Star centre Markus Muller has been selected for the SA Schools team, but his Paarl Gim teammate, flank Quintin Potgieter, will have to be content with a spot in the SA Schools A side.

Both players have already signed contracts with the Stormers, but it was Muller who earned selection to the top team for the annual fixture in Middelburg on Thursday, 17 July.

Muller is one of eight players returning from last year’s squads, including Western Province teammates Josh Neill, Briint Davids and Jordan Jooste. Also back are Free State duo Ethan Adams and AJ Meyer, the Sharks’ Zekhethelo Siyaya and Lions flanker Andre Poulton.

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WP are the best-represented union with 20 players split between the two teams – eight in the SA Schools side and 12 in the A team.

The match between the two squads – a staple of the U18 Craven Week – will kick off at 3pm at Hoërskool Middelburg.

“Your hard work, dedication, and performance have earned you this honour, and we celebrate your achievement today,” said SA Rugby president Mark Alexander. “These young athletes represent the future of South African rugby … the road ahead is filled with possibilities.”

Border’s Lwazi Zangqa will coach the SA Schools team, assisted by the Bulls’ Cobus van Dyk. The A team will be led by the Sharks’ Flash Malinga, with WP’s Clinton van Rensburg as his assistant.

SA SCHOOLS –15 Zekhethelo Siyaya (Sharks/Westville Boys High), 14 Junaide Stuart (Blue Bulls/Garsfontein HS), 13 Ethan Adams (Free State/Grey College), 12 Markus Muller (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 Josh Neill (Western Province/Rondebosch Boys High), 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).
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 – 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 (Golden Lions/Noordheuwel HS), 9 Jayden Brits (Western Province/Boland Landbou), 8 Stefan McDonald (Blue Bulls/Affies), 7 Quintin Potgieter (Western Province/Paarl Gimnasium), 6 Caleb Koeberg (Western Province/Paul Roos Gymnasium), 5 Juvan Burden (Western Province/Stellenberg 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).
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).

Photo: Ashley Vlotman/Gallo Images