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Top Irish, South African sides to play at World Schools Festival 2023
The stellar line-up for the Cup competition at this year’s World Schools Festival is gathering pace with Ireland’s St Michael’s College and South African Hoërskool Dr EG Jansen joining reigning Welsh national champions, Cardiff and Vale College, and defending ASC English champions, Hartpury College.
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One of the most eagerly awaited schools rugby tournaments will be held at Pattana Sports Resort in Thailand between December 12-17.
This international event features eight top schools from across the world competing in the Cup competition, with an Open Trophy competition being played as well.
The World Schools Festival is expected to be an incredible showcase for school rugby after the 2022 tournament featured some of the greatest rugby schools in the world.
St Michael’s College return on the back of a great domestic season so far, defeating rival Blackrock in a cliffhanger.
@rugbypass The fun begins ? #rugby #wsf2022 #rugbyboys
One of the leading feeder schools for Leinster’s academy, their rugby programme has produced multiple Ireland internationals who featured in this year’s Six Nations Grand Slam-winning team and at the Rugby World Cup in France.
EG Jansen from Gauteng will come to the WSF with high hopes after a successful season where the highlights were a 41-17 victory over Monnas and a runners-up spot in the Noordvaal Cup.
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The EG Jansen squad will include their U16 class of 2022 when they ranked No3 in South Africa (behind Grey College and Paul Roos Gimnasium) and were unbeaten.
They will be a dark horse at this year’s World Schools, and a force in the South African schools rugby season in 2024 – do not be surprised to see them finish as a top-three team. In 2023 they ranked top 10 in South Africa despite the majority of the players being grade 11. This is a generational side.
The growth of the festival sees the expansion of the Open tournament with Rugby Travel Academy from South Africa returning to reconvene their battle from 2022 with Odyssey.
Sides from around the world took each other on in the tournament in 2022, with Grey College beating sides from England, Fiji and elsewhere.
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New entrants Dubai Tigers RFC from the UAE are also looking forward to their first WSF experience. A new girls sevens tournament is also being launched, with Hartpury College travelling with two squads. Odyssey have also launched a girls sevens, with more teams to be announced.
The 2023 Festival promises to again embody the true spirit of rugby with players participating from 12 countries. For further information about WSF, visit www.worldschoolsfestival.com
Comments on RugbyPass
Love and respect to Fiji but not a chance outside of 7s
3 Go to commentsGood summation Ned. Agree the Canes were out-muscled for once (except at the scrum!) by a focused Brumbies outfit. Tua deserves consideration for higher honors after the way he humbled Jordie and the Canes defense. Thankfully, his lack of eligibility for Oz keeps him from Joe’s plans. While I also agree the injuries affected the Canes performance, some players seemed to lack focus and intensity for this match. Perhaps after the Blues demolished the Brumbies, they thought it was going to be easy? A good reminder that any slip up in preparation can have a big affect on the result. Brumbies deserved that win.
1 Go to commentsKarl Dixon should never have been appointed this fixture, absolute disgrace, He’s not much of a referee anyway, didn't have the balls to send his mate care off
5 Go to commentsBrilliant article! Harry of 8/9
1 Go to comments‘UK athletes' have been in the NFL from the start.
1 Go to commentsIt’s going to be Scott Barrett. He’s the coaches mate and captain of a previously elite team. Ardie a great option but scooter has worked with the coach and Ardie still as big a leader as needed.
23 Go to commentsI commend Colin Scotts bio All Balls. He was the first Aussie to make it to NFL. But he was poached and did a full apprenticeship at the University of Hawaii. He was 130kgs surfed played 1st grade cricket etc. big guy by normal but not NFL standards and a top athlete. Even then the nfl were picking up Tongans and Samoans for their natural size and explosive power. They want explosive power not cardio from the big boys so a guy like Taniela Tupou would have been good if picked up young enough. He has fast twitch and they’d bulk the little lad up and give him something to do. soccer teams set up academies and look for Over Sara’s talent eg Messi was at Barcelona since a teenager and harry kewell went to Leeds as a teenager like 16 or something.
11 Go to commentsThe article alludes to the fact that this isn’t about picking a captain. But picking a great captain. So who would make for a great All Black captain - not just an obvious or safe shoo-in? I’m not sure Ardie’s the guy and Barret doesn’t stand out either.
23 Go to commentsI guess we may all agree on the fact, that the ABs and Boks are the two in contest for No 1 in rugby history (the triple-A sort of) …. the Wallabies, England and France are the next tier, with Ireland being the new kid in town (AA) …. in my view it makes little sense creating imaginary competitions (unless you have too much time to waste)
45 Go to commentsWhat a joke. Total joke and the pundits commentating, all of whom know a bit about the game, could barely disguise their contempt. Reaching for the card then pulling back when he realised a red card would carry further match suspensions is simply not his decision to make. A clear and obvious influence on the outcome of this match and indeed, the championship path.
5 Go to commentsI like the idea, in NZ the Ranfurly Shield and NPC coexist, both having their own bragging rights. The World Cup would be the pinnacle, but the competition and travels of these trophies would be interesting.
45 Go to commentsDon’t worry Sonny bill Williams leave that awkward situation about the curfew in the pass whoever it was it doesn’t matter its no big deal we back our All Blacks through the storm and the thunder until we see the Sun light again.
42 Go to commentsWho listens to this retard? He was a massive liability as a player but obviously a media sensation
42 Go to commentsI’m not surprised by such ‘virtue signalling’ by Sonny Boy. Butter wouldn’t melt in his mouth. He’s such a pious Islamic muppet, imo.
42 Go to commentsI’ve actually never heard of the guy (then I don’t watch League as it is boring). But if he is good enough.. then good luck to him. If not, well, he can always return to league.
2 Go to commentsIt is pretty clear that by almost any measure that NZ are a more successful rugby nation than South Africa. Quite aside from the distasteful events during the last RWC final. NZ lead SA in all significant measurements.
45 Go to commentsDickson went to his pocket for a card, saw who it was, changed his mind and spoke at length to TMO. One angle clearly shows Care diving over a Saints player to kill the ball. 1st yellow, reason given for not Red was player was falling backwards. He was only falling backwards after contact with Lawes. Graham try should have stood. Mitchell did not have both hands on the ball, ball went forward from a Saints boot dragging over it. 2 intentional knock-on's. One of which had an overlap on the outside. If Quins are happy to win by intentional foul play, then it does not say much for them. Would appear to be a bad day for Karl Dickson, also for the RFU in appointing a Ref who spent 8 years as a player at one of the clubs.
5 Go to commentsLet’s not forget about Ardie Savea just yet.
8 Go to commentsThe URC and the Euro Championscup can’t run at the same time, basically dilutes both competitions.
2 Go to comments“While Sotutu should start at No.8 for the All Blacks against England, but it’s only in that arena that he can prove just how good he really is.” And that my friends is where simply hasnt shone despite multiple opportunities. Even in this performance you can see what did him in in the test arena..he almost always still runs at the opposition almost ramrod upright making him easier to stop than it should be.
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