Spear vs shield: SA Schools and SA Schools A teams ready for rugby showdown in Middelburg

There’s an ancient Chinese legend about a merchant who approached a warlord offering two valuable gifts for the chieftain's army to use in their conquests. One was a spear that could pierce any shield and the other a shield that could withstand any spear.

Already you must have noticed the absurdity of the merchant’s sales pitch.

This sales pitch gave rise to what is now known as the irresistible force paradox. This paradox, also known as the “spear and shield paradox”, stems from the incompatibility of these two ideas, as such items cannot both exist simultaneously. 

However, as complicated as that ancient conundrum is, the discerning rugby fan will, once again, relish  the opportunity to test the paradox on Thursday, July 17, when the SA Schools ‘A’ squad clashes with the SA Schools team in Middelburg in Mpumalanga.

The annual showpiece between the two sides will kick off at 3pm at Hoërskool Middelburg, hosts of the FNB Under-18 Craven Week.

Familiar faces return

Meanwhile, it was announced that eight players from last year's SA Schools squads have been included again in the two groups again this year.

Western Province’s Josh Neill, Markus Muller, Briint Davids, and Jordan Jooste, as well as Ethan Adams and AJ Meyer from Free State, the Sharks’ Zekhethelo Siyaya, and André Poulton of the Golden Lions, all of whom featured in 2024, were again included in the two squads of 26 players each.

The Cape must be doing something right, because Western Province have the most representatives in the two groups – eight players in the SA Schools team, and 12 in the SA Schools ‘A’ squad. 

Dissapointingly though, no Northern Cape players made the cut this time around.

The president’s congratulations and encouragement

President of SA Rugby Mark Alexander congratulated all the players selected for the SA Schools and SA Schools ‘A’ teams highlighting that their application and dedication was being rewarded.

“Your hard work, dedication, and performance have earned you this honour, and we celebrate your achievement today,” said Alexander.

“We also acknowledge those who missed out and remind you that your journey is far from over. Today we celebrate not only the selection of these teams, but the promise of a pathway that nurtures excellence, resilience, and opportunity.

“These young athletes represent the future of South African rugby, and while we honour those selected, we encourage every player to remain committed to their journey. The road ahead is filled with possibilities.”

Lwazi Zangqa from Border has been named as the head coach of the SA Schools side. He will be assisted by the Bulls’ Cobus van Dyk, while the SA Schools ‘A’ team will be coached by Flash Malinga of the Sharks, with Clinton van Rensburg of Western Province named as his assistant.

So with the forces lined up for battle, and the line drawn in the sand, the title of a song sung by Frank Sinatra in 1959 comes to mind. He crooned the track “Something’s Gotta Give”, and on Thursday, July 17, we’ll get to see if Ol’ Blue Eyes was right.

SA Schools squad:

1 Kai Pratt (SWD / Oakdale)

2 Altus Rabe (Western Province / Paul Roos Gymnasium)

3 Luan van der Berg (Blue Bulls / Garsfontein)

4 Lwandile Mlaba (Sharks / Westville Boys High)

5 AJ Meyer (Free State / Grey College)

6 Chinedu Amadi (Golden Lions / King Edward VII)

7 Josh Neill (Western Province / Rondebosch Boys High)

8 Jacobus de Villiers (SWD / Oakdale)

9 Morne Noble (Western Province / Wynberg Boys High)

10 Liyema Nela (Sharks / Hilton College)

11 Jadrian Afrikaner (Sharks / Westville Boys High)

12 Markus Muller (Western Province / Paarl Gimnasium)

13 Ethan Adams (Free State / Grey College)

14 Junaide Stuart (Blue Bulls / Garsfontein HS)

15 Zekhethelo Siyaya (Sharks / Westville Boys High)

16 Clinton Agu (Golden Lions / Noordheuwel HS)

17 Jordan Jooste (Western Province / Paarl Boys High)

18 Matthew van der Merwe (Western Province / Rondebosch Boys High)

19 Jayden Joubert (Western Province / Paarl Boys High)

20 Wasi Vyambwera (Sharks / Maritzburg College)

21 Gert Kemp (Western Province / Paul Roos Gymnasium)

22 Zirk Meyer (Blue Bulls / Affies)

23 Ruben Groenewald (Blue Bulls / Affies)

24 Nathan Aneke (Sharks / Durban High School)

25 Lamla Mgedezi (Free State / Grey College)

26 Thabiso Simelane (Blue Bulls / St. Albans College)

SA Schools ‘A’ squad:

1 Andre Poulton (Golden Lions / Jeppe)

2 Keenan Myners (SWD / Outeniqua HS)

3 Bernhard du Toit (Western Province / Paarl Boys High)

4 Diaan Augustyn (SWD / Oakdale)

5 Juvan Burden (Western Province / Stellenberg HS)

6 Caleb Koeberg (Western Province / Paul Roos Gymnasium)

7 Quintin Potgieter (Western Province / Paarl Gimnasium)

8 Stefan McDonald (Blue Bulls / Affies)

9 Jayden Brits (Western Province / Boland Landbou)

10 Jeandre Uithaler (Golden Lions / Noordheuwel HS)

11 Ncuthu Kepe (Border / Queens College)

12 Christian Vorster (SWD / Oakdale)

13 Erin Nelson (Eastern Province / Graeme College)

14 Lucritia Magua (Eastern Province / Graeme College)

15 Junade Pasensie (Blue Bulls / Garsfontein HS)

16 Thomas Muller (Western Province / Paarl Boys High)

17 Jeffrey Singo (Blue Bulls / Pretoria Boys High)

18 JG Badenhorst (Free State / Grey College)

19 Lian Terblanche (Sharks / Northwood HS)

20 Briint Davids (Western Province / Milnerton HS)

21 Mickyle Booise (Western Province / Paarl Gimnasium)

22 Ethan van Biljon (Western Province / Stellenberg HS)

23 Jeneall Davids (Western Province / Paarl Boys High)

24 Pieter Cilliers (Western Province / Paarl Gimnasium)

25 Toriq Schambreel (Free State / Grey College)

26 Jadon Ocks (Western Province / Boland Landbou) 

SA Schools 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’ 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)