Eight Hollywoodbets Sharks junior players have been called up for the SA Rugby Under 19 Academy squad that is currently on tour to Europe ahead of a three-match series against French and Irish teams.
Amongst the 31 strong touring squad are five triumphant Junior Bok players who recently lifted the World Rugby Under 20 Championship trophy, including flyhalf Vusi Moyo.
The Academy squad is an important stepping stone to the World Champs next year and those named are expected to make up the bulk of the Junior Bok squad to travel to Georgia for next year’s global showpiece, expanded from 12 teams to 16 to boost the growth of the game internationally.
The Hollywoodbets Sharks Under 21s were recently crowned SA Rugby Under 21 Cup champions after their incredible 63-31 defeat of the Fidelity ADT Lions in the tournament’s final at Hollywoodbets Kings Park, while the Under 19s made it through to the knock-out round, sadly going down to eventual winners, the Vodacom Bulls Under 19s in the semi-final.
Junior structures are an incredibly important pillar in a franchise’s success, and given how well the junior players are operating on the big stage, it is clear that the Hollywoodbets Sharks are doing something right, and can look to reap the rewards of the investment into the age group teams in the years to come.
A 36-man squad was selected to train together, before being cut to 31 players who have travelled to France ahead of two matches there.
The SA U19 Academy squad had a contact session against a French Under 19 Invitational XV on Monday, ahead of the first of two international friendlies, against the French Under 19 side on Saturday and the Ireland U19 team on 14 November.
The Hollywoodbets Sharks junior players that were selected are props Phiwayinkosi Kubheka and Ulrich van der Merwe and hooker Liam van Wyk, with the only two flyhalves coming from Durban, Vusi Moyo and Luan Giliomee.
They are joined by centres Janco Purchase and Gregan Jansen and outside back Khuthadzo Rasivhaga who completes the Durban contingent.
