NPR

Chilli wrote: Thu Sep 07, 2023 10:48 am

OomStruisbaai wrote: Thu Sep 07, 2023 9:09 am

Chilli wrote: Thu Sep 07, 2023 8:44 am
So the Boland schools then.

Well the Boland schools gave Jake White KLA, Papier and a range of players through their structures. Their top rugby school (Bere) runs a scholarship for Boland boys to be scout

PRG, Gim, HJS & Landbou.
So all the good schools?

OomStruisbaai wrote: Thu Sep 07, 2023 10:54 am

Chilli wrote: Thu Sep 07, 2023 10:48 am

OomStruisbaai wrote: Thu Sep 07, 2023 9:09 am
Well the Boland schools gave Jake White KLA, Papier and a range of players through their structures. Their top rugby school (Bere) runs a scholarship for Boland boys to be scout

PRG, Gim, HJS & Landbou.
So all the good schools?

Its been like this since rugby started in SA. When Schalk Burger and Liefling were in matrix those schools except PRG played for Boland in Craven Week. It was a disaster. The Boland schools went ape shite. They dont want those schools, they had their own kingdom. Tipical......

average joe wrote: Thu Sep 28, 2023 1:58 pm To think Scara was once considered for the Boks.

OomStruisbaai wrote: Fri Oct 06, 2023 6:19 am Stormers vs Sharks warmup live stream
https://live.supersportschools.com/even ... 9847a939c/

assfly wrote: Fri Oct 06, 2023 6:31 am

OomStruisbaai wrote: Fri Oct 06, 2023 6:19 am Stormers vs Sharks warmup live stream
https://live.supersportschools.com/even ... 9847a939c/

What time is kick-off?

The doubleheader will get underway at Outeniqua Park at 15h30, when the first DHL Stormers XV take on the SWD Eagles.

A different combination will then take the field at 18h00 to face the Hollywoodbets Sharks.

Sandstorm wrote: Mon Dec 11, 2023 1:33 pm Irritated that our lineout is the weak link in our team this season. Wish the Stomps Management had recognised this and bought Marx and/or Etsebeth.

LoveOfTheGame wrote: Mon Dec 11, 2023 2:59 pm

Sandstorm wrote: Mon Dec 11, 2023 1:33 pm Irritated that our lineout is the weak link in our team this season. Wish the Stomps Management had recognised this and bought Marx and/or Etsebeth.

Didn't have the $$$. But aren't they trying their best to get RG for next season? Not very probable I guess.

OomStruisbaai wrote: Mon Dec 11, 2023 5:22 pm If we had Rudie Matthee for the URC tour we would had a few wins. The kid was superb against Pollard. He adopted better tothose conditions then Libbok have. They should have used him doing all the kicking.

assfly wrote: Wed Dec 13, 2023 5:56 am

OomStruisbaai wrote: Mon Dec 11, 2023 5:22 pm If we had Rudie Matthee for the URC tour we would had a few wins. The kid was superb against Pollard. He adopted better tothose conditions then Libbok have. They should have used him doing all the kicking.

He was very good, all things considered. There is something to be said for throwing kids in the deep-end, they don't seem to be scared.

Maties Rugby captain knows how to perform under pressure
14 Mar 2023 / rugby
The Maties Rugby captaincy means more to him than running first out of the tunnel, for Jurie Matthee it is the opportunity to make a difference in someone’s life.

“With the captaincy comes the responsibility to drive the team’s culture, set the standards and take the lead when the going gets tough. For me, however, the biggest opportunity with this platform is the one that gives me the privilege of making a real difference in a teammate’s life. Not only as a player, but also as an individual,” says Matthee, who made his senior debut for Maties in 2021.

The 22-year-old Matthee took over the captaincy from Gift Dlamini in just the second game of the FNB Varsity Cup series after Dlamini suffered a serious knee injury.

If you ask Matthee what makes his team special, he stops for a moment, this answer comes from his heart.

“It’s our fighting spirit. These guys don’t know about giving up. I’m not saying it always works out, but I know that my teammates won’t give up, no matter what happens. With that comes brotherhood. It is something that is unconditional. We accept each other for who each person is. We are aware of each other’s strengths and weaknesses, but that is not what we build on. Every player wants to improve on the field, but everyone also wants to reach their full potential as a person,” says Matthee.

Matthee obtained his BAccHons degree in 2022. On its own, this is already an exceptional achievement considering that it is one of Stellenbosch University’s most challenging programmes. However, Matthee did this while establishing himself as a first-choice player for Maties as well.

“There were those who said I wouldn’t be able to complete my BAcc degrees and play rugby for Maties…like my teammates, however, I wasn’t prepared to give up!” says Matthee, who played for the Maties Young Guns in 2020.

Other 2020 Young Guns teammates now in action for Maties in the Varsity Cup tournament include locks Juan Beukes and Thys Kitshoff, flank Simon Miller and scrumhalf Tom Bursey.

Matthee played his first Varsity Cup match in 2021 against UWC. It was in the bubble in Pretoria where the tournament took place due to the then Covid-19 restrictions. This year, Matthee made his mark right from the start as a role player for Maties in the unforgettable meeting with Ikeys in the opening game of the tournament.

When Matthee stepped up for the decisive kick of the match, one could not tell from his facial expression that the entire Maties Rugby structure – players and management – along with a filled to the rafters Danie Craven’s expectations rested on his right foot. After all, this is one of Matthee’s character traits as a player and leader: calmness under pressure.

The choice to come to Matieland was an easy one for Matthee, who matriculated at Paarl Gymnasium.

“My grandfather and father studied at Maties and stayed in Dagbreek. In later years, my cousins exposed me to residence rugby. I quickly developed a desire to experience this as well. I will be honest and add that my dream quickly became bigger than just playing residence rugby here at Maties. There is a romance about this town…”

John Dobson hailed the investment of the Red Disa Consortium as a historic moment for Western Province Rugby, but said the DHL Stormers have no intention of overhauling the squad with big-name signings.

Last week, it was confirmed that Red Disa’s equity deal in securing a controlling shareholding in WP Professional Rugby Pty Ltd had been approved by the South African Competition Commission.

The move is a major step forward in securing the financial future of the Stormers and moving WP Rugby out of administration.

Stormers coach Dobson applauded the WPRFU clubs for voting in favour of giving a 74% share of the business wing to the Red Disa consortium, and confirmed that the funds will not be invested in a squad makeover.

“We’re not going to get flashy, fly around in jets, go on holiday in Ibiza and start writing huge cheques,” Dobson said. “What we are going to do is to provide a better service to our players in every aspect, such as with conditioning and things like that.

“We are not going to buy 12 new players like some other teams. We have a very good base to work from and the more cohesion we build, the better we will get,” he added.

“What we will be able to do is fill a big void when someone leaves us. If a top player such as Steven Kitshoff gets a big offer from elsewhere, we might be able to keep him with a competitive offer. Or it will be a longer conversation when talking about the possibility of getting RG Snyman.

“However, it’s not our style to press Control, Alt, Delete on the group.”

The Red Disa consortium is made up of Cape Town-based investment holding company Fynbos Ekwiteit and Ardagh Glass Packaging, a global business with a strong South African presence. The Cape-based personal investment company of Andre van der Veen, Marble Head Investments, completes the consortium.

“Both do it for philanthropic reasons,” Dobson explained.

“They want us to be viable and are going to drive the commercial side of things. They realize that we are doing decently on the rugby side, but need a little support.

“This might mean that we don’t have to ask Brok Harris – after he played against the Leicester Tigers – to travel back to the Cape in economy class via Qatar.

“We don’t have to worry about that noise and constant sideshows on the front pages. We had to work for a long time with one hand tied behind our back.

“We feel a little bad because we are not experiencing a wonderful season to date, but the investors have a long-term vision.

“We probably work with a budget of 30% less than certain other teams. It doesn’t bother us. The way we competed – with everything that went on behind the scenes – is a testament to the work of many remarkable people within the organisation.”

OomStruisbaai wrote: Wed Jan 03, 2024 3:14 pm Talented Wandisile Simelane to the Stormers. Cornel Smith to the Bulls on loan. Watch Simelane developing at the Stormers.

assfly wrote: Thu Jan 04, 2024 7:58 am

OomStruisbaai wrote: Wed Jan 03, 2024 3:14 pm Talented Wandisile Simelane to the Stormers. Cornel Smith to the Bulls on loan. Watch Simelane developing at the Stormers.

Why couldn't you "develop" Cornel Smit?

OomStruisbaai wrote: Wed Jan 03, 2024 3:14 pm Talented Wandisile Simelane to the Stormers. Cornel Smith to the Bulls on loan. Watch Simelane developing at the Stormers.

Chilli2 wrote: Wed Jan 10, 2024 5:15 am Is Wolhuter still on loan at the Lions?
I haven't seen him on any team sheets.