GARDEN ROUTE NEWS - The young SWD Eagles are ready to take flight!
The SWD Eagles U13 Craven Week and Academic Teams will proudly represent the South Western District at the 2025 U13 Craven Week, taking place in East London from 29 June to 4 August.
As part of their final prepa-rations, the teams competed at the U13 Interprovincial Southern District Tournament in Oudtshoorn on 13 and 14 June, facing top opposition from Eastern Province, Border and Boland.
The Academic team opened with a closely contested clash against Eastern Province, before delivering a commanding victory over Border.
On day two, the team showed grit and determination in two tough match-ups, gaining valuable experience against strong Border and Boland sides.
The Craven Week team impressed with a draw against Boland on day one, followed by a convincing win over Border, and pushed Eastern Province in a nail-biter finish, which ended in EP's favour.
"The games at the Interpro-vincial Southern Tournament proved a foundation-laying experience for both coaches and players," says SWD coach Charl Kitching.
"Competing as a team after only a single practice session gave us clear insight into our strengths and highlighted the areas we need to refine ahead of a successful Craven Week 2025, for both the Craven and Academic teams.
"The Craven Week experience is an incredible privilege for any 13-year-old rugby player. It's an opportunity afforded to a boy who, for the past seven years of his life, has mostly sat on school benches and in classrooms, and who has now shown he possesses skill, tenacity and a relentless work ethic on the field.
Iron sharpens iron, and this will be evident at theHarry-Herman van Zyl,. Above all, the boys will return home with lifelong friendships and memories they'll carry forever."
A proud moment came for the team when a standout talent, Harry-Herman van Zyl, bagged the much-coveted man of the match title in their match against Border.
The official capping ceremony for both the Craven Week team and the Academic team will take place in Hartenbos this Saturday, 21 June, after their last practice session before they depart for East London.
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