Over decades of Craven Week rugby, a select group of schools in the Lions region have built a reputation for consistently producing top-tier talent.
These institutions aren’t just rugby teams, they’re pipelines, shaping future provincial and national stars. After years of research and input from a wide network of coaches, players, and historians, we’ve compiled a working list of the 10 leading Lions schools based on Craven Week representation. This data has been assembled from multiple sources and across many eras and while it’s not yet perfect, it’s a living document.
Missing squads are noted, and if you can help fill in the gaps, we’d love to hear from you at tom@nextgenxv.com.
PREVIOUS LISTS:
MISSING YEARS:
1999, 1996, 1984, 1983, 1982, 1980, 1978, 1977, 1976, 1975, 1974, 1973, 1972, 1970, 1967
10. BEKKER (23)
B. Tack, C. Barnard, C. Frederickson, C. Retief, D. Esteves, D. Potgieter, Deon du Preez, Elgrant Williams, H. Engelbrecht, Heinrich Pedro, J. Strydom, J. Visser, J. Strydom, J. Visser, Louis du Preez, M. van der Walt, R. Osborne, Ricardo Mentoor, W. Kok, W. Jonker, Wian Stander, Wimpie Jonker
8= ST STITHIANS (30)
Munashe Chaitezwi, Andre Dikobo, Andrew Cooper, Asenathi Ntlabakanye, Brenno Lupini, Chris Pearson, D. Kerr, Evans Ntuli, G. van Niekerk, G. Behr, Hanyane Baloyi, Innocent Radebe, K. Botha, K. Clarence, Kgalti Lobakeng, Koos Pretorius, Lucky Maduna, Malungisa Nkosi, Michael Burne, Munashe Mhere, Thabani Maruganyanga, Willie De Beer, Zingani Nyirenda
8= ROODEPOORT (30)
Gordon Thomas, A. Visser, C. Gouws, C. Liebenberg, C. Pypers, Cobus van Wyngaardt, D. Liebenberg, D. De Lange, D. Scholtz, F. Rossouw, F. Van Heerden, H. Portwig, J. Hugo, J. Schonfeldt, K. Barnard, L. Bouwer, Lennin Lomnaard, M. Bushney, N. van Jaarsveld, N. Marais, N. Whitehead, P. Visser, W. Gouws
7. MARAIS VILJOEN (32)
Sibusiso Shuze, B. Fourie, C. De Rue, C. Jacobson, Carl van Westing, Chris Brits, Clinton Groenewald, Coert Ehlers, Elton Dry, Eugene le Maitre, Frikkie de Jager, G. Lacey-Lacey, Grant Victor, J. Buitenbach, Jaco Victor, Jeffrey Perkins, P. Potgieter, P. van Westing, R. Duvenhage, R. VD Merwe, Reg Muller, Rudie Botha, Shane Kirkwood, Thinus Pienaar, Tumelo Moloi, W. Kamanga, Wesley Delport, Wesley Kotze
6. ALBERTON (38)
Koch Marx, A. Joubert, Byron VD Nest, C. Du Plooy, C. Hattingh, C. Rademeyer, D. de Kock, D. Schonken, D. Van Heerden, Dale Smart, Deon de Kock, Divan Ferguson, G. Laufs, Gerhard Laufs, Gert Kroukamp, H. van Rensburg, J. Marais, J. van Graan, J. Van Vuuren, J. Vorster, Joe Gillingham, Johan de Villiers, Juandre Williams, L. van der Walt, Leander Visser, Lourens Driemeyer, M. Smit, M. Venter, Morne Coetzee, N. Els, P. Louw, P. van der Merwe, Quintin Breedt, Ryno Luus, S. Pretorius, T. Ramage, Theron Labuschagne
5. FLORIDA (60)
Tino Swanepoel, Andre Jantjies, Armandt Liebenberg, Ashley Lindewaai, Ben Sekgobela, Bernardo Botha, Bertram Willemse, Brendon Rick, Charlton Africa, Clinton Theron, Clinton Wagman, Cornel van Wyk, C-Than Moos, D. Schlebusch, Devorn Jansen, Elrico Swartz, Elton Jantjies, Enrico Liut, Eric Botes, Erwin Harris, Fabian Booysen, Fernando Kermis, Francois du Toit, Fredericque Kock, G. April, G. Pretorius, Gideon Muller, H. Van Rensburg, J. Bester, Joseph Dweba, JP Swart, Justin Bhana, Justin Bushney, M. Ferreira, Marnus van Huysteen, Maxwell van Louw, Moses Mthembo, Preston Karstens, R. Dalton, Ralton October, Rudolph Oosthuizen, Ruhan Kruger, Ruwan Kleinsmit, Santino Swanepoel, Tshepo Mookie, Vian van der Watt, W. Baartman, Wenstley Scott, Werner Badenhorst, Wesley Scott, Wian Fourie, Winston Williams
4. JEPPE (77)
Andre Poulton, Andrew Acton, Ayanda Funeka, Boni Siyothula, Bookie Tstansane, Bradley van Waardhuizen, D. Whiston, Declan Raubenheimer, Emmanuel Morowane, Ewan Roode, G. Hinckley, G. Holt, G. Normand, G. Thorn, Gugulethy Fata, Hacijvah Dayimani, Henry Wickens, Hugo Monteiro, Itumeleng Mthebu, J. Budler, J. Dalton, Joel Akilo, Jonathan Baker, Junior White, Justin Kalamer, Justin Mills, Kablelo Mokheti, Kamohelo Tlome, Karel Zowitsky, Kegan Litchfield, Khutadzo Rasivhaga, L. Koopman, Lifa Jambane, Lindelani Nkambule, Loyola Mtwa, McMillen Mongwana, Mosiki Ndlaba, Muzi Manyike, Nigel Pickford, Nolo Naka, Phano Letsie, R. Cochucco, R. Miller, R. Winter, Richard Wentworth, Ricky Nwagbara, Risima Khosa, Ryan Odendaal, S. Tregoning, S. Gibson, S. Tregoning, Sean Raubenheimer, Setjhaba Motaung, Sibu Shongwe, Sibusiso Nkosi, Sibusiso Shongwe, Sifiso Shabangu, Sipho Vayise, Talent Sithole, Tshepo Thulo, Tyrone Green, W. Warner, Wandisile Simelane
3. HELPMEKAAR (79)
B. Botha, B. Powell, Bernhard van Zyl, Boela de Wet, C. Rich, Christiaan Steyn, Chuiner van Rooyen, Constant Bekkerling, D. Coetzee, D. du Plessis, D. Grove, D. Smart, Dameon Venter, David Cary, Douw Buys, Dries du Plessis, Duncan Kruger, Dylan Engelbrecht, Ethan Lourens, Eugene de Lange, F. Jordaan, F. Van Tonder, H. Jordaan, H. Van Zyl, J. Bosch, J. de Beer, J. Heydenrich, J. Hilton, J. Kleingeld, J. Venter, Jacques Bekker, Johan Bosch, JP Lombard, L van Heerden, L. Schlebusch, L. van Heerden, Le Roux van Zyl, Liam Devenier, M. Eksteen, M. Homan, Manfred Kali, Marius Bester, Mark Snyman, Michael Benzien, Morne Venter, Oubaas Barnard, P. Badenhorst, P. Strauss, Pedri de Wet, R. Raats, Roan Grobbelaar, Ruan Welman, Rynhardt van der Linden, Sebastiaan van Heerden, Shaye Lourens, Tiaan Botes, Tiaan Scholtz, Tiaan VD Merwe, Tristan van Niekerk, Ty Ax, Tyler Skudder, Ulrich van der Merwe, W. Rudman, Waldt Human, Werner Engelbrecht, Zander du Toit, Zian Smith
2. KES (84)
Jabo Hlabangane, A. Perreira, Allistair McQuire, B. Mommsen, Bonianga Mpeku, Bradley JV Rensburg, Brenton Lockett, C. Ross, Caleb Lombard, Chinedu Amadi, Connor van Buuren, Cyle Brink, D. Eyre, D. Brown, D. Preston, Dylan Smith, E. Du Toit, E. VD Merwe, Frank vd Merwe, G. Mommsen, G. Thomas, Godfrey Ramaboa, J. Cunningham, J. Gerber, J. Meyer, J. Cunningham, J. Gerber, J. van Niekerk, Jason Cloete, Joe van Niekerk, Joseph Iye, Joshua Nkomo, K. Foot, Kalvin Mills, Kazlo Holtzhausen, Kebotile Maake, Keegan Glade, Kennedy Mpheku, Kevin Foote, Kojo Asiedu-Darkwah, L. Ntleki, L. Ruiters, Leon Mpeku, Lesedi Moloi, Lindokuhle Ncusane, Lwazi Monakali, M. Kali, Malcolm Marx, Marc Morrison, Mathew Van Zyl, Mpilo Mabusa, Ngia Selengbe, Olunje Mehlomakulu, R. Whitehouse, Regan McGurk, S. Ntubeni, S. Sibiys, Sabatha Mmlathi, Sam Bruwer, Senzo Mkhize, Senzo Thabalala, Simphiwe Moyo, Siphosethu Mnebelele, Sizwe Sibya, Surprise Mayekiso, Thabang Mphafi, Thando Biyela, Tirhani Masondo, Tokolla Molotise, Travis Gordon, Tyler Hayward, V. Jobo, Wandile Mjekevu, Wanele Maholwane, Willem du Plessis, Yanga Hlalu
1. MONUMENT (250)
Vincent Roberts, A Oosthuizen, A. Booysen, A. Coetzee, A. Swart, A. Venter, Albertus Louw, Alex Kock, Alfred Ries, Armand Blignaut, Armand Grobler, Armandt Joubert, Arno Coetzee, B Janse van Vuuren, B Moolman, B. Venter, B. Von Ruben, Barend Herbst, Blake Mecuur, Bradley Moolman, Burger Odendaal, Byron Godfrey, Byron Schamotta, C. Bezuidenhout, C. Dreyer, C. Emslie, C. Geldenhuys, C. Otto, C. Snyman, Ceano Everson, Chad de Klerk, Chaliel Markus, Charl du Plessis, Chris Barnard, Chris Massyn, Christen van Niekerk, Christian van der Berg, Christopher Havenga, Christopher JV Rensburg, Coenraad Vermaak, D. du Toit, D. Kok, D. V Vurren, Damian JV Rensburg, Darion Mecuur, Dawie du Toit, Daylon Myners, Deon Groenewald, Dirk Kotze, Dwayne Pienaar, Dylan Vlok, Erik Fourie, Errol Steyn, Erwin van den Heever, Eugene Geldenhuys, F. Degenaar, F. Erasmus, F. Hallett, F. Vermaak, Franco Schutte, Franco Tiedt, Frans van Wyk, Freddie van Zyl, G. Du Plessis, G. van Heerden, G. Vermaak, Gavin Delport, Gerdus van der Walt, Gerhardus Meyer, Ghaliel Markus, Goodman Mkhwanazi, Griffith van Wyk, Gunter Jv Vuuren, H. Du Plessis, H. Kern, H. Oosthuizen, H. Venter, Hamer Esterhuizen, Hanco Venter, Harry Colins, Hein van Rensburg, Heinke van der Merwe, Henco van Wyk, Hennie Mulder, Henro Liebenberg, Hercules Venter, I. Labotski, Ivan Smit, Izan Esterhuizen, J Hughes, J Taute, J. Assor, J. Basson, J. Breytenbach, J. Jooste, J. Lauwrens, J. VD Berg, J. von Molendorf, Jaco Holtzhauzen, Jaco Taute, Jaco van der Walt, Jacobus van Zyl, Jacque Fourie, Jacques Botha, Jako Viljoen, Jamaal Feldman, Jan Botes, Janco Jordaan, Jannie Stander, Jano de Beer, Jean Tiedt, Jens Robinson, Jimmy Hughes, JJ van Molledorf, Jody Schambreel, Johan van Deventer, Johan van Rensburg, John Roodt, Jonathan Dangoumou, Jonathan VD Schyff, JP le Grange, JP Neethling, Juan Lemmer, Juan Swanepoel, Julian Redelinghuys, Justin Botha, Justin Brandon, Justin St. Jerry, Keenan Meyners, Kelvin van Wyk, Kevin Groenewald, L. Bester, Len Massyn, LJ van Heerden, Luhan Swart, Luke Rossouw, M Kruger, M. Hattingh, M. van Biljon, M. Visagie, Malcallum Marx, Marais Schmidt, Marvin Njody, Mauritz Barnard, Mauritz van Rooyen, MJ Pelser, Morne Brandon, Morne Kruger, Morne Visagie, N Kruger, Nathan McBeth, Odwa Nkujana, P. Degenaar, P. Fourie, P. VD Westhuizen, Paul Willemse, Petrus Uys, Phillip du Preez, Pierre VD Westhuizen, Pieter Bekker, Pieter Jacobs, PJ Jacobs, PR de Wet, R Venter, R. Nel, Reinhard Gerber, Reinhard Nothnagel, Rhyno Herbst, Ricardo du Plessis, Riekert van Niekerk, RJ Barnard, Ruan Dreyer, Ruan McDonald, Ruan Steenkamp, Ruan Venter, Ruan Vermaak, Ruben Westrand, Ryno Bosman, Ryno Herbst, S Nel, S Yaka, S. Lourens, Sarel Boshoff, Sfiso Magwaza, Shaun Conradie, Siyanda Yaka, Stefan Nel, Stefan Vermeulen, Stephan le Roux, T. vd Berg, Theunis Reynolds, Thomas Meyer, Thursten Meyer, Tiaan Macdonald, Tiaan Rossouw, Tinus Combrinck, Tristan Dullisear, Tshepo Masuga, Tylor Sefoor, Ulrigh van der Westhuizen, W Steynburg, W. VD Berg, Walter Venter, Wentzel van Zyl, Werner VD Berg, Whestley Moolman, Wihan Jacobs, Wikus van Biljon, Wilem Booysen, Willem Alberts, Willem du Toit, Willem van der Wal, Xander Kruger, Xander Schoeman, Zain Henery, Zihan Coetzee
