Dave a special input for you as to Bulls Under 21 and Under 19 squads

The squads are as follows:-

Bulls Under-19 squad: Aiden Holtzhausen, Aiden King, Aka Boqwana, Alro le Roux, Anele Cele, Aphiwe Shelembe, Ashwin Swarts, Bongani Dlamini, Brooklyn Newman, Cheswill Jooste, Dian Smal, Divan Nel, Duwan Potgieter, Ely Williams, Esethu Mnebelele, Ethan van Dyk, Handre Maree, Heinrich Theron, Hendre Schoeman, Jacques Swarts, Jade Muller, Jon Hobson, JP Lombaard, Julian Cosmo, Kebotile Maake, Kurt Coetzee, Lavela Mpongolo, Likona Sodlaka, Lindsay Jansen, Luhan Swart, Matt Fick, Melt Viljoen, Meyer Opperman, Michael Satade, Miegael De Lange, Munting Haman, Ntsako Ndlovu, Pieter van der Merwe, Ratagan van Rooi, Riwan van Aswegen, RJ Barnard, Rocco Myburg, Ruan Enslin, Ruan Lippold, Ruben Pienaar, Rubin Dames, Stephan Pretorius, Unathi Mlotshwa, Viaan Mentoor, Zian Marais.

Bulls Under-21 squad: Abri van der Westhuysen, Achumile Mnandi, Akha Mjawule, Akhona Kunene, Alfondso Isaacs, Ali Thiam, Buks Britz, Caleb Abrahams, Camden Schoeman, Casper Badenhorst, Cephas van Biljon, Daniel van der Merwe, Daylon Myners, Demetri Erasmus, Dian Smal, Dieter Schubert, Eduan Vosloo, Heinrich Cloete, Ian van der Merwe, Jaco Grobbelaar, Jason van der Merwe, Jayden Fortuin, Jaydon Bantom, JJ Theron, Jonathan Eloff, JT Kapank, Juan Fourie, Juan Smal, Juanre Breitenbach, Kobus Janse van Rensburg, Leejay Petersen, Liam Koen, Lilitha Matsiliza, Lithemba Mfupi, Logan Opperman, Lukas Meyer, Luyolo Doyi, Marco Ferreira, Mbasa Maqubela, Michael Versfeld, Nokutenda Mapungwana, PA van Niekerk, RD Engelbrecht, Rouwan Mitchell, Ruben Thompson, Sandisiwe Msengana, Shaun Schurmann, Stephan Brits, Steven Nel, Thandolwami Nsthangase, Tian Vorster, Wiehan Labuschagne, Zander Lourens.

You are well=known for identifying promissing youngsters - so how about some comments on the above we should look carefully at in future? Your comments will be sincerely appreciated,

Don’t know too much about most of those players

Heinrich Theron in the U19 played SA schools from Grey Bloem - big abrasive lock

In the U21’s - PA v Niekerk is a good centre who can play 10

Jaco Grobelaar is a monster of a lock who played for the Baby Boks last year - but he entered late as must have been injured - did not show much but came with a reputation so let’s see

Liam Koen is Louis Koen’s son - I heard he was going to be the next Dan Carter - he was so shit - big clumsy lad

Thanks Dave

We might see quite a lot about the teams selected in upcoming matches in the latter part of 2025. The other participating teams have not been named - but the Bulls have the biggest purse of all the SA Unions and that one assumes would be the biggest drawcards for younger players,

As to the Under 21 players they would be redistributed to the other three Franchices when needs arises and the Bulls for istance has an oversupply of players - but the Bulls certainly needs flyhalfs for future development.

Another factor is that recruiters for foreign clubs are always lurking around and they will try to get their hands on some of the better Under 21 players,

,

I’ve taken to watching SA schools boy rugby a lot these days, virtually every game played is televised on the Supersport schools app - it’s crazy

A player that looks unbelievable is loosehead prop Kai Pratt from Oakdale I’ll try post a photo of him

My grandnephew borne in England is now in Oakdale - but he is more of a cricket player. I sometimes in the late afternnon go for a drive to the mountain driving past Oakdale and there are some real monsters running on that road in the late afternoon. This guy Pratt may be desceded from a cousin of my mother who married a guy by he name Pratt, He shot Verwoerd in the Rand Eater show in 1961 - reason that the cousin had an affair with Verwoerd, H ended up in an asylum and his wife divorced him. He may be a great-grandchild from that cousin of my mother,

In ny event - please post that photo and I will see whether I can identify him as one of the road-runners referred to.

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"In ny event - please post that photo and I will see whether Ican identify him as one fo t he road-runners referred to."

Mike please don't drive down a road near a school, eyeing kids jogging, while you have a photo of one of them on your dash.

Plum

We drie to the mountain because the area is so beutifull - it reminds me of the Graz area of Austria in many ways, Amongst the afternoon runners are also women on their own - you try that in Gauteng and they would be murdered, I am just interestrf to see what the guy looks like - as I said there some real monsters amongst the Oakdale kids,

Mike I’m lost when it comes to posting photos on here - one is meant to save to photo then post the link - I don’t know how to save the photo on my phone anywhere other than in my photo library or posting it on Facebook or WhatsApp etc

Jo

Jo Jo

Thanks Dave

The chool system in SA are rather unique, In the case of the top 20 schools they are all sponsored by businesses and the fact is that boys are recruied by schools wih their full school fees paid and in he case of Board also paid - while the pal yes are also provided with pocket money,

I have never seen the kid whose photo you posted in town or anywhere else. Will go and watch one of Oakdales home games to see him play.

He plays loosehead

The Oakdale pack is massive it got the better of the Grey Bloem pack. Check out the number 5 lock - he is ridiculously big and is only in Grade 11

Dave

Oakdale si playing Paarl BH on 11 April 2025 nd I am definitely going to watch the first team match That si if you camn get into the school premsies that day - there will be thousands of spectators and a massive trafic jam/

Hwever, my house is only about 1,5 kiloeters from Oakdale.