12 September 2025
KwaZulu-Natal (KZN) has named their boys’ teams for the 2025 Schools Water Polo South Africa (SWPSA) Inter-Provincial Tournament, which takes place in Johannesburg in December. The broad spread of selections across the province’s top schools underlines the growing strength and depth of the sport.
Clifton College leads the way. Between the u14, u15, u16, and u19 age groups, the Durban powerhouse has amassed 15 selections, including Caleb Malumbete, Jamie Nicolau, and Nathan Burger in the u19A team.
Hilton College follows with 13 players named, among them u19A reps, Sebastian Laudenberg and Andrew Schnell, while Kearsney College, who have been on the rise in recent years, accounted for 11 inclusions.
Michaelhouse, with seven, Northwood (five), and Durban High School (two) also feature, while Westville Boys’ High, surprisingly absent from the u19 squad, also contributes two players.
It marks a significant shift from only two years ago, when the senior side featured exclusively players from Clifton, Hilton, and Westville. In 2025, the number of schools that contributed to the u19A side has doubled, signalling a far more competitive and inclusive provincial structure.
The u19 side has its share of big names. DHS’s Head Boy, Kirk Wilson, an SA Schools’ player last year, is joined by his School teammate Adrian Truter.
Hilton contributes two in Andrew Schnell and Sebastian Laudenberg, while Michaelhouse is represented by Elliot Springate and Oliver Guy.
Northwood’s John Watkins and SA Schools’ selection Matthew Lortan add further quality, while Kearsney matches Clifton’s three-player tally in the squad through Oliver Ludwig, Thomas Aylward, and Thomas Francke.
While Hilton’s Tristan Uys, the Attacker of the Tournament at the 2024 SWPSA event, is unavailable, there remains no shortage of firepower and pedigree in the provincial lineup.
That depth runs through every age group. Clifton dominates the u16 team with five players, while Hilton and Kearsney contribute three each. Hilton and Clifton again feature strongly in the u15 squad, with four players each, while Kearsney has four players in the u14 lineup, with Clifton and Michaelhouse providing three players apiece.
The breadth of talent will encourage KZN as they seek to go one step further than last year’s runners-up finish. In 2024, they beat Central Gauteng in the group stages, lost to Western Province, and then turned the tables on Province in the semi-finals, only to fall narrowly in the final against Gauteng.
The margins were tight, and the class of 2025 will be eager to turn their promise into silverware, especially after an encouraging set of results last year, which included winning the u14 title.
Importantly, KZN has announced their squads early, giving coaches and players valuable time to prepare. With major tournaments still to come, including the Clifton Water Polo Tournament, from 24 to 28 September, the provincial players will have plenty of opportunities to sharpen their skills against top-class opposition.
The headline, though, is the spread of selections. Clifton may lead the way, Hilton and Kearsney remain strong, and Michaelhouse and Northwood continue to feed in quality, but the broader representation speaks to a healthy future for water polo in the province.
TEAMS
u19A
Adrian Truter (DHS), Andrew Schnell (Hilton), Caleb Malumbete (Clifton), Elliot Springate (Michaelhouse), Jamie Nicolau (Clifton), John Watkins (Northwood), Kirk Wilson (DHS), Matthew Lortan (Northwood), Nathan Burger (Clifton), Oliver Guy (Michaelhouse), Oliver Ludwig (Kearsney), Sebastian Laudenberg (Hilton), Thomas Aylward (Kearsney), Thomas Franke (Kearsney)
u16A
Ben Watson (Clifton), Bradley van Loggerenberg (Hilton), Daniel Nothard (Clifton), Henry Harker (Westville), Izah Roux (Clifton), Jake Frederic (Clifton), Jake Jones (Northwood), James Whatmore (Kearsney), Jed Reilly (Michaelhouse), Liam Casey (Hilton College), Lwango Ntantala (Hilton), Max Mills (Kearsney), Nabil Bejia (Clifton).
u15A
Benji Keeton (Hilton), Blake de Bruin (Northwood), Carter Seiler (Clifton), Casey Marks (Hilton), Christiano Sandri (Kearsney), Cruz Chapman (Clifton), Dru Mills (Kearsney), Everraud Raynard (Westville), Finn Mallet (Northwood), Josh Watson (Clifton), Lincoln Burger (Hilton), Maxwell Fowlds (Clifton), Mitchell Rodgers (Michaelhouse), Oliver Hunter (Hilton).
u14A
Andrew van Oenselen (Michaelhouse), Blake Gaines (Kearsney), Cai Terblanche (Kearsney), Cooper Morrison (Michaelhouse), Cruz Marks (Hilton), Jonty Mun-Gavin (Clifton), Luke Barendse (Hilton), Malachi Mogale (Hilton), Mason Allan (Kearsney), Matthew Warner (Hilton), Noah Brown (Clifton), Isaac Mvulana (Michaelhouse), Thomas Ludwig (Kearsney), Zach Loerens (Clifton).
Selections by School
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Clifton – 15
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Hilton – 12
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Kearsney – 10
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Michaelhouse – 7
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Northwood – 5
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DHS – 2
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Westville – 2
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