Schools rugby action focus shifts to Sevens tournament at Brandwag

THE schools rugby action will focus on the shortened form of the game this weekend when the popular @lantic Sevens tournament is held at Brandwag.

A total of 16 schools will contest the Eastern Province leg of the national tournament, with a view to qualifying for the Champion of Champions tournament in November.

More than 1000 teams have participated in the series during the past six years and tournament promoter Willem Strauss said the remaining tournaments this year were of great importance for the boys.

"The @lantic provincial under-18 Sevens tournament [the Sevens version of Craven Week] takes place on October 4-5 at Tukkies and that is an incentive for even more schools to participate in these tournaments," Strauss said.

Springbok Sevens stars like Branco du Preez and Cecil Afrika made their debut on the @lantic Series.

The first matches on Saturday kick off at 8.30am with the Cup final being played at 4.30pm. The participating schools are: Brandwag, Daniel Pienaar, Muir, Adelaide Gym, Solomon Mahlangu, Grey High, Graeme, Ithembelihle, Andrew Rabie, Gill, Volkskool, Uitenhage High, Nico Malan, Despatch, Molly Blackburn and Bergsig.

Meanwhile, Grey High have already qualified for the Champion of Champions event after winning the Border provincial final in East London at the weekend.

Because of a shortage of teams, Grey were invited to play in the Border leg and defeated Queen's in the final.

Should Grey qualify a second time by winning the EP leg at Brandwag on Saturday, the organisers said they would invite the Border runners-up (Queen's) to attend the Champion of Champions.

The Grey side excelled in East London and produced some excellent results to win the tournament in emphatic fashion.

In pool games, they defeated Grens 33-0 and Cathcart 49-5, while receiving a walkover against De Vos High, who did not arrive for their match.

In the semifinals, Grey met the unbeaten Selborne side and produced a fine display of sevens rugby to outclass their East London rivals 40-0.

Grey then faced tournament favourites Queen's College who had reached the final by defeating Dale. Grey again produced a clinical display to beat Queen's 33-24.

Talented Queen's player Joshua Stander was named player of the tournament.