From Jan Prinsloo, vice president of the SARL.

On 14th of November,The South African Rugby League Academy was opened at the Technical High School in Potchefstroom, North West Province.

Potchefstroom is where the historical test between the Australian Universities and the South African Rhinos took place in July this year.

The day was 100% success with a large crowd and after all formalities the academy was officially opened by the Executive Mayor of Potchefstroom.

To open the academy ,Technical High (The academy side) played Ed-U-College, a private high school from Welkom, Free State.

The academy side proved victorious 54-28.

The win means a lot to the academy and the Headmaster of Technical High sees this as a tremendous breakthrough for rugby lLeague.

Jan Prinsloo said the day was magnificent, the grounds were lovely and the spectators loved what they saw.


The well known South African business group ITEC is the sponsor of the very first rugby schools team, officially integrated with the SA Schools Rugby League Academy. ITEC is the sponsor of the school jersey for the academy .

Technical High School will be the headquarters of the academy where South Africa’s elite student athletes will learn the skills of rugby league.

League clinics will be introduced to other high schools throughout South Africa where there elite players will be identified and earn selection into the academy.

By doing this we will have trials from which a Rhinos high school side will be selected for touring purposes and to play visiting international schools.

This event is of historical value seeing that South Africa now has its own Rugby Schools Academy and that the proposed schools clinics will participate to make this Academy is winning formula in the preparation of young future stars

A Seven Man Committee was formed by the Department of Education and the Departmnent of Sport in co-operation with SA Rugby League to investigate the introduction on schools level of Rugby League as a sport.

Having the academy ensures the SARL of a new senior provincial team next year, the Western Warthogs.