Sad but correct decision taken to cancel Craven Weeks

For the first time in 56 years there will be no u/18 Craven Week.

This annual competition, the u/15 Iqhawe Week, the u/16 Grant Khomo Week, the u/18 Academy Week,  the U/13 Craven Week and the  Learners with Special Education Needs (LSEN) Week, have been cancelled for 2020 due to the Covid-19 pandemic.

Primary and high school boys will not proudly represent their provinces this year. Some might have been selected for national representative teams. Due to circumstances beyond their control, these boys will not experience on of the great traditions of South African schoolboy rugby this year.

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SA Rugby issued a press release on Tuesday confirming that no youth rugby weeks will be played this year.

“The pandemic has created a truly unprecedented situation which affects all of us. We applaud the intentions of SA Rugby and our associations to be flexible and to plan for all circumstances associated with the unknowns of the lockdown. The South African Schools Rugby Association (Sasra) has placed the safety of every child in South Africa above everything else as we reimagined the possible ways going forward,” said Sasra chairperson, Noel Ingle.

“Consequently, it is with deep regret that Sasra and Saru must inform our associations and schools that all the 2020 youth weeks will not be played this year. Due to this the u/18 international tournament is also suspended and will resume in 2021. The coronavirus has wreaked havoc with the 2020 school calendar. There will be no traditional June/July tournaments. Sasra and Saru will continue to monitor the situation as it unfolds in the country. Different models will be investigated if there is any chance of rugby being played at interprovincial level, including the sevens. This will require cooperation from all the associations and home unions.”

The manager of amateur rugby of the MRU, Roelof Kotze said today, ”It is sad that the national weeks have been cancelled. It is also sad for the boys, who have been preparing for years to play in these teams. At the same time we have to be conscious of the safety issue regarding the outbreak of Covid-19 and we have to do our bit as the rugby industry to keep our people and players safe. We fully understand the impact – should these weeks take place, people could get sick. We will adhere to the lockdown and keep our players, spectators and coaches safe”.

The SA Rugby Provincial u/13 and u17 Sevens, SA Provincial u/19 Competition and the SA Rugby Provincial Sevens Competition have also been cancelled.

The Pumas have won the feature game (unofficial final) of the u/18 Craven Week three times, in 1982 and 1986 (as South-eastern Transvaal) and in 2000.