South African Domestic Season 2025/26

[SeamUp]

Was looking at the Rugby Craven Week squads coming up. Interesting comparing to say cricket who gets a lot of negative words said about inclusion but they do way more looking at the Hubs teams etc

In this order

WP
WP XV
Blue Bulls
Sharks
Lions
Cheetahs
EP
Pumas
SWD
Boland

 

[SeamUp]

Border
Griquas
Valke
Leopards
Limpopo Blue Bulls

 

[SeamUp]

It happens every year that the Free State team is basically the Grey College team. Imagine that happened in cricket.

 

[SeamUp]

There is already a massive gap between Div 1 and Div 2. They have to cut teams at the end of this season but it's going to be tough.

 

[Stefan9]

I am not liking the direction domestic cricket is going.
Too much focus on the financial aspect and not enough on the cricket aspect. Need a balance between the two.

 

[SeamUp]

I am not liking the direction domestic cricket is going.
Too much focus on the financial aspect and not enough on the cricket aspect. Need a balance between the two.

This sounds like to end of 2026/27 now.

I agree and if we also looking at it from a cricket perspective we cannot keep everybody happy. I know it is a modern thing but we can't. We need strength v strength as much as possible. But no idea how they tell someone like Tuskers who are actually doing well they can't be in the professional league if we went that route.

 

[SeamUp]

Looks like the Warriors are going to announce their contracted squad today or tomorrow going by their Instagram post.

 

[GRAB]

Looks like the Warriors are going to announce their contracted squad today or tomorrow going by their Instagram post.

At fricking last. Still waiting for NW mens and womens too, but a recent FB post suggests there is some or other drama going on?

 

[SeamUp]

At fricking last. Still waiting for NW mens and womens too, but a recent FB post suggests there is some or other drama going on?

I saw that. Very weird to release a statement of such concern where most don't know what they talking about.

 

[GRAB]

Tired of waiting for the rest of the squads / full squads:

2025/26 HS Ladies - Google My Maps

2025/26 HS Ladies

www.google.com

2025/26 HS Men - Google My Maps

2025/26 HS Men

www.google.com

Map of 2025 squads' by HS ladies and men's. Only confirmed squads included ATM.
Corrections, additions appreciated.

 

[GRAB]

So, while a few squads are still yet to be announced, it looks like there are two HS's with enough representatives to make their own squads - both KES & St. Stithians. Glenwood from Durban, Waterkloof from Pretoria and Rondebosch from Cape Town look close... A KES XI is a solid enough side, but I feel like the St. Stithians XI could challenge some national sides (understandable given 3 are currently playing for SA vs Zim):

KES XI
1. Tony De Zorzi BAT L
2. Grant Roelofsen BAT R (Wk)
3. Isaac Dikgale BAT R
4. Bryce Parsons BAT L / SP LO
5. Mitchell Van Buuren BAT R
6. Cameron Shekleton BAT R
7. Grant Thomson BAT R / SM R (Cap)
8. Michael Copeland BAT R/ SP RO
9. Imraan Manack SP RO
10. Matt Hollard SM R (don't know much about him, as previous, but KES seem to produce batters and spinners?)
11. Zack Momberg SM R

Reserves
Yaseen Valli BAT L
Shane Dadswell BAT R (extra seam overs?)
Muhammed Mayet BAT R
Khaya Fakude BAT R

---
Stithians XI
1. Joshua Richards BAT R
2, Ryan Rickelton BAT L
3. Marques Ackerman BAT L
4. Pieter Mulder BAT R / SM R
5. Neil Brand BAT L / SP LO (Cap)
6. Onkgomoditse Seletswane BAT R
7. Malcolm Nofal BAT L / SP LO
8. Wandile Makwetu BAT R (Wk)
9. Kagiso Rabada SM R
10. Kwena Maphaka SM L
11. Esosa Aihevba SM R
Reserves
Muhammad Manack BAT R / SP RO
Liam Alder SP LO
Mohamed Cook BAT R

 

[GRAB]

Actually, recounted, there are enough HS Waterkloof players for a side too...

1. Janneman Malan BAT R
2. Jordan Hermann BAT L
3. Ludwig Kaestner BAT R
4. Pieter Malan BAT R (Cap)
5. Reuben Hermann BAT L (Wk)
6. Evan Jones BAT R / SM R
7. Migael Pretorius BAT R / SM R
8. Roelof Van der Merwe BAT R / SP RO
9. Gerhardus Viljoen SM R
10. Tristan Luus SM R
11. Gideon Peters SM R
Reserves
Jan Coetzer (BAT R / SM R)
Nico Van Zyl (SM R) (Really know nothing about this guy, but seems to be likely to have a Border contract)

 

[SeamUp]

Nofal was King Edward
Shekleton St Stithians


Rondebosch can with players overseas

1. Ethan Cunningham (Boland)
2. Jordan Neill (Ireland)
3. Zubayr Hamza (Lions)
4. Gavin Kaplan (Boland)
5. Justin Broad (Northants)
6. Lehan Botha (Boland)
7. Bongile Mfunelwa (WP)
8. Dayyaan Galiem (Titans)
9. Raeeq Daniels (WP)
10. Dan Moriarty (Yorkshire)
11. Kyle Klein (Netherlands)
12. Michael Rippon (Canterbury)
13. Junaid Dawood (Titans)

 

[SeamUp]

SA U19 camp squad on the go to pick the BGD and ZIM series squad.

 

[SeamUp]

First trial game today.

Captains Rowles and Bulbulia didn't play.

 

[SeamUp]

Lhuan-dre's bro, Vihan, just scored a 100 in the 2nd SA U19 trial game.

 

[SeamUp]

2nd Trial Game Scorecard.

Two 17 year-olds in Rowles & Pretorius score 100s. Another 17 year-old in JJ Basson (quality left-armer) the pick of the bowlers over 2 days.

Armaan Manack, Jaden Govender & Josh van Biljon haven't been in the SA U19 squad and are pushing.

 

[TT Boy]

Speaking of the U19s, Riley Norton leading the Junior Springboks in the U20 World Championship. Must be 15+ kilos heavier than when he was at the U19 WC last year with the Proteas. Some athlete.

 

[SeamUp]

Speaking of the U19s, Riley Norton leading the Junior Springboks in the U20 World Championship. Must be 15+ kilos heavier than when he was at the U19 WC last year with the Proteas. Some athlete.

Freak of nature.

I see the Baby Boks smashed Australia first game and they missing a couple players who are dubbed to be future Springboks as they are injured.

Considering he is U19 & captaining majority of U20 in rugby is also so rare.

Talk is the Paarl Royals offered him good money to carry on with them after school as he trained with them but it was always rugby.

 

[SeamUp]

SA v England in the U20 Rugby World Cup today.

England have a former Bishops and Michaelhouse pupil in their squad and so does SA. Not long ago they were teammates and now they facing off. Going to be a cracker. So much sport on the go today. Not sure how work will cope