EASTERN Province Craven Week rugby captain Johann van Niekerk is relishing the challenge the team faces in July, but knows the heat will be on them after a good record in previous age-group tournaments.
The 18-year-old Grey High headboy, who plays on the flank, will spearhead EP's challenge in the annual schools tournament to take place in Middelburg, Gauteng, from July 14-19.
Talented Daniel Pienaar centre Heino Bezuidenhout, 17, is his deputy.
The EP Country Districts side to play in the same tournament will be captained by Marlow eightman Luigi van Jaarsveld, but the squad has been hit by the unavailability of St Andrew's players.
St Andrew's director of rugby Allan Miles, who will coach the EPCD side, said yesterday there had been a clash of dates between the Craven Week and the school's education programme.
"Our matrics will be writing exams during Craven Week which they simply cannot miss and unfortunately we had to withdraw our players [there are 13 matrics in the St Andrew's first 15] from the trials for this year," Miles said.
Looking ahead to the week, Van Niekerk said there would be some pressure due to their unbeaten efforts in previous age-group tournaments.
"This group of players have been unbeaten at these tournaments since the U12 week, so there will be quite a bit of pressure on us," Van Niekerk, who also played in last year's Craven Week, said.
"But I believe it is a good side with lots of potential so we will be aiming to put ourselves in the running to play the final match."
Although there is no formal competition, the final match on the Saturday programme is generally contested between the best two teams of the week, as decided by the organising committee selection panel.
Bezuidenhout will be making his first appearance at the Craven Week after turning out for the EP U16 team in the Grant Khomo Week last year.
He said it was a privilege as an U17 player to be included in the Craven Week squad and to have been named vice-captain.
"My aim for the week is for us to play as a team," Bezuidenhout said.
He acknowledged that the opening game against the Blue Bulls, to be played on the second day of the week, would be a tough clash.
"The Blue Bulls are not an easy team to beat but the EP players are not frightened of any side," he said. "We will just go out there and do our best on the day."
Exciting Muir centre Lunathi Nxele was delighted with his selection after not expecting to make the final cut.
"It meant a lot to me ... Making [the squad] is a huge honour and I will take this opportunity with both hands."
Van Niekerk said he was excited about playing in a team with players they often saw as rivals.
"Every Saturday there is that intense rivalry and you think how good some of your opponents are," he said. "This is a great chance to play with them."
ýThe dates for the weeks are:
July 7-10: U16 Grant Khomo Week, Pretoria; U18 Academy Week, Wellington
July 14-19: U18 Craven Week, Middelburg (Gauteng). EP Craven Week squads EP Craven Week: Keanu Vers (Grey), Athi Mayinje (Grey), Jeremy Ward (Grey), Heino Bezuidenhout (Daniel Pienaar, vice-capt), Darren Lottering (Humansdorp), Curwin Bosch (Grey), Rouche Nel (Framesby), Junior Pokomela (Grey), Johann van Niekerk (Grey, capt), SF Nieuwoudt (Framesby), Wihan Coetzer (Framesby), Stephan Janse van Vuuren (Brandwag), Erich de Jager (Brandwag), Alandre van Rooyen (Nico Malan), Lupumlo Mguca (Daniel Pienaar), Robin Stevens (Grey), Kaden Prince (Brandwag), Roche van Zyl (Framesby), Morney Moos (Brandwag), Nathan Augustus (Pearson), Tiaan Stander (Framesby), Lunathi Nxele (Muir). Coach: Louis Gerber (Framesby )
EPCD Craven Week: X Vos (Graeme), A le Roux (HLM), NJ Oosthuizen (Marlow), H Viljoen (Marlow), P Crouse (Volkskool), I Strauss (Volkskool), E Joubert (Gill), L van Jaarsveld (Marlow, captain) C Williams (Graeme), J Shelly (Kingswood), K Ansa (Union), C Hertz (Kingswood), D Cameron (Kingswood, vice-capt) F Mapaling (Graeme), B Christian (Graeme), JP Barkhuizen (Port Alfred), MC van Damme (BKS), M Mboxwana (Cradock High), E September (Graeme), R Calitz (Graeme), T van Solms (Volkskool), J Twum-Boafo (Graeme). Coach Allan Miles (SAC)
EP Academy: Duwayne Baartman (Pearson), Nkosi Ntebe (Pearson), Tiaan Lourens (Framesby), Malan Marais (Framesby), Mohammed Connely (Grey), Denver Klue (Daniel Pienaar, capt), Luciano Grootboom (Daniel Pienaar), Dean van der Westhuizen (Nico Malan, vice-capt), Xolisa Matshoba (Pearson), Duan du Plessis (Daniel Pienaar), Michael de Marco (Grey), Kamva Dilima (Grey), Siwe Masoziwe (Newton Tech), Andre Lategan (Framesby), Luthando Fini (Pearson), Josh Mudrovcic (Grey), Matthew Howes (Grey), Pierre Janicke (Nico Malan), Mihlali Mosi (Muir), Yomalela Keswa (Muir), Darren Domingo (Nico Malan), Garrick Mattheus (Grey). Coach: Jaco Jansen van Rensburg (Pearson)
EPCD Academy: S Vulindlu (Cradock), Z Mpalisa (ANHS), A de Beer (Volkskool), A Cumming (HSM), F van der Westhuizen (Kingswood, capt) , R Kruger (Gill), L Thabaneng (HSM), D Louw (Volkskool), A Nkothani (BHS), J Lourens (Marlow ), G Flitoor (BHS), G Blom (Midlands Sec), Siya Siaw (Graeme, v-capt), S Mkaza (Temp), W Meaker (Gill), F Jordaan (Gill), M Ferreira (Marlow), K Tiya (BHS), F Roodt (Marlow), L Makinani (Union), A van Ster (Midlands), C Nel (BHS). Coach: Neil Schroeder
EP Grant Khomo Week (U16): T Mangwana (Kingswood), S Kluyts (Kirkwood), E Pieters (Kingswood), W Duckit (Framesby), C Thalrose (Grey) P Gunter (DP), Losaba (Kingswood), T Groenewald (Grey, capt), E Jantjies (HTS, v-capt), M Olivier (Brandwag), L Smith (HSS), S Mzanywa (Kingswood), S Njezula (Grey), C Lewis (Volkskool), H Pieterse (DP), H Gizler (Brandwag), S Sandi (SAC), Rikus van As (HSD), R Le Roux (Framesby), B Jonck (Nico Malan), V Isaacs (Marlow), A Halom (Kingswood).
- Neale Emslie