Muller and Uithaler named to captain SA Schools teams

Markus Muller (SA Schools) and Jeandre Uithaler (SA Schools ‘A’) will captain their respective sides in the annual clash between the cream of the crop in South Africa’s schoolboy rugby at Hoërskool Middelburg in Mpumalanga on Thursday afternoon (3pm kick-off).

Muller, centre from Western Province and Paarl Gimnasium, will lead the team running out in green and gold, while the Uithaler, the Golden Lions and Noorheuwel’s flyhalf, will run in front of the team in the alternative white and green strip.

With Josh Neill being ruled out of action for the encounter, only seven players from last year’s teams will feature again.

Muller will be joined in the SA Schools matchday squad by lock AJ Meyer (Grey College), centre Ethan Adams (Grey College), fullback Zekhethelo Siyaya (Westville) and replacement prop Jordan Jooste (Paarl Boys High).

André Poulton (prop, Jeppe) and Briint Davids (flanker, Milnerton) are the two returning players in the SA Schools ‘A’ starting team.

Quinton Potgieter (replacement flanker, Paarl Gimnasium) has taken Neill’s place in the SA Schools team, with his place in the ‘A’ squad going to Elwin Janse van Vuuren of Affies.

Ian Schwartz, SA Rugby's General Manager for Participation and Development, urged the players to make the most of this opportunity to showcase their talent.

“We celebrate not just the talent on the field but the journey that brought them here. This fixture is more than a match – it’s a showcase of South Africa’s schools rugby depth, resilience and promise,” said Schwartz.

“These teams represt the best of the best that were in action at the FNB U18 Craven Week and we can’t wait to see them in action, with the Under-18 International Series on the horizon.

“No less than seven players who were in the SA Schools team last year, are now part of the Junior Bok squad at the World Rugby U20 Championship in Italy – Cheswill Jooste, Riley Norton, Siphosethu Mnebelele, Phiwayinkosi ‘Rambo’ Kubheka, Oliver Reid, Vusi Moyo and Alzeadon Felix – and this is where they took their first steps in green and gold.

“All of these players are part of our Elite Player Development (EPD) programme and to see them in action on Thursday, will be just reward for all the hard work done by our EPD structures in SA Rugby ecosystem, as well as the SA Schools Selectors.

“They have selected two squads of highly talented players but even for those who didn’t make the squads, the doors will never be closed and I want to urge all our youngsters to never give up on chasing their dreams. Let this match be a celebration of growth, grit, and greatness. The pathway may differ, but the destination is shared.”

SA Schools starting XV: 15 Zekhethelo Siyaya (Sharks / Westville Boys High), 14 Junaide Stuart (Blue Bulls / Garsfontein HS), 13 Ethan Adams (Free State / Grey College), 12 Markus Muller (captain, Western Province / Paarl Gimnasium), 11 Jadrian Afrikaner (Sharks / Westville Boys High); 10 Liyema Nela (Sharks / Hilton College), 9 Morne Noble (Western Province / Wynberg Boys High); 8 Jacobus de Villiers (SWD / Oakdale), 7 Wasi Vyambwera (Sharks / Maritzburg College), 6 Chinedu Amadi (Golden Lions / King Edward VII); 5 AJ Meyer (Free State / Grey College), 4 Lwandile Mlaba (Sharks / Westville Boys High); 3 Luan van der Berg (Blue Bulls / Garsfontein), 2 Altus Rabe (Western Province / Paul Roos Gymnasium), 1 Kai Pratt (SWD / Oakdale). Replacements: 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 Quintin Potgieter (Western Province / Paarl Gimnasium), 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’ starting XV: 15 Junade Pasensie (Blue Bulls / Garsfontein HS), 14 Lucritia Magua (Eastern Province / Graeme College), 13 Erin Nelson (Eastern Province / Graeme College), 12 Christian Vorster (SWD / Oakdale), 11 Ncuthu Kepe (Border / Queens College); 10 Jeandre Uithaler (captain, Golden Lions / Noordheuwel HS), 9 Jayden Brits (Western Province / Boland Landbou); 8 Stefan McDonald (Blue Bulls / Affies), 7 Briint Davids (Western Province / Milnerton HS), 6 Caleb Koeberg (Western Province / Paul Roos Gymnasium); 5 Lian Terblanche (Sharks / Northwood HS), 4 Diaan Augustyn (SWD / Oakdale); 3 Bernhard du Toit (Western Province / Paarl Boys High), 2 Keenan Myners (SWD / Outeniqua HS), 1 Andre Poulton (Golden Lions / Jeppe). Replacements: 16 Thomas Muller (Western Province / Paarl Boys High), 17 Jeffrey Singo (Blue Bulls / Pretoria Boys High), 18 JG Badenhorst (Free State / Grey College), 19 Juvan Burden (Western Province / Stellenberg HS), 20 Elwin Janse van Vuuren (Blue Bulls / Affies), 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).