Westville Boys’ High, after putting together a memorable first unbeaten 1st XV season in the school’s 70-year history, had three players named in the SA Schools team after the conclusion of the FNB Craven Week in Middelburg on Saturday. That is a record for the Griffin.
It was clear from very early in the season that fullback Zekhethelo Siyaya would be named in the SA Schools side for a second year in succession. His all-round game is outstanding and, although the Sharks were well beaten in their last match, going down 12-34 to Free State, just before the final whistle he showed just how dangerous he could be by ripping through their defences on the counterattack.
After fielding a ball on the Sharks’ 10m line, he beat an astonishing six would-be tacklers to race through to score a spectacular try under the uprights. It was astounding, but also not surprising. Siyaya has been on fire in 2025.
Jadrian Afrikaner, who ran out at outside centre for Westville, did duty on the left-wing, where he served the Sharks in 2024, too. He displayed superb finishing skills and a keen reading of the game to deservedly earn his call-up to the SA Schools side.
Up front, Wandile Mlaba was rewarded for his excellent ball skills and massive work rate, with the Westville lock earning a starting place in the second row for Thursday’s showdown against the SA Schools A team.
Hilton College captain Liyema Nela (feature photo) also cracked the nod in the starting XV, where he’ll don the primary playmaker’s number 10 jersey. An exciting, well-rounded player, he shows an excellent understanding of the game, and it was noticeable this season how much more of an expansive game Hilton played than in 2024.
If there was anything that needed work this season, it was his goal kicking, but that has come on in recent outings, adding a further weapon to his strong skills’ set.
The SA Schools’ bench includes two more Sharks, Maritzburg College‘s Wasi Vyambwera and Durban High School‘s Nathan Aneke.
Wyambwera, usually an 8th-man, brings versatility, physicality, and a strong engine to the pack, while Aneke offers silky smooth skills and a keen eye for a gap in the backline. He had, perhaps, the toughest task of all to earn selection, with Paarl Gimnasium‘s Markus Muller and Ethan Adams, of Grey College, both shoo-ins for the SA Schools’ centre pairing.
Northwood’s versatile Lian Terblanche, who has run out at lock and flank this season, was named on the bench of the SA Schools A side. They’ll be coached by the Sharks’ Flash Malinga.
The SA Schools side includes Kearsney College‘s Dean Moodley, as Manager, and Robin Williams, as the physiotherapist.
Apart from their loss to Free State, the Sharks also went down to the champions, Western Province, losing 13-45, while they beat Eastern Province 41-10 in their opener.
SA Schools squad
15 Zekhethelo Siyaya (Westville Boys’ High, Sharks), 14 Junaide Stuart (Garsfontein, Blue Bulls), 13 Ethan Adams (Grey College, Free State), 12 Markus Muller (Paarl Gimnasium, WP), 11 Jadrian Afrikaner (Westville Boys’ High, Sharks), 10 Liyema Nela (Hilton College, Sharks), 9 Morné Noble (Wynberg Boys’ High, WP), 8 Jacobus de Villiers (Oakdale Landbou, SWD), 7 Josh Neill (Rondebosch Boys’ High, WP), 6 Chinedu Amadi (King Edward VII, Lions), 5 AJ Meyer (Grey College, Free State), 4 Lwandile Mlaba (Westville Boys’ High, Sharks), 3 Luan van den Berg (Garsfontein, Blue Bulls), 2 Altus Rabe (Paul Roos Gimnasium, WP), 1 Kai Pratt (Oakdale Landbou, SWD). Replacements: 16 Clinton Agu (Noordheuwel, Lions), 17 Jordan Jooste (HJS Paarl, WP), 18 Matthew van der Merwe (HJS Paarl, WP), 19 Jayden Joubert (HJS Paarl, WP), 20 Wasi Vyambwera (Maritzburg College, Sharks), 21 Gert Kemp (Paul Roos Gimnasium, WP), 22 Zirk Meyer (Affies, Blue Bulls), 23 Ruben Groenewald (Affies, Blue Bulls), 24 Nathan Aneke (Durban High School, Sharks), 25 Lamla Mgedezi (Grey College, Free State), 26 Thabiso Simelane (St Alban’s College, Blue Bulls).
Management
Head Coach: Lwazi Zangqa (Border) | Assistant Coach: Cobus van Dyk (Blue Bulls) | Team Manager: Dean Moodley (Sharks) | Physiotherapist: Robin Williams (Sharks) | Conditioning Coach: Yaw Fosu-Amoah (Eastern Province) | Team Doctor: Dr Gershwin Kortje (Boland).
SA Schools A
15 Junade Pasensie (Garsfontein, Blue Bulls), 14 Lucritia Magau (Graeme College, EP), 13 Erin Nelson (Graeme College, EP), 12 Christian Vorster (Oakdale Landbou, SWD), 11 Ncuthu Kepe (Queen’s College, Border), 10 Jeandre Uithaler (Noordheuwel, Lions), 9 Jayden Brits (Boland Landbou, WP), 8 Stefan McDonald (Affies, Blue Bulls), 7 Quintin Potgieter (Paarl Gimnasium, WP), 6 Caleb Koeberg (Paul Roos Gimnasium, WP), 5 Juvan Burden (Stellenberg, WP), 4 Diaan Augustyn (Oakdale Landbou, SWD), 3 Bernhardt du Toit (HJS Paarl, WP), 2 Keenan Myners (Outeniqua, SWD), 1 Andre Poulton (Jeppe, Lions). Replacements: 16 Tommy Muller (HJS Paarl, WP), 17 Jeffrey Singo (Pretoria Boys’ High, Blue Bulls), 18 JG Badenhorst (Grey College, Free State), 19 Lian Terblanche (Northwood, Sharks), 20 Briint Davids (Milnerton, WP), 21 Mickyle Booise (Paarl Gimnasium, WP), 22 Ethan van Biljon (Stellenberg, WP), 23 Jeneall Davids (HJS Paarl, WP), 24 Pieta Cilliers (Paarl Gimnasium, WP), 25 Toriq Schambreel (Grey College, Free State), 26 Jadon Ocks (Boland Landbou, WP).
Management
Head Coach: Flash Malinga (Sharks) | Assistant Coach: Clinton van Rensburg (Western Province) | Team Manager: Mandla Madaka (Blue Bulls) | Physiotherapist: Rob Sims (Western Province) | Conditioning Coach: Adriaan Jansen (SWD) | Team Doctor: Dr Gershwin Kortje (Boland).
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