History The South African national under‑18 rugby union team, commonly referred to as South African Schools, SA Schools or SA U18, is South Africa's official under‑18 age‑grade rugby union side, administered by South African Rugby Union. The team is a key part of South Africa's player development pathway and compete in the Under-18 International Series, bridging school rugby and junior international rugby, and often serves as a stepping stone towards the Junior Springboks.SA Schools / U18 | SA Rugby. Retrieved 2026.
Selection for the team takes place annually after the conclusion of South Africa's premier youth tournament for schoolboys, the Craven Week Under‑18 tournament. Top performers from provincial schools sides are chosen to represent South African Schools in international fixtures. Throughout history this selection process has formed a central element of South African schoolboy rugby culture and talent identification.
U18 international series
Although the SA U18 side does not participate in a formal global championship, since 2012 it has hosted an annual international competition known as the Under‑18 International Series, which was rebranded from 2016 onwards as the U19 International Series.South Africa national under‑18 rugby union team – Wikipedia. Retrieved 2026. This series, usually staged in August in the Western Cape region of South Africa, brings together national age‑grade teams from Europe and beyond for a series of three match days at school and club venues.Two SA squads named for U18 International Series | SA Rugby. July 2025.
Participating nations in recent years have included England, France, Ireland, Georgia and Wales, with both an SA U18 (first team) and an SA U18 "A" (academy) squad competing. In the 2025 edition the SA U18 team won all three of its matches, defeating France, Ireland and England with a combined 157 points scored across seven tries per match on average.SA Under‑18s shine in International Series as Junior Bok pipeline grows stronger – DFA. August 2025.
This international series forms a key part of SA Rugby's Elite Player Development (EPD) stream, giving South African schoolboys exposure to international competition and aiding the transition of top talents into South Africa's U19 and U20 structures.Foote highlights role of U18 Series in Junior Bok development | SA Rugby. August 2025.
Relation to under‑19 and under‑20 pathways
Prior to age‑grade restructuring in 2008, South Africa maintained a stand‑alone national U19 side that competed in the IRB U19 World Championship. After restructuring, the primary global age‑grade competition became the U20 World Rugby Championship, and the U19 level has since operated mainly as a developmental stage within South African Rugby's broader pathway system.South Africa national under‑19 rugby union team – Wikipedia. Retrieved 2026.
South African Schools U18 remains a principal feeder for both U19 academy squads and the Junior Springboks, with coaches and selectors from the U20 programme involved in talent identification and mentoring at the series and selection camps.
Domestic and development impact
Selection to the SA Schools U18 side is widely regarded as one of the highest honours in South African schoolboy rugby and attracts attention from provincial academies and professional franchises. Performances at this level often influence progression into professional provincial sides as well as Junior Springbok selection in subsequent years.
SA schools Records and achievements SA u18 head to head *Stats correct as of 16 August 2026
Note: These results reflect only the performances of South African Schools (SA Schools) since their reintroduction in 2012. SA ‘A’ (Academy) team results are not included in the table above.
SA schools u18 international record *Stats correct as of 16 August 2026 South Africa – U18 International Series Record Year Host nation P W D L PF PA PD W% 2012 SA 3 3 0 0 77 52 25 % 2013 SA 3 3 0 0 50 40 10 % 2014 SA 3 2 0 1 90 58 32 % 2015 SA 3 3 0 0 77 32 45 % 2016 SA 3 3 0 0 78 32 56 % 2017 SA 3 0 0 3 58 95 (37) % 2018 SA 2 2 0 0 84 62 22 % 2019 SA 3 3 0 0 104 54 40 % 2020–2021 Cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic 2022 SA 3 3 0 0 133 82 51 % 2023 SA 2 1 0 1 57 56 1 % 2024 SA 2 2 0 0 77 40 37 % 2025 SA 3 3 0 0 157 50 127 % 2026 SA 3 3 0 0 178 62 116 % Total 36 31 0 5 1,220 715 517 % Note: These results reflect only the performances of South African Schools (SA Schools) since their reintroduction in 2012. SA ‘A’ (Academy) team results are not included in the table above.
SA u18 points leaders
The table below highlights South Africa’s U18 top all-time points scorers since the Under-18 International Series started in 2012:
*Stats correct as of 17 August 2026
Most Points Scored Rank Name Points 1 Curwin Bosch 57 2 Handre Pollard 37 3 Thurlon Williams 33 T4 Ethan van Biljon 26 T4 Liyema Nela 26 T4 Gianni Lombard 26 7 Jacobus de Villiers 25 8 Stehan Heymans 23 9 Kean Meadon 21 T10 Markus Muller 20 T10 Lamla Mgedezi 20 T10 Cheswill Jooste 20 T10 Darren Hendricks 20 T10 Muller du Plessis 20 T10 Tinus de Beer 20 T10 Theodorus Boshoff 20 T17 Jurich Claasens 18 T17 Achmat Behardien 18 T19 Henco van Wyk 15 T19 Salmaan Moerat 15 T19 Embrose Papier 15 T19 Duhan van der Merwe 15 T19 Rohan Janse van Rensburg 15 T19 Sergeal Petersen 15 T19 Charles Whitehead 15 T19 Anesu Kuzonyei 15 27 Ruben Groenewald 14 Note: These stats reflect only the performances of South African Schools (SA Schools) players since 2012. SA ‘A’ (Academy) players are not included.
SA u18 try leaders
The table below highlights South Africa’s U18 top all-time tries scored since the Under-18 International Series started in 2012:
*Stats correct as of 17 August 2026
Most Tries Scored Rank Name Tries 1 Jacobus de Villiers 5 T2 Cheswill Jooste 4 T2 Lamla Mgedezi 4 T2 Markus Muller 4 T2 Muller du Plessis 4 T2 Theodorus Boshoff 4 T7 Anesu Kuzonyei 3 T7 Charles Whitehead 3 T7 Duhan van der Merwe 3 T7 Embrose Papier 3 T7 Henco van Wyk 3 T7 Rohan Janse van Rensburg 3 T4 Salmaan Moerat 3 T4 Sergeal Petersen 3 Note: These stats reflect only the performances of South African Schools (SA Schools) players since 2012. SA ‘A’ (Academy) players are not included.
SA schools academy Records & achievements SA 'a u18 head to head *Stats correct as of 16 August 2026
Note: These results reflect only the performances of SA ‘A’ (Academy) since their reintroduction in 2014. South African Schools (SA Schools) team results are not included.
SA 'a u18 international records *Stats correct as of 16 August 2026
SA Academy – U18 International Series Record Year Host nation P W D L PF PA PD W% 2014 SA 1 1 0 0 48 29 19 % 2015 SA 3 1 1 1 57 67 (10) % 2016 SA 2 1 0 1 73 37 36 % 2017–2018 No events occurred during these periods 2019 SA 3 0 1 2 62 101 (39) % 2020–2021 Cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic 2022 SA 2 1 0 1 72 82 (10) % 2023 No events occurred during this period 2024 SA 1 1 0 0 20 3 17 % 2025 SA 3 1 0 2 107 98 9 % 2026 SA 3 3 0 0 103 57 46 % Total 19 9 2 7 542 474 68 % Note: These results reflect only the performances of SA ‘A’ (Academy) since their reintroduction in 2014. South African Schools (SA Schools) team results are not included.
Results 2012
South Africa's results in the 2012 Under-18 International Series were:
2013
South Africa's results in the 2013 Under-18 International Series were:
2014
South Africa's results in the 2014 Under-18 International Series were:
2015
The results for South Africa and South Africa 'A' in the 2015 Under-18 International Series were:
2016
The results for South Africa and South Africa 'A' in the 2016 Under-19 International Series were:
2017
The results for South Africa in the 2017 Under-19 International Series were:
2018
The results in the 2018 Under-18 International Series were:
2019
The SA Schools results in the 2019 Under-18 International Series were:
2020
No tournaments were held due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
2021
No tournaments were held due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
2022 The SA Schools results in the 2022 Under-18 International Series were:
2023 The SA Schools results in the 2023 Under-18 International Series were:
2024 The SA Schools results in the 2024 Under-18 International Series were:
2025 The SA Schools results in the 2025 Under-18 International Series were:
2026 The SA Schools fixtures for the 2026 Under-18 International Series are:
Players
SA schools Current squad
The South African Schools squad was named for the 2026 Under-18 International Series against France, Ireland and England.
SA Schools U18 Squad 2026 Name School Union Caps Tries Con Pen Points Clement Makelele Kearsney College Sharks Matthew Prins Outeniqua SWD Ruben Lombard Garsfontein Blue Bulls Nicola Salamousas Michaelhouse Sharks Theodorus Boshoff Maritzburg College Sharks Iglesias Bruiners Durban High School Sharks Lwandile Mlaba Westville Sharks Juvan Burder Stellenberg Western Province Jean Dreyer Paarl Gimnasium Western Province Glodi Tshipamba Jeppe Golden Lions Nhlanhla Ndlovu Kearsney College Sharks Stefan van der Vyver Garsfontein Blue Bulls Jamie Wimble Northwood Sharks Jacobus de Villiers Oakdale SWD Mickyle Booise Paarl Gimnasium Western Province Luke Doyle Graeme Eastern Province Travis Pheiffer Paul Roos Gymnasium Western Province Achmat Behardien Wynberg Western Province Olwethu Kosani Maritzburg College Sharks Ethan Barker Paarl Gimnasium Western Province Erin Nelson Graeme Eastern Province Tiaan Basson Paul Roos Gymnasium Western Province Ncuthu Kepe Queen's Border Lamla Mgedezi Grey College Free State Ethan van Biljon Stellenberg Western Province Luxolo Sonkononkono Westville Sharks
Previous squads The following players played at previous editions of the U18 SA Schools International Rugby Competition:
2025 South Africa Under-18 rugby union team Name School Union Caps Tries Con Pen Points Chinedu Amadi King Edward VII School Golden Lions 3 2 10 Clinton Agu Noordheuwel High School Golden Lions 2 1 5 Ethan Adams Grey College Free State 3 2 10 Jadrian Afrikaner Westville Boys High Sharks 3 2 10 Nathan Aneke Durban High School Sharks 0 0 JG Badenhorst Grey College Free State 3 1 5 Jayden Brits Boland Landbou Boland 3 1 5 Jacobus de Villiers Oakdale SWD 3 1 5 Gert Kemp Paul Roos Gymnasium Western Province 3 2 10 Keenan Myners Outeniqua High School SWD 1 0 AJ Meyer Grey College Free State 3 0 Zirk Meyer Afrikaanse Hoër Seunskool Blue Bulls 0 0 Lamla Mgedezi Grey College Free State 2 1 5 Lwandile Mlaba Westville Boys High Sharks 3 0 Markus Muller Paarl Gimnasium Western Province 3 3 15 Liyema Nela Hilton College Sharks 3 10 2 26 Josh Neill Rondebosch Boys' High School Western Province 3 1 5 Morne Noble Wynberg Boys' High School Western Province 3 0 Kai Pratt Oakdale SWD 3 0 Altus Rabe Paul Roos Gymnasium Western Province 3 1 5 Ruben Groenewald Afrikaanse Hoër Seunskool Blue Bulls 3 7 14 Thabiso Simelane St Albans College Golden Lions 3 0 Junaide Stuart Garsfontein High School Blue Bulls 3 2 10 Zekhethelo Siyaya Westville Boys High Sharks 3 0 Jordan Jooste Paarl Boys' High School Western Province 3 0 Jayden Joubert Paarl Boys' High School Western Province 3 1 5 Matthew van der Merwe Rondebosch Boys' High School Western Province 3 0 Luan van der Berg Garsfontein Blue Bulls 0 0 Christian Vorster Oakdale SWD 3 1 5 Wasi Vyambwera Maritzburg College Sharks 3 0