Penryn College goalkeeper Ulrich Reingrubber will represent South Africa at the Youth Africa Cup in Nairobi, Kenya, from August 6 to 8. The Lowveld sporting community is celebrating the milestone, which caps off an exceptional season for the shot-stopper after stellar performances earned him a spot in the South Africa U18 Hockey 5s squad.

The tournament in Kenya promises high-octane action, with South Africa set to square off against a competitive field that includes host nation Kenya, Ghana, Malawi, Nigeria and Uganda. The tournament serves as the qualifier for the inaugural International Hockey Federation (FIH) Youth Hockey 5s World Cup, scheduled to take place this December.

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Penryn celebrates regional representation

Ulrich’s selection highlights a successful season for the Penryn College hockey programme. The school showcased its regional prowess by sending four players to represent the 2026 Mpumalanga U18A Boys provincial side, as well as an additional 24 players to other provincial sides. With this latest national call-up, Ulrich joins an elite list of Penryn former scholars who have represented South Africa on the international stage.

Sponsor backs goalkeeper for Nairobi trip

Attributing his rapid development and tactical maturity to the school’s high-performance environment, Ulrich expressed deep gratitude to his mentors: head of hockey Jacques du Toit and first-team head coach Brighty Mashaba. Both coaches said Ulrich’s positional awareness, reflexes and leadership from the back have been crucial to their success this season, adding that seeing him take the step to national representation was a massive moment for the entire hockey programme.

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Recognising his outstanding form at both school and provincial level, leading hockey brand Mercian Hockey SA has officially stepped in to sponsor Ulrich’s goalkeeper kit for the continental showdown in Nairobi. Equipped with top-tier gear and backed by a proud Lowveld community and his school, Ulrich now turns his focus to helping South Africa punch its ticket to the FIH Youth World Cup later this year.