs and the like). Mentally you are in a good place too. Allied with a good conditioning programme in the gym, it instills so much physical and mental positivity, discipline in the boys before the rugby\hockey season even starts. Then it’s a case of skills work with ball or stick in hand, the rest of pre-season is already done.”
Ruan says KZN lacks this focus and it needs to be promoted in the interests of all sports codes as it will deliver more consistent performances for KZN at national weeks.
“I think (2017 KZN and SA Schools centre) Conan le Fleur is a Western Cape boy who came to Glenwood in KZN. His first tackle… on the Blue Bulls centre… set the tone for the KZN win and set them up for a successful Craven Week. It is also important to instil a sense of fun into the pre-season… the athletics can do this. If you push the boys there has to be a reason behind it. In KZN the rugby boys often wait for the coach to give them extra work. You want the boys to ask for a bag of balls, to want to train on their own… Fez Mbatha the KZN and SA Schools hooker from Maritzburg College is one who did so and he reaped the rewards.”
Maritzburg College biokineticist Jason Greeff is in full agreement: “It’s all about running mechanics in many sports codes – and that is where athletics coaching comes in … most boys haven’t been taught from a young age how to run efficiently, so from a bio-mechanical point of view more emphasis on athletics in the first term will aid speedwork, fitness and injury prevention, the benefits will cross-over into rugby, hockey and football, to name just three.”
One school in particular is perfectly placed to benefit from the opportunities that athletics in the first term brings to the major winter sports codes.
Maritzburg College deputy headmaster co-curricular Brandon Swart said that the almost-completed world-class athletics stadium across the road from the school will add exponential value.
“Our athletics season has been moved from the third to the first term primarily to better position our school championship athletics event but the spin-off this is going to bring to all our sports codes, especially those in pre-season like rugby and hockey is going to be tremendous. So whilst these boys are going to be having heats and training towards the school athletics championships it’s also going to assist their speed training, their sprint training, running styles for all the other codes and this is going to improve our other sports codes without us even realising it.”
Swart said the new athletics stadium is also a springboard for revitalising athletics in the region. “The stadium is of world-class standard … the tartan track, the facilities will allow our coaches to expand on their ability to coach but also it means that athletics can run concurrently to everything else we are doing, so there is no longer any need to take out two grass hockey fields or a cricket field to paint in an athletics track, as in the past.
“We no longer have to force the athletics programme into a space, it now can happen naturally and that’s what this facility literally across the road from Maritzburg College provides for us.
And the advantages of this new athletics stadium to the greater KZN capital and midlands community of schools speaks for itself.