Grant Khomo: Bulls, EP finish on a high after quota controversy
Western Province were pulled from the unofficial final – reportedly because they did not meet SA Rugby's race quotas.
The Blue Bulls beat Free State in the final match of the U16 Grant Khomo Week at Hoër Landbouskool Boland in the Western Cape.
The Free Staters went into Day Three of the tournament with an unbeaten record and were favourites to add a third win to their tally. They led 12-8 at half time, before the Bulls fought back to secure a 20-12 victory.
Earlier on Day Three, the boys from Eastern Province secured their third consecutive win of the tournament when they edged Boland 15-13. Flyhalf Travis Pheiffer slotted five penalties to guide the Eastern Cape side to victory.
Also read: U20 Champs: Big wins, shocks on day two
The annual U16 Grant Khomo week this year took a controversial turn after Western Province were pulled out of appearing in the final match against Free State, reportedly for not meeting SA Rugby’s race quotas.
Western Province were originally scheduled to take on Free State in the unofficial final of the tournament.
Both teams were unbeaten after Western Province claimed wins against Boland (49-12) and the Blue Bulls (25-18), while Free State beat Border (29-20) and the Golden Lions (23-9).
However, a late change to the schedule saw the Blue Bulls scheduled to face Free State in the final game, while Province were matched against the Lions in the penultimate match.
According to a report by Netwerk24, this was reportedly because Western Province did not meet SA Rugby’s requirement to field at least 11 players of colour in the matchday-23, in their win against the Blue Bulls earlier in the week.
Injuries to two of Western Province’s players in their opening game forced them to call up two white players from the Western Province XV side against the Bulls.
Day Three results:
- South Western Districts 19 (14), Pumas 24 (7)
- Limpopo Blue Bulls 29 (5), v Zimbabwe 16 (6)
- Border Country Districts 7 (0), Free State XV 28 (21)
- Boland 13 (3), Eastern Province 15 (6)
- Griquas 23 (7), Namibia 0 (0)
- Griffons 0 (0), Valke 6 (3)
- Western Province XV 25 (15), v Sharks 8 (0)
- Leopards 12 (0) Border 12 (5)
- Western Province 10 (3), Golden Lions 5 (0)
- Free State 12 (12), Blue Bulls 20 (8)
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