It was a glorious day at Groenkloof Stadium in Pretoria when South African Rugby League hosted the GB & I Students this past Saturday, the 21st of September 2014. The third, and final, match of the season saw a buoyant GB & I side run on the field, strengthen by their two wins to date. The SARL Students last played in the Student World Cup, and only a few players stayed behind as the rest went up to the Senior Squad, but none the less they were adamant to mount a strong challenge. 


The GB & I Students got off to a strong start with a few quick tries, that were successfully converted. 

Halfway through the second half, their momentum picked up after South Africa failed to find touch on the penalty and they went over the line for two more tries. The South African Students fought back strongly and a good move saw them on the Lions’ try line. a handling error cost them dearly, and for the rest of the half the Lions managed to keep the Students from scoring, and both sides went back to the change rooms at half time with the scores at 32 to nil for the Lions.

The second half started fast and the SARL Students attacked in waves, and finally a good move saw Rupert Wells go over in the corner for a great try. Unfortunately it was not converted, and the Lions answered quickly with a converted try. For the next twenty minutes there sides changed sets and attacked each other’s mainline, yet falling to break through. An off the ball incident saw a SARL player red carded and a Lions player sinbinned for ten minutes. The SARL students managed to hold on and even send Rupert Wells over for another unconverted try in the corner. However, the ten minutes passed and the Lions were suddenly a man up. In a tiring, physical game such as this one, that one man makes all the difference and the Lions were quick to capitalise on the numerical advantage and ran in a brace of tries. The final score was 56 to 8 for the Lions, and every player knew he had played in a tough, uncompromising matches. The man of the match for the Great Britain and Irish Lions was Anthony Squires for his four tries, and Rupert Wells was the SARL Man of the match with his two great tries in the corner.

All in all it was a hard, uncompromising match, and the South Africans showed the potential that makes South Africa a potential hotbed for the sport of rugby league. Many thanks to both teams for the great spirit in which the game was played.

Great Britain and the Irish Students team made history on Saturday 13th of September, by being the first Great Britain Students representative side to play in South Africa. 
In their first game of a three match tour they took on the SARL Western Cape Invitational XIII at the most scenic venue the world has to offer. The Garden Tech Fields in Montreal Avenue, Oranjezicht has a majestic view of Table Mountain. This historic occasion was the first time the Western Cape has hosted an international rugby league side in a decade and a 500+ crowd added to this outstanding spectacle.

GB Lions won the toss and elected to play into the bright sunshine and receive the kick. The game started with committed collisions with intent showing from both sides. The Lions pinned the hosts in their own 20 with strong defensive pressure and two quick penalties for GB allowed them to work the ball from left to right for the outstanding Tom Hughes to score in the corner with 6 minutes gone on the clock a missed conversion took the score to 4-0.

For the next 10 minutes the match became an arm wrestle with both teams completing sets. On the 15 minute mark the Lions got into the opposition red zone and with quick hands Chris Barratt sucked in three defenders to release Lewys Weaver to score in the right corner. With the heat and altitude affecting both teams the referee called a water break on the 20 minute mark with both trainers using this opportunity to shuffle their packs. The water break had an adverse effect on the Lions and their completion rate decreased from 80% to 25% allowing the Cape to retain possession.

An opportunist try by livewire hooker Josh Dixon from a quick play the ball off Dan Parker converted by Chris Atkin took the score to 14-0. GB impressive defence again led to the Cape having to drop out and quick hands exploited the hosts’ left hand side for Billy Griffiths to score and converted by Atkin. Imposing replacement Iain Murray started to break the line at ease and his third carry led to excellent link up play for Tom Hall to score with Atkin converting making the halftime score 26-0.

The South African team talk proved productive and the Cape came out firing at the start of the second half, with several line breaks but GB scramble defence was phenomenal thwarting the plucky hosts. After soaking up the pressure GB Lions hit back with three quick tries from Weaver and a brace for captain Blake Mahovic with Atkin unsuccessful with the boot taking the score to 38-0. To their credit the Cape did not buckle and retain possession for a 5 minute period but GB defence stood strong. A clinical set from GB put Dan Parker in from a miss out pass from Atkin who converted.

Replacement full back Jordan Sheridan then recovered a lose kick from the hosts and attack with earnest tackle short of the line his quick play the ball released Mahovic for his hat trick. Taking the score to 48-0.

In the final 10 minutes the game opened up from that moment and the Lions tails were up, on the 73 minute mark, GB scored the pick of the bunch with a free flowing move which saw eight players handle to release the ever present Osian Phillips to score under the sticks with Weaver converting. GB still were not finished and a barnstorming run from Harrison Elliott from 20 metres out saw him fend off three would be tacklers to score under the posts and an audacious chip kick from Billy Griffiths to convert making the final score GB Lions 60 Western Cape 0.

The Lions were then treated to a traditional South Africa Braai(barbeque) and thanked their hosts for the superb hospitality throughout their stay in Cape Town. After visiting Table Mountain, Shark Diving and Surfing the GB Lions now move on to their second leg of the tour in Johannesburg where they take on the South African National Club Champions TUKS before they move onto the final test match against South Africa.

The Lions will take on TUKS at Groenkloof Stadium on Wednesday, 17 September 2014 at 17h30


The Test Match against the SARL Student Side is scheduled for the same venue on Saturday 20 September 2014 at 16h00

Highlights of the match can be seen on the website at www.sarugbyleague.co.za

Please follow both teams on Facebook and Twitter
www.facebook.com/south-african-rugby-league
www.facebook.com/gbacademiclions
 (article courtesy of Mark Jones)

The SARL Western Cape Invitational XIII will start today in a historic match against the Great Britain and Irish Students team. This afternoon at four, the two teams will collide under the majestic gaze of Table Mountain at the Garden Tech Fields in Montreal Avenue, Oranjezicht. 


This historic occasion will be the first time the Western Cape hosts an international rugby league side in a decade, and is the start of several more matches to follow.

Drikkies Mulder, National Senior Coach for the Rhino’s, is in attendance, and is very excited about today. “The western cape players are fast, and love running rugby, so if they play the game right and play to their strengths, they will give the GB & I guys a run for they money. We have been hard at work developing rugby league in the Western Cape, and the local administrators and coaches have done exceptional and we are amazed at the progress. I am keen to see some of the guys today with a possible chance to include them in the full test side for the match next weekend in Pretoria.”

The GB & I side landed on Thursday and spend Friday relaxing a getting ready for the match. Carl Richards, team manager, was very impressed; "its one of the most spectacular pitches I have ever seen. The trip has been amazing, and now we’re just focussed on the first game, and getting on with business. The accommodation and meals has been incredible, and we’re looking forward to seeing a bit more of Cape Town tomorrow.”

The SARL Western Cape Invitational XIII takes on Great Britain & Ireland Students in a historic match this coming weekend in Cape Town, South Africa.  The match, taking place at Garden Tech Rugby Fields in Oranjezicht, Cape Town, is the first of three matches by the touring Great Britain and Irish Students, but also the first international match to be hosted by the 

Western Cape Rugby League Association in nearly a decade. South African Rugby League have been hard at work to develop the promising Western Cape province, and this match is the first fruit to be borne by a two year effort from both the SARL Board, and the Western Cape Rugby League Association.

Kobus Botha, President of SARL, was very excited;” This first match is a testimony to the hard work by the development team and by the administration in the Western Cape. Two years ago the area was identified as a key development region, and the process was started. This match, and subsequent matches, will showcase the success of these efforts. Already we are seeing results with a greater number of players in the senior squad, as well as representative numbers in the student and youth squads as well.”

Denzil Watson, chairman of WPRLA, was also positive: “This match is a step in the right direction, and shows the local players in the Western Cape that if you commit to the game, you will get the opportunity to not only play international matches, but also to represent your country. At WPRLA we are thankful of the support of the SARL Board, and the Director of coaching and Development, Fanie Bredenhann, for their continuous efforts to develop and grow the game in the Western Cape”.

The Great Britain and Irish Student Team will arrive in Cape Town on Thursday and will remain in the province for five days before setting off to the citadel of rugby league in South Africa, Pretoria, where they face the current National Club Champions, TUKS Rugby League, in a friendly match the Wednesday (17 September at Groenkloof Campus, Pretoria), before playing the SARL National Student Squad on Saturday the 20th of September at the same venue.

SARL Western Cape Invitational XIII Team: Jean-Claude Mullins (Plains Sharks), Niyaaz Isaacs (Plains Sharks), James Schietekat (Western Warriors), Marco Marais (Western Warriors), Regadt Sedras (Spartans), Keagan Fortune (Spartans), Seraaj Bull (Cape Hyenas), Devon Hooper (Western Warriors), Divan Lotz (Western Warriors), Russel Baadjies (Western Warriors), Bradley Barnard (Western Warriors), Jehan Burger (Western Warriors), Brendon Moodie (Western Warriors) * Captain. Reserves: Nizaam Ismail, Muhidjeen Davids, Keenan Domingo, Ryan Espin, Eugen Wagner, Shuaib Samaai

Great Britain and Irish Student Team: to be announced

This game was a friendly development game as both teams had many first time players. The Rabbitohs were nervous for the game as the Broncos had played a game the previous week against a strong Rhino Cup Team,  the Ermelo Tomahawks,  and did well . 





The Rabbitohs fielded a development team with more than half never having played a game before yesterday. Marching onto the field the Broncos were by far a physically bigger team and this could be seen by the physicality of the game . 

The Rabbitohs trio of halves , Jean Coetzer , Bertus Coetzer and Deon Kraemer , kept very good control of the game, constantly communicating with all the youngsters and allowing the forwards to put down a great platform for the backs to put up the points . 

The Broncos were running hard all game and never backing down. They played with hearts of lions and left it all out on the field. The Young Rabbitohs answered in kind and this made for a very exciting game as each team brought the best out of each other . The Bunnies started to pick up the pace, as the game went on , using their superior conditioning to finish the game stronger than starting it . 

A special mention to all the first time rugby league players: welcome to the game boys and we hope you are all here to stay . Hopefully we will have many more games like this and have a successful season , with the help from SARL,  we are sure they will assist in nurturing all this young talent coming into the game . 

The Rabbitohs would also like to thank Shaun Kelly for reffing this game , not only did he allow the game to flow so that the players were able to express themselves , but he was also fair and very informative , always communicating with the captains from both teams thus making for a very hard but clean and disciplined game of rugby League . Most importantly his management of the game was flawless . 

To the Broncos ,thank you for the game and good luck for the season.

To the Rabbitohs well done on the clubs debut game , maintaining discipline and making the club proud , monsters on the field and gentleman off the field .