Markus Muller and Ethan Adams are more than just hot prospects; these Craven Week standouts are set to bring the heat to the SA Under-18 squad for the upcoming International Series in Paarl. With the Western Province and Free State centres likely pairing up in the midfield, expectations are as high as their tackles are hard.
Fresh from coaching the Junior Springboks to global glory, Kevin Foote is now tasked with molding the next generation of South African rugby elites. Alongside SA U20 coaching staff, Foote will assist head coaches Lwazi Zangqa and Flash Malinga of the SA U18 and U18 'A' teams, respectively. The series, which starts on August 8th, features formidable junior squads from England, France, Ireland, and Georgia.
"The boys will be properly tested in their three games next month, as the visiting European teams are always strong,"
said SA Rugby High Performance Manager Dave Wessels. He emphasized the importance of these matches in developing young talent and expressed excitement about the potential on display.
The line-up for this powerhouse event includes 52 players split across two teams, with several athletes returning from last year’s series and others shining during the recent SA Schools match in Middelburg. The SA U18 squad will clash with France, Ireland, and England, while the U18 'A' team will tackle Ireland, Georgia, and France.
Wessels praised the continuity in SA Rugby’s development system, highlighting the pipeline from U18 to the Junior Boks. "Seven players in the 2025 Junior Bok squad played in the U18 International Series last year, and several others are back for their second year in the U18 structures. That shows our Elite Player Development pipeline is working," he noted. By looping in Foote and his U20 staff, Wessels hopes to further cement this continuity and accelerate player development.
The U18 International Series is set to be hosted at Paarl Boys’ High, Boland Landbou, and Paarl Gimnasium, promising a spectacle of budding rugby talent. With standout players like Markus Muller and Ethan Adams leading the charge, the series not only showcases the future of South African rugby but also serves as a critical testing ground for these young athletes on their path to rugby stardom.
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Markus Muller and Ethan Adams are more than just hot prospects; these Craven Week standouts are set to bring the heat to the SA Under-18 squad for the upcoming International Series in Paarl. With the Western Province and Free State centres likely pairing up in the midfield, expectations are as high as their tackles are hard.
Fresh from coaching the Junior Springboks to global glory, Kevin Foote is now tasked with molding the next generation of South African rugby elites. Alongside SA U20 coaching staff, Foote will assist head coaches Lwazi Zangqa and Flash Malinga of the SA U18 and U18 'A' teams, respectively. The series, which starts on August 8th, features formidable junior squads from England, France, Ireland, and Georgia.
"The boys will be properly tested in their three games next month, as the visiting European teams are always strong,"
said SA Rugby High Performance Manager Dave Wessels. He emphasized the importance of these matches in developing young talent and expressed excitement about the potential on display.
The line-up for this powerhouse event includes 52 players split across two teams, with several athletes returning from last year’s series and others shining during the recent SA Schools match in Middelburg. The SA U18 squad will clash with France, Ireland, and England, while the U18 'A' team will tackle Ireland, Georgia, and France.
Wessels praised the continuity in SA Rugby’s development system, highlighting the pipeline from U18 to the Junior Boks. "Seven players in the 2025 Junior Bok squad played in the U18 International Series last year, and several others are back for their second year in the U18 structures. That shows our Elite Player Development pipeline is working," he noted. By looping in Foote and his U20 staff, Wessels hopes to further cement this continuity and accelerate player development.
The U18 International Series is set to be hosted at Paarl Boys’ High, Boland Landbou, and Paarl Gimnasium, promising a spectacle of budding rugby talent. With standout players like Markus Muller and Ethan Adams leading the charge, the series not only showcases the future of South African rugby but also serves as a critical testing ground for these young athletes on their path to rugby stardom.