South African rugby’s pathway just took a decisive step forward. SA Rugby has named its U16 Elite Player Development (EPD) squads, and for the first time, a girls U16 EPD group will assemble alongside the boys for a joint camp in Paarl (5–11 October). The selections don’t just reward tournament form; they stitch a clean throughline from the FNB Grant Khomo Week and FNB Girls Week into the national pipeline, with multiple Day 1 standouts and final-day heroes earning recognition.
On the boys’ side, the Grant Khomo headlines carry straight into EPD status. Rosco Williams’ hat-trick against the Lions, Blessing Manoreng’s treble in reply, and the control of Daniel Miskey and Ndzalama Mbhalati were signposts all week, now formalised with EPD call-ups.
Danré Brink’s brace for the Bulls, James Sale, Corne Ferreira and Luniko Marivate scoring in Western Province’s eight-try showing, and a powerful finish from Hendre Ehlers, Caleb Pretorius, Kyle van Staden and Reuben Smith on the final day all read like a selection brief that wrote itself.
In tight exchanges, the Sharks engine of Aobakwe Moeng and Bulelani Cebani kept tilting games; Franklin Stevens (Griquas) was a constant factor in contact; and Theuns van Rensburg’s bench impact in the clutch moments was noted.
For the girls, the first-ever U16 EPD intake doubles as a statement of intent. Performers who lit up Girls Week, Chariva Visagie’s four-try fireworks, Madiniyah Joseph’s edge threat, the midfield control of Azraa Landor and strike running from Tatum-Joy Kaboni, plus pack leaders like Erin Ogram now move into a structured, measurable pathway.
The simultaneous Paarl camps will baseline skills, build individual player profiles and share development plans with schools and union; exactly the kind of joined-up thinking that turns promise into progress.
This is what the pathway should look like: form rewarded, potential resourced, and clarity for coaches. Below are the full squads as named — listed by position with schools only.
U16 EPD Boys (5–11 October, Boland Landbou)
Props
Clement Makelele (Kearsney College)
Ziaan Slabbert (Affies)
Thomas Meyer (Paul Roos)
Lelethu Nono (Grey High)
Entle Nqcaba (St Andrews)
Tunga Griffiths (Kearsney College)
Liam De Jager (Affies)
Rossouw de Waal (Grey College)
Hookers
Iglesias Bruiners (Noordheuwel)
Hendre Ehlers (Affies)
Luka van der Westhuizen (Paarl Gim)
Nyakallo Masiloene (DHS)
Locks
Bulelani Cebani (DHS)
Aobakwe Moeng (DHS)
Werner de Bruin (Paul Roos)
Alexander Muller (Affies)
Franklin Stevens (Diamantveld)
Derrick Groenewald (Paarl Gim)
Mbala Ndima (Pretoria Boys High)
Loose Forwards
Siphesihle Marule (Uplands College)
Thubelihle Marule (Uplands College)
Siyaya Menzi (Middelburg)
Jaydon Jubber (Michaelhouse)
Janu Pretorius (Rondebosch)
Keegan Fourie (Affies)
Henre Valentyn (Paarl Boys’ High)
Amayo Egbujor (HTS Drostdy)
Caleb Pretorius (Affies)
Corne Ferreira (Paarl Gim)
Luniko Marivate (Paarl Boys’ High)
Niel du Randt (Grey College)
Lwango Ntantala (Hilton College)
Scrumhalves
Rufagon Hendricks (Outeniqua)
Theuns van Rensburg (Trio)
Ben Hughes (Michaelhouse)
Jordan Forbes (SACS)
Flyhalves
Tanwill Onkers (Outeniqua)
Daniel Miskey (Kearsney College)
Ndzalama Mbhalati (Jeppe)
Reuben Smith (Affies)
Centres
Anfred Jansen (Grey High)
Elgenio Oerson (Glenwood)
James Sale (SACS)
De Waal Vivier (Paarl Gim)
Asa Mgwatyu (KES)
Danre Brink (Affies)
Wings
Rosco Williams (Glenwood)
Kingsley Pule (Grey College)
Blessing Manoreng (Monument)
Darnell Delport (Outeniqua)
Sterlin Padi (DHS)
Rhandzu Mkhabela (Nelspruit)
Fullbacks
Ray-Nathin van Kolver (Monument)
Kyle van Staden (Affies)
Hadley Erasmus (Durbanville)
U16 EPD Girls (5–11 October, La Rochelle Girls’ High School)
Props
Fetumane Endinako (Ngangelizwe)
Zayaan Majiet (Manenberg)
Fiona Sehlangu (Magoza)
Thando Hlakanyana (Krugersdorp)
Amahle Tole (Motherwell)
Rethabile Kubequ (Altmont Tech)
Zingce Lofana (Zimasa Primary)
Maphanga Ludumo (Lowveld)
Agnes Maoka (Northern Academy)
Sanga Makalane (Port Alfred)
Hookers
Shanelia Heugh (HTS Bellville)
Robyn Scheepers (Curro Delft)
Pobana Musawenkosi (Tsholomnqa)
Alwandle Ngcobo (uMlazi Cotech)
Locks
Ntuli Ntwariso (Altmont Tech)
Ogbu Nicole (Sir John Adamson)
Karabo Mokale (Phatheng Secondary)
Magriet de Klerk (DF Malan)
Sine Sezelwa (Kalalo Junior)
Tsakani Chauke (Kwabhekilanga Secondary)
Loose Forwards
Inathi Nxiweni (Athlone)
Nokuthula Dube (Kgomotso Secondary)
Sarender Chauke (Magoza)
Erin Ogram (Richardsbaai)
Nqadini Palisa (Mzontsudu)
Hlatshwayo Onthathile (Lowveld)
Mtebele Noluthando (Bothoka THS)
Chemike Visser (Concordia)
Scrumhalves
Sontsethe Elihle (Kalalo Junior)
Larissa Kriel (Marais Viljoen)
Imange Norayose (Silimela)
Brumilda Fitzgerald (Middelande)
Flyhalves
Jehoma Danrica (Simon’s Town)
Alice Ncube (Kwabhekilanga)
Angel Nxasane (Standerton)
Nxumalo Noxolo (Lowveld)
Centres
Landor Azraa (Manenberg)
Mia Kanka (Rusthof Secondary)
Angel Minnaar (Middelande)
Sherezaan Fortune (Manenberg)
Tatum-Joy Kaboni (George)
Pathakge Ralley-Amahle (Hill Crest)
Wings
Kali Liyabona (Hlumani)
Jacobs Cassidy (Gansbaai)
Letticia Prins (Scottsville)
Sibongiseni Gumede (Vorentoe)
Madiniyah Joseph (Downeville Primary)
Nkosi Ayanda (Azalea)
Fullbacks
Chariva Visagie (Middelande)
Chibandika Joan (Hill Crest)
