SA Rugby have announced the dates and venues for this year’s editions of the Under-18 Craven Week, U16 Grant Khomo Week, and Girls Weeks for U18s and U16s.
The four Youth Week tournaments will take place in George, Stellenbosch and Johannesburg during the mid-year school holidays, from 26 June to 14 July.
The Youth Weeks programme will start with the U16 Grant Khomo Week at Paul Roos Gymnasium’s Markötter Fields in Stellenbosch, which will be followed fromby the U18 Craven Week at Hoërskool Outeniqua in George.
The programme will conclude with the two Girls Weeks, which will run simultaneously at Jeppe High in Johannesburg.
SA Rugby CEO Rian Oberholzer on Friday said it was good for the governing body to host these Youth Weeks, as they were a key component in the Elite Player Development (EPD) pathway.
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“The SA Rugby Youth Weeks returned last year after a two-year interruption due to the Covid-19 pandemic and it was amazing to see the excitement amongst our best schools’ players to represent their provinces,” said Oberholzer.
“This year, we are hosting the four Youth Weeks at schools who have a rich history in South African rugby, and we are grateful to these institutions, their provincial unions and the local organising committees for their assistance.
“We are still under financial strain, which means we can’t host all seven of our traditional Youth Weeks, but plans have been made to ensure as many players as possible get the opportunity to don their provincial colours.”
The South African Schools Rugby Association (SASRA), in cooperation with the relevant provincial schools’ bodies, will organize the the U18 Academy Week (Johannesburg), U13 Craven Week (Pietermaritzburg) and the LSEN Week (Welkom).
Youth Weeks programme 2023:
U16 Grant Khomo Week:
Venue: Paul Roos Gymnasium, Stellenbosch
Date: 26-30 June
U18 Craven Week:
Venue: Hoërskool Outeniqua, George
Date: 3-7 July
U16/U18 Girls Weeks
Venue: Jeppe High, Johannesburg
Date: 10-14 July
Photo: @YouthWeeks/Twitter