Bok coach stirs SA's teen talent
Tue, 29 Sep 2009 13:43
Action from the 2009 Grant Khomo Week
Springbok coach Peter de Villiers encouraged the 50 players attending the inaugural National Under-16 High Performance Camp in Cape Town this week to believe in their natural rugby talent in their quest to one day represent their country at international level.
The Bok coach attended the official opening of the week long camp which takes place at the SACS High School in Newlands. All 50 players were selected following their performances at the Coca-Cola Under-16 Grant Khomo Week which was held in Riversdale earlier this year.
"We as South Africans need to be leaders in what we do and how we do things," said De Villiers.
"It’s great that Under-16 and Under-18 programmes have been developed and I salute everyone who has been involved in putting these projects together.
"I am also encouraged that the players will be receiving some of the best rugby knowledge by some of our country’s most passionate rugby coaches.
"So hopefully it will be from here where some of these players' career could take off and greater things could happen to players who have the belief and faith in their natural ability and believe in his god-given talent.
"It is here where the national selectors will start identifying our young talent and hopefully look after them through their junior development and eventually into professional rugby."
The 50 players will spend the week involved in positional specific training under the guidance of former Springbok players.
Coaches attending the camp include Bobby Skinstad, Chester Williams, Deon Kayser, Owen Nkumane, Ricardo Loubscher, Louis Koen and Hennie Bekker, while SA Under-20 coach Eric Sauls and Springbok Law consultant Neville Heilbron will also spend the week at camp with the 50 players.
Two teams, who will be managed by the 2009 SA Schools coaches, Chris October and Golie Gouws, will also be selected from the National Under-16 High Performance camp and will compete on Saturday in a curtain raiser match in preparation of the Currie Cup match between Western Province and the Boland Cavaliers at Newlands.
Springbok players Schalk Burger and Conrad Jantjes will address the players at SACS High Schools on Tuesday evening.
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