The youngest members of the Kings Academy, Eastern Province Kings u19s, will begin their campaign against the Pumas u19s in Nelspruit tomorrow. The u19s are often a very tricky proposition as you never have any continuity from the previous year. One never knows what to expect from a different group. We can only hope that this group can go all the way in the competition. Head Coach Ryan Felix named a strong side for the 1st game.
The team has a number of schoolboys from Grey High School PE, with 4 of the starting XV having represented their high school Grey just last week against Selborne College, namely Matthew Alborough, Gerrit Huisamen, Stefan Ebersohn and JP Jamieson. Young scrumhalf Matthew Alborough and lock Stefan Ebersohn have already represented Eastern Province at the u18 Craven Week this year. The Grey PE influence is further added with 2 former Grey PE 1st XV players in reserve back Siviwe Bisset and right wing Phelo Mfini.
Matthew Moore who will captain the u19 side is also a former Eastern Province Craven Week player, having been educated in Uitenhage at Hoerskool Brandwag, one of the Eastern Cape’s top rugby schools. The big ball carrying front rower will look to lead from the front. He’s also tasked with the big duty of anchoring the scrum, a duty he’s thrived in before for the province at school level. His fellow front rower at loosehead, Lyle Lombaard, brings a bit of experience as well having already played for the u19 side last year as an 18 year old.
The relatively less known John Henry Smit is a young openside flanker from South Western Districts, he’s a former Oudtshoorn High School pupil and is a prospect the Kings are very excited about.
I in particular am looking forward to following the progress of Khanya Mzilikazi and Khaya Malotana who I’ve had the pleasure of watching over a number of years, perhaps a bit of a different prospect watching the man who used to be called “Chilli” at Queen’s on the wing. Mzilikazi was a small fiery hooker and flanker at Queen’s, I look forward to seeing how he does on the wing. Khaya Malotana was a fullback-wing-centre for Queen’s, blessed with tons of pace and rugby brain 2nd to none. His awareness makes him very dangerous and he’s a well-balanced runner which makes very him deceptive and a nightmare to defend against.
The Kings supporters would just like to wish the Kings u19s and their coaches Ryan and Rory all the best for their campaign as they seek to gain promotion. The Army is behind you.
EP Kings u19:
15: Khaya Malotana (Queen’s College)
14: Phelo Mfini (Grey High School, PE)
13: Sherwin Slater (Andrew Rabie High School)
12: Juandre Fourie (Marlow Landbou)
11: Khanya Mzilikazi (Queen’s College)
10: Warren Swartz (Stirling High School)
09: Matthew Alborough (Grey High School, PE)
08: Erwin Slabbert (Framesby High School)
07: Sabelo Sam (Newton Technical High School)
06: John Henry Smit (Oudtshoorn High School)
05: Gerrit Huisamen (Grey High School, PE)
04: Stefan Ebersohn (Grey High School, PE)
03: Matthew Moore (Brandwag)
02: JP Jamieson (Grey High School, PE)
01: Lyle Lombaard (Otto du Plessis)
Reserves:
16: Divan Nell (PJ Olivier)
17: Ruan de Jager (Framesby High School)
18: Pelser Hanekom (Daniel Pienaar)
19: Dewald Meyer (Otto du Plessis)
20: Roger Lewis (Cillie High School)
21: Mitchell Turner (Selborne College)
22: Siviwe Bisset (Grey High School, PE)
23: Wayburn Howley (Despatch High School)
HEAD COACH: Ryan Felix
ASSISTANT COACH: Rory Duncan
Ludumo Nkabi
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