2018 Under-21 Provincial Championship

2018 Under-21 Provincial Championship
Countries	South Africa
Date	25 August – 27 October 2018
Champions	Golden Lions U21
Runners-up	Blue Bulls U21
Matches played	24
Tries scored	278 (average 11.6 per match)
Top point scorer	Lubabalo Dobela, Free State U21 (101)
Top try scorer	Courtney Winnaar, Sharks U21 (8)
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The 2018 Under-21 Provincial Championship was the 2018 edition of the Under-21 Provincial Championship, an annual national Under-21 rugby union competition held in South Africa, and was contested from 25 August to 27 October 2018.

The competition was won by Golden Lions U21, who beat Blue Bulls U21 58–24 in the final played on 27 October 2018.

There was seven participating teams in the 2018 Under-21 Provincial Championship. They played each other once during the pool stage, either at home or away. Teams receive four points for a win and two points for a draw. Bonus points were awarded to teams that scored four or more tries in a game, as well as to teams that lost a match by seven points or less. Teams were ranked by log points, then points difference (points scored less points conceded).

The top four teams in the pool stage qualified for the semifinals, which were followed by a final.^[1]

The teams that played in the 2018 Under-21 Provincial Championship are:^[2]

2018 Under-21 Provincial Championship teams
Team name	Stadium
Blue Bulls U21	Loftus Versfeld, Pretoria
Eastern Province U21	Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium, Port Elizabeth
Free State U21	Free State Stadium, Bloemfontein
Golden Lions U21	Ellis Park Stadium, Johannesburg
Leopards U21	Fanie du Toit Sport Ground, Potchefstroom
Sharks U21	Kings Park Stadium, Durban
Western Province U21	Newlands Stadium, Cape Town

2018 Under-21 Provincial Championship log
Pos	Team	P	W	D	L	PF	PA	PD	TF	TA	TB	LB	Pts
1	Golden Lions U21	6	5	0	1	284	99	+185	38	13	4	1	25
2	Western Province U21	6	5	0	1	381	127	+254	55	18	3	0	23
3	Blue Bulls U21	6	4	0	2	329	144	+185	50	17	5	2	23
4	Free State U21	6	3	0	3	256	182	+74	38	23	5	1	18
5	Sharks U21	6	3	0	3	281	166	+115	40	23	4	1	17
6	Leopards U21	6	1	0	5	154	328	−174	23	50	1	0	5
7	Eastern Province U21	6	0	0	6	56	695	−639	7	107	1	0	1
Final standings.

Legend and competition rules
Legend:
	Qualified for the semifinals.		P = Games played, W = Games won, D = Games drawn, L = Games lost, PF = Points for, PA = Points against, PD = Points difference, TF = Tries for, TA = Tries against, TB = Try bonus points, LB = Losing bonus points, Pts = Log points
Competition rules:
Qualification: The top four teams qualified for the semifinals. Points breakdown: * 4 points for a win * 2 points for a draw * 1 bonus point for a loss by seven points or less * 1 bonus point for scoring four or more tries in a match

	24 August 2018	Eastern Province U21	0–120	Golden Lions U21	WJ de Wet Stadium, Despatch
	14:00		Scoreboard[3]	Try: Ruan Vermaak (2) MJ Pelser Bradley Thain (3) Eddie Fouché (3) Wayne van der Bank Seun Maduna Gianni Lombard (2) Nathan McBeth Justin Brandon Morné van den Berg Madosh Tambwe Tatenda Mujawo Con: Eddie Fouché Gianni Lombard (13) Jeanluc Cilliers	Referee: Rodney Boneparte

	24 August 2018	Blue Bulls U21	26–30	Western Province U21	Loftus Versfeld B, Pretoria
	15:00	Try: JC Pretorius (2) Josh Allderman Erich Cronjé Con: Earll Douwrie (2) Cameron Hufke	Scoreboard[4]	Try: Jordan Chait Marco Labuschagné Nico Leonard Con: Jondre Williams (3) Pen: Jondre Williams (3)	Referee: Jaco Pretorius

	25 August 2018	Leopards U21	12–64	Free State U21	Fanie du Toit Sport Ground, Potchefstroom
	12:30	Try: Dougie Bruce-Smith Janlu Steenkamp Con: Janlu Steenkamp	Scoreboard[5]	Try: Marnus van der Merwe Thembinkosi Mangwana Lubabalo Dobela (2) Francois Agenbach Kurt Eybers Marthinus Boshoff Darren Adonis (2) Olie Losaba Con: Lubabalo Dobela (7)	Referee: Stephan Geldenhuys

Bye/s: Sharks U21

	31 August 2018	Golden Lions U21	38–14	Leopards U21	Ellis Park Stadium, Johannesburg
	14:00	Try: HP van Schoor Manuel Rass Tyrone Green Gianni Lombard Tiaan van der Merwe Con: Gianni Lombard (5) Pen: Gianni Lombard	Scoreboard[6]	Try: Damon Lee Pienaar van Niekerk Con: Janlu Steenkamp (2)	Referee: Graham Cooper

	1 September 2018	Sharks U21	99–7	Eastern Province U21	Kings Park Stadium, Durban
	13:00	Try: Jordan Els (2) Franco Botha Jacques Ackerman (2) Marco Palvie Ilunga Mukendi Mfundo Ndhlovu (3) Matt Wiseman Sicelo Tole (2) Chuiner van Rooyen (2) Con: Gareth Simpson (6) James Tedder (6)	Scoreboard[7]	Try: Dawayne Nel Con: Wayven Jafta	Referee: Sindile Ngcese

	1 September 2018	Free State U21	19–36	Blue Bulls U21	Free State Stadium, Bloemfontein
	11:45	Try: Marthinus Boshoff Ruan Henning Rewan Kruger Con: Lubabalo Dobela (2)	Scoreboard[8]	Try: Johan Grobbelaar (2) Andell Loubser Richman Gora Josh Allderman Con: Earll Douwrie Cliven Loubser (3) Pen: Mornay Smith	Referee: Divan Uys

Bye/s: Western Province U21

	7 September 2018	Blue Bulls U21	20–27	Golden Lions U21	Loftus Versfeld B, Pretoria
	15:00	Try: Johan Grobbelaar Dewald Maritz Con: Cliven Loubser Theo Boshoff Pen: Cliven Loubser (2)	Scoreboard[9]	Try: Tyrone Green Wayne van der Bank Jan-Louis la Grange Con: Gianni Lombard (3) Pen: Gianni Lombard (2)	Referee: Ruhan Meiring

	8 September 2018	Leopards U21	21–69	Sharks U21	Fanie du Toit Sport Ground, Potchefstroom
	12:30	Try: André van der Berg Keagan Tait Sampie Swiegers Con: Janlu Steenkamp (3)	Scoreboard[10]	Try: Franco Botha Dylan Weideman Jacques Ackerman Courtney Winnaar (3) Ilunga Mukendi (2) Mfundo Ndhlovu (2) Con: James Tedder (8) Pen: James Tedder	Referee: Phumzile Mbewu

	8 September 2018	Western Province U21	30–27	Free State U21	City Park Stadium, Athlone
	15:00	Try: Zain Davids Dan Jooste Tristan Leyds Con: Jondre Williams (3) Pen: Jondre Williams Jordan Chait (2)	Scoreboard[11]	Try: Ruben Cross Janco Cloete Rewan Kruger Francois Agenbach Con: Lubabalo Dobela (2) Pen: Lubabalo Dobela	Referee: Vusi Msibi

Bye/s: Eastern Province U21

	15 September 2018	Golden Lions U21	41–13	Western Province U21	Ellis Park Stadium, Johannesburg
	12:30	Try: Vincent Tshituka Tyrone Green Wayne van der Bank (2) PJ Botha Con: Jeanluc Cilliers (5) Pen: Jeanluc Cilliers (2)	Scoreboard[12]	Try: Nama Xaba Sihle Njezula Pen: Jondre Williams	Referee: Stephan Geldenhuys

	15 September 2018	Sharks U21	31–38	Blue Bulls U21	Kings Park Stadium, Durban
	15:00	Try: Jordan Els Courtney Winnaar Mfundo Ndhlovu Chuiner van Rooyen Con: James Tedder (4) Pen: James Tedder	Scoreboard[13]	Try: Johan Grobbelaar (4) Theo Boshoff Earll Douwrie Con: Andell Loubser (4)	Referee: Paul Mente

	15 September 2018	Eastern Province U21	7–69	Leopards U21	WJ de Wet Stadium, Despatch
	15:00	Try: Dawayne Nel Con: Jeandre van Ghent	Scoreboard[14]	Try: Lincoln Daniels (2) Gerik Mynhardt Lyon Mkize Ruben Dreyer Franco Tiedt Pienaar van Niekerk Keagan Tait (3) Wihan von Wielligh Con: Janlu Steenkamp (6) André van der Berg	Referee: Ruhan Meiring

Bye/s: Free State U21

	19 September 2018	Blue Bulls U21	149–13	Eastern Province U21	Loftus Versfeld B, Pretoria
	14:00	Try: Werner Fourie Denver Prins Rieckert Korff (3) Thomas Meyer Ewart Potgieter Dylan van der Walt Ginter Smuts (3) Irvin Ali Erich Cronjé (2) Xolisa Guma (3) Aaron Brody Cliven Loubser Alulutho Tshakweni Mihlali Stamper (2) Ciaran Dayaram Con: Erich Cronjé Andell Loubser (14) Cliven Loubser Marco Fuhri	Scoreboard[15]	Try: penalty try Pen: Jeandre van Ghent (2)	Referee: Sindile Ngcese

	21 September 2018	Free State U21	33–31	Golden Lions U21	Free State Stadium, Bloemfontein
	15:00	Try: Rewan Kruger Lubabalo Dobela Kurt Eybers Marthinus Boshoff Con: Lubabalo Dobela (2) Pen: Lubabalo Dobela (3)	Scoreboard[16]	Try: Darrien Landsberg Eddie Fouché Tyrone Green Jeanluc Cilliers Con: Jeanluc Cilliers (4) Pen: Jeanluc Cilliers	Referee: Christopher Allison

	22 September 2018	Western Province U21	45–19	Sharks U21	Newlands Stadium, Cape Town
	17:00	Try: Dan Jooste (2) Jondre Williams Sihle Njezula (2) Schalk Erasmus Con: Jondre Williams (4) Joshua Vermeulen (2) Pen: Jondre Williams	Scoreboard[17]	Try: Jordan Els Courtney Winnaar (2) Con: James Tedder (2)	Referee: Ruhan Meiring

Bye/s: Leopards U21

	28 September 2018	Eastern Province U21	0–173	Western Province U21	WJ de Wet Stadium, Despatch
	14:00		Scoreboard[18]	Try: Schalk Erasmus Gift Dlamini (3) Muller Uys (5) Labib Kannemeyer Abner van Reenen Tumi Mogoje (5) Lubelo Scott (2) Mujaahid van der Hoven (2) Sako Makata (2) Lee-Marvin Mazibuko Ricardo James Duarttee Sybrand Lombaard (2) Ryan Gregory Muller Con: Joshua Vermeulen (19)	Referee: Stephan Geldenhuys

	28 September 2018	Sharks U21	44–28	Free State U21	Kings Park Stadium, Durban
	15:00	Try: Jordan Els Courtney Winnaar Ilunga Mukendi James Tedder Mfundo Ndhlovu Con: James Tedder (5) Pen: James Tedder (3)	Scoreboard[19]	Try: Marnus van der Merwe Sango Xamlashe Marthinus Boshoff Ruben Cross Con: Lubabalo Dobela (4)	Referee: Vusi Msibi

	29 September 2018	Leopards U21	24–60	Blue Bulls U21	Fanie du Toit Sport Ground, Potchefstroom
	15:30	Try: Jeandre Hendrik Leonard Coenie Kruger Lincoln Daniels Con: Janlu Steenkamp (3) Pen: Janlu Steenkamp	Scoreboard[20]	Try: Rieckert Korff Ewan Coetzee JC Pretorius Xolisa Guma Stedman Gans (2) Earll Douwrie Ginter Smuts Cliven Loubser Erich Cronjé Con: Theo Boshoff (2) Andell Loubser (2) Cliven Loubser	Referee: Jaco Pretorius

Bye/s: Golden Lions U21

	5 October 2018	Golden Lions U21	27–19	Sharks U21	Ellis Park Stadium, Johannesburg
	15:00	Try: Ruan Vermaak Bradley Thain Ngwekazi Khanya Ncusane Con: Jeanluc Cilliers (3) Pen: Jeanluc Cilliers (2)	Scoreboard[21]	Try: Jordan Els Courtney Winnaar Gert Cronjé Con: James Tedder (2)	Referee: Ruhan Meiring

	6 October 2018	Western Province U21	90–14	Leopards U21	City Park Stadium, Athlone
	11:30	Try: Dan Jooste (2) Nama Xaba Zain Davids Lyle Hendricks Cornel Smit Nico Leonard Marco Labuschagné (2) Wikus Groenewald Labib Kannemeyer (3) Mujaahid van der Hoven Con: Jondre Williams (4) Sybrand Lombaard (5) Lyle Hendricks	Scoreboard[22]	Try: Jeandre Hendrik Leonard Michiel Bosman Con: Janlu Steenkamp (2)	Referee: Paul Mente

	6 October 2018	Free State U21	85–29	Eastern Province U21	CUT Stadium, Bloemfontein
	14:00	Try: Janco Cloete Bertie de Bod Zinedine Booysen Francois Agenbach William Eybers (2) Kurt Eybers Marthinus Boshoff Craig Ellis Lubabalo Dobela (4) Con: Kwagga Taylor (6) Lubabalo Dobela (4)	Scoreboard[23]	Try: Jerome Lottering Cameron Cato Wayne Moss Malan Marais Con: Wayne Moss (3) Pen: Wayne Moss	Referee: Archie Sehlako

Bye/s: Blue Bulls U21

	19 October 2018	Golden Lions U21	55–30	Free State U21	Ellis Park Stadium, Johannesburg
	15:00	Try: HP van Schoor Cohen Kiewit Gianni Lombard Tyrone Green Jan-Louis la Grange (3) PJ Botha Con: Gianni Lombard (3) Pen: Gianni Lombard (3)	Scoreboard[24]	Try: Bertie de Bod Sango Xamlashe Kurt Eybers Con: Lubabalo Dobela (3) Pen: Lubabalo Dobela (2) Drop: Kwagga Taylor	Referee: Stephan Geldenhuys

	20 October 2018	Western Province U21	20–29	Blue Bulls U21	Newlands Stadium, Cape Town
	14:00	Try: Muller Uys penalty try Con: Jondre Williams Pen: Jondre Williams (2)	Scoreboard[25]	Try: Mornay Smith Stedman Gans Earll Douwrie Lian du Toit Erich Cronjé Con: Earll Douwrie Cameron Hufke	Referee: Paul Mente

	27 October 2018	Blue Bulls U21	24–58	Golden Lions U21	Newlands Stadium, Cape Town
	13:00	Try: Jaco Bezuidenhout JC Pretorius Manie Libbok Con: Manie Libbok (3) Pen: Cameron Hufke	Scoreboard[26]	Try: Len Massyn Gianni Lombard Tyrone Green Wandisile Simelane Shaun Williams Asenathi Ntlabakanye Con: Jeanluc Cilliers (5) Pen: Jeanluc Cilliers (6)	Referee: Ben Crouse

The honour roll for the 2018 Under-21 Provincial Championship was as follows:

2018 Under-21 Provincial Championship
Champions:	Golden Lions U21
Top points scorer:	Lubabalo Dobela, Free State U21 (101)
Top try scorer:	Courtney Winnaar, Sharks U21 (8)

The following squads were named for the 2018 Under-21 Provincial Championship:

Blue Bulls U21 squad^[27]

Irvin Ali • Josh Allderman • Heino Bezuidenhout • Jaco Bezuidenhout • Theo Boshoff • Jerome Bossr • Aaron Brody • Ewan Coetzee • Erich Cronjé • Ciaran Dayaram • Earll Douwrie • Lian du Toit • Cabous Eloff • Werner Fourie • Marco Fuhri • Stedman Gans • Prince ǃGaoseb • Richman Gora • Johan Grobbelaar • Xolisa Guma • Boeta Hamman • Cameron Hufke • Rieckert Korff • Manie Libbok • Andell Loubser • Cliven Loubser • Khwezi Mafu • Dewald Maritz • Simphiwe Matanzima • Thomas Meyer • Tiny Mukhari • Ruan Nortjé • Ryno Pieterse • Ewart Potgieter • JC Pretorius • Denver Prins • Ig Prinsloo • Adré Smith • Mornay Smith • Ginter Smuts • Mihlali Stamper • Hendré Stassen • Alulutho Tshakweni • Dylan van der Walt • Wian van Niekerk

Eastern Province U21 squad^[28]

Dillon Barendse • Dominique Barendse • Sithembiso Befile • Tembekile Boltina • Ruan Botha • Cameron Cato • Chulu Chutu • Keenen Daniels • Siphosethu Dlongodlongo • Shaun Erasmus • Ntsika Fisanti • Aussie Fredericks • Stefan Gerber • Dylan Grootboom • Oyisa Hakhula • Vusikhaya Hanebe • Wayven Jafta • Shane January • Wickus Jason • Jason Jeggels • Damion Johannes • Siya Jwacu • Yomelela Keswa • WJ Kruger • Jerome Lottering • Khanyo Phiko Maqam • Malan Marais • Astin Morton • Wayne Moss • Mikale Muller • Siyabonga Mzantsi • Dawayne Nel • Ryan Oliphant • Marcus Plaatjies • Lindsay Potgieter • Chumani Poyana • Zayn Prins • Kyle Scott • Daiman Smith • Donavan Stevens • Louis Petrus Strydom • Rikus van As • Wimpie van der Walt • Jeandre van Ghent • Cameron van Heerden • Daniel Voigt

Free State U21 squad^[29]

Darren Adonis • Francois Agenbach • Gideo Beukes • Zinedine Booysen • Marthinus Boshoff • Janco Cloete • Ruben Cross • Luyolo Dapula • Bertie de Bod • Ruben de Haas • Cameron Douglas Dawson • Lubabalo Dobela • Craig Ellis • Kurt Eybers • William Eybers • Athi Halom • Ruan Henning • Nathan Jordan • Jan Kotze • Rewan Kruger • Olie Losaba • Elrigh Louw • Thembinkosi Mangwana• Thabiso Lindokuhle Msiza • Zwivhuya Mulaudzi • Keanen Murray • Mihlali Peter • Henk Pretorius • Sibabalo Qoma • Otsile Ranthako • Mervyn Roos • Jan George Rossouw • Bulelani Sali • Kwagga Taylor • Hannes Terblanche • Marnus van der Merwe • Gerbus van Wyk • Quintin Vorster • Sango Xamlashe

Golden Lions U21 squad^[30]

Niell Bezuidenhout • PJ Botha • Justin Brandon • Jeanluc Cilliers • Austin Davids • Hacjivah Dayimani • Tyreeq February • Chergin Fillies • Eddie Fouché • Tyrone Green • Jack Hart • Edwin Jansen • Darryle Kameel • Cohen Kiewit • Kayden Kiewit • Phillip Krause • Leo Kruger • Jan-Louis la Grange • Darrien Landsberg • Gianni Lombard • Phumzile Maqondwana • Nathan McBeth • Seun Maduna • Len Massyn • Tatenda Mujawo • Ngwekazi Khanya Ncusane • Cyprian Nkomo • Reinhard Nothnagel • Asenathi Ntlabakanye • MJ Pelser • Manuel Rass • Dian Schoonees • Wandisile Simelane • PJ Steenkamp • Madosh Tambwe • Bradley Thain • Vincent Tshituka • Morné van den Berg • Wayne van der Bank • Tiaan van der Merwe • HP van Schoor • Arno van Wyk • Ruan Vermaak • Shaun Williams

Leopards U21 squad^[31]

Rehann Baumann • Rouxbann Baumann • Michiel Bosman • Dougie Bruce-Smith • Rudie Burger • De Wet Castelyn • James Mao Cheia • Prins Cloete • Byron Coetzee • Shane Coetzee • Lincoln Daniels • Ebi Davids • Cami Dorfling • Ruben Dreyer • Reuben du Plooy • Andries Engelbrecht • Bernu Engelbrecht • Boet Heyl • Daine Kannemeyer • Tumi Khukhele • Coenie Kruger • Damon Lee • Jeandre Hendrik Leonard • Black Lion Lushozi • Stefanus Mare • Gerhardus Meyer • Lyon Mkize • Sibusiso Mlangeni • Mlondi Mnisi • Shima Mphahlele • Gerik Mynhardt • Sifis Ngobeni • Dihan Odendaal • Edmund Rheeder • Tiaan Schoonraad • Wapper Schoeman • Ruan Schultz • Hugo Slabber • Ishaad Snyman • Janlu Steenkamp • Johan Steyn • Brendan Strydom • Sampie Swiegers • Keagan Tait • Franco Tiedt • André van der Berg • Corné van der Merwe • Pienaar van Niekerk • Wihan von Wielligh • JP Wegner • Lifa Zulu

Sharks U21 squad^[32]

Jacques Ackerman • Curwin Bosch • Franco Botha • Heinrich Brendel • James Bruce • Austin Brummer • Zak Burger • Gert Cronjé • Edward Sipho Davids • Christiaan de Jager • Francois de Villiers • Kwanda Dimaza • Jordan Els • Andrew Evans • Aphelele Fassi • Keegan Haman • Marthinus Holtzhausen • Clifferd Jacobs • Khail Kotzenberg • Khutha Mchunu • Luyanda Mngadi • Ntuthuko Mthembu • Ilunga Mukendi • Sibabalwe Mzanywa • Mfundo Ndhlovu • Gugu Nelani • Sanele Nohamba • Cornelius Otto • Marco Palvie • Hendrik Prinsloo • Gareth Simpson • Jean-Pierre Smith • William Squires • Xavier Swartbooi • James Tedder • Sicelo Tole • JJ van der Mescht • Ruben van Heerden • Chuiner van Rooyen • Dylan Weideman • Courtney Winnaar • Matt Wiseman

Western Province U21 squad^[33]

Reece Bezuidenhout • Kwenzo Blose • David Brits • Jordan Chait • Matt Dahl • Zain Davids • Ruben de Villiers • Ben-Jason Dixon • Gift Dlamini • Ricardo James Duarttee • Schalk Erasmus • Wikus Groenewald • Lyle Hendricks • Jessie Johnson • Dan Jooste • Labib Kannemeyer • Marco Labuschagné • Nico Leonard • Tristan Leyds • Sybrand Lombaard • Leon Lyons • Athi Magwala • Sako Makata • Henlo Marais • Mike Mavovana • Lee-Marvin Mazibuko • David Meihuizen • Salmaan Moerat • Tumi Mogoje • Bronlee Mouries • Ryan Gregory Muller • Sihle Njezula • Prince Orderson • Joel Paarwater • Nico Peyper • Carlü Sadie • Sazi Sandi • Taigh Schoor • Lubelo Scott • Jordan Sesink-Clee • Cornel Smit • Pieter Swanepoel • Muller Uys • Mujaahid van der Hoven • Abner van Reenen • Ernst van Rhyn • Wian van Zyl • Joshua Vermeulen • Cobus Wiese • Jondre Williams • Nama Xaba

The following referees officiated matches in the 2018 Under-21 Provincial Championship:

2018 Under-21 Provincial Championship referees

Christopher Allison • Rodney Boneparte • Graham Cooper • Ben Crouse • Stephan Geldenhuys • Phumzile Mbewu • Ruhan Meiring • Paul Mente • Vusi Msibi • Sindile Ngcese • Jaco Pretorius • Archie Sehlako • Divan Uys

• 2018 Currie Cup Premier Division
• 2018 Currie Cup First Division

• SARU website