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South African schools show their class yet again in World Schools Festival
By Tom Parker
The quarter finals of the World School’s Festival in Thailand served some incredible drama for rugby fans today. Schools from South Africa shocked many with a perfect set of results in the main competition.
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The opening round of the cup saw some enticing encounters with the top teams from around the world clashing to see who can call themselves the best school’s side in the world.
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The opening game saw Eton College, currently ranked 6th in England by NextGenXV take on the formidable Dr E.G.Jansen from South Africa. From the onset, it was clear the South Africans had come to play, with early quickfire tries showing the strength and power of this side.
Despite some dogged defence from the Eton side, it was not enough to stop the Boksburg-based school from winning and putting a marker as one of the favourites to win this tournament.
Westlake Boys’ vs Hartpury College was undoubtedly the game of the day, with the latter initially opening up a decent lead against the school from Auckland.
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With just 5 minutes to go in the game, Westlake trailed by 12 points. However, the New Zealand side showed their class with a blockbuster finish to score a last minute try and level the game.
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As Westlake scored the first try in the game they went through to the semi finals of the Cup.
St Michael’s proved their pedigree as the top rugby side in Ireland with their comfortable victory over Rugby Travel Academy (South Africa). Dylan McNeice scored an impressive try in the second half.
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Michael’s will be now hoping to make the finals of the tournament on Sunday.
The final game of the day for the Cup tournament saw Oakdale from South Africa stun Cardiff and Vale from Wales in an epic encounter. The Welshmen put in a brave performance after they went down a man early on in the contest.
Oakdale set out their stall early on in the game.
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Going into the tournament, many rugby fans on social media didn’t give the South African sides much of a chance in the competition. This result shows their intention to prove those doubters wrong.
In 2022, Grey College went into the festival as favourites but lost to Hamilton Boys’ in the final.
Oakdale will be hoping to go one better and win the whole thing this season.
In the Girl’s Rugby 7’s the sides from Hartpury dominated with their Acorns and Oaks side putting in dominant performances.
Daisy Aspinall proved the hype around her with an incredible solo performance in both the matches she played in.
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None of the RSA teams strike me as even being in the top 5 even in RSA. So why we inviting only 2nd tier SA teams?
My kids primary school could beat Eton.
For this tournament to have any credibility the competition needs to have aged based teams play against each other. You can’t have the situation you had last year where an U16 team from Grey College played in the final against an U19 teams from the UK & NZ. The tournament lost all credibility in 2022.
Agree.
NZ first 15 comps are under 18 clown, has been that way since 2000s, unlike SA schools which are still u19. Secondly you cry u16 greys yet 10 of the starters are 17 years old closer to 18 lol, man you SA clowns like the make stuff up, if your a repeat year 13 at a NZ school 18 at the 1st jan turning 19 you can still play rugby for the school just not for the 1st 15 comps as there are alot of rules now, yes back in the 80s/90s early 2000s alot of 1st 15s were 19 years old thats all changed, it hasnt changed in SA.
You’ve got it wrong.
It was actually the Grey College u14 chess team that played vs the u23 Hamilton boys with 18 all blacks on the field.
There are no U19 sides in NZ schools. That’s not allowed in NZ. It’s just the best players from senior school. For example, Westlake is U18 but the vast majority of their players are U16 and U17. They also have U15 players out there which you wouldn’t get in SA sides.
Kind of rich maki g excuses after all the stick thrown at NZ for a minority of fans making excuses for the ABs losing the RWC final.
Not South Africa’s best schools, but they’re still doing great surprisingly.
Yeah I’m reading this wondering where are Affies, Grey Bloem, Paarl Boys etc