Kearsney to showcase SA's best U16 talent as FNB Youth Weeks kick off

South Africa's top junior players are set to light up the FNB U16 Grant Khomo Week and FNB U16 Girls Week tournaments staged at Kearsney College in KwaZulu-Natal next week, when 38 teams from across the country will converge on the town of Botha’s Hill near Durban.

In a change to the format used in previous years, both Under-16 tournaments will be staged at a single venue this year and will mark the start of SA Rugby’s annual Youth Weeks programme.

The two U18 weeks – the FNB U18 Craven Week and the FNB U18 Girls Week – will take place at Grey High School in Gqeberha from 6 to 11 July.

The FNB U16 Grant Khomo Week kicks off at Kearsney College on Monday morning, with the Blue Bulls XV tackling Kenya in the opening fixture.

The Blue Bulls and Sharks – who both recorded three wins at the 2025 tournament – will be in action later in the day when they face Eastern Province and the Golden Lions respectively.

A total of 22 teams will compete across the three match days, between 29 June and 3 July.

Meanwhile, the FNB U16 Girls Week will be staged at the same venue on alternate days, between 30 June and 4 July.

The Pumas will battle Border Country Districts at Kearsney College on Tuesday morning, while Western Province are set to tackle hosts KwaZulu-Natal later in the day.

The Opening Ceremony on Tuesday afternoon will be followed by a clash between the Golden Lions and Blue Bulls, who both finished the 2025 competition unbeaten.

Day one fixtures

FNB U16 Grant Khomo Week (Monday, 29 June)

8.30am: Blue Bulls XV v Kenya, B Field

9.30am: Griquas v Limpopo Blue Bulls, A Field

9.45am: Iqhawe v Border Country Districts, B Field

10.45am: South Western Districts v Free State, A Field

11am: Leopards v Valke, B Field

12pm: Western Province v Griffons, A Field

12.30pm: Border v Namibia, B Field

1.30pm: Blue Bulls v Eastern Province, A Field

1.45pm: Boland v Pumas, B Field

2.45pm: Sharks v Golden Lions, A Field

3pm: Sharks XV v Zimbabwe, B Field

FNB U16 Girls Week (Tuesday, 30 June)

9.30am: Pumas v Border Country Districts, A Field

9.30am: Griffons v Free State, B Field

10.45am: Border v Eastern Province, A Field

10.45am: Boland v Griquas, B Field

12pm: Western Province v KwaZulu-Natal, A Field

12h00: South Western Districts v Leopards, B Field

1.30pm: Opening Ceremony

2.30pm: Golden Lions v Blue Bulls, A Field

2.30pm: Limpopo Blue Bulls v Valke, B Field