Kearsney to showcase SA's best U16 talent as FNB Youth Weeks kick off
Issued by SA Rugby Communications
June 25, 2026
South Africa's top junior players are set to light up the FNB U16 Grant Khomo Week and FNB U16 Girls Week tournaments staged at Kearsney College in KwaZulu-Natal next week, when 38 teams from across the country will converge on the town of Botha’s Hill near Durban.
In a change to the format used in previous years, both Under-16 tournaments will be staged at a single venue this year, and will mark the start of SA Rugby’s annual Youth Weeks programme.
The two U18 weeks - the FNB U18 Craven Week and the FNB U18 Girls Week will take place at Grey High School in Gqeberha from 6 to 11 July.
The FNB U16 Grant Khomo Week kicks off at Kearsney College on Monday morning, with the Blue Bulls XV tackling Kenya in the opening fixture.
The Blue Bulls and Sharks - who both recorded three wins at the 2025 tournament will be in action later in the day when they face Eastern Province and the Golden Lions respectively.
A total of 22 teams will compete across the three match days, between 29 June and 3 July.
Meanwhile, the FNB U16 Girls Week will be staged at the same venue on alternate days, between 30 June and 4 July.
The Pumas will battle Border Country Districts at Kearsney College on Tuesday morning, while Western Province are set to tackle hosts KwaZulu-Natal later in the day.
The Opening Ceremony on Tuesday afternoon will be followed by a clash between the Golden Lions and Blue Bulls, who both finished the 2025 competition unbeaten.
Day one fixtures:
FNB U16 Grant Khomo Week (Monday, 29 June):
08h30: Blue Bulls XV v Kenya, B Field
09h30: Griquas v Limpopo Blue Bulls, A Field
09h45: Iqhawe v Border Country Districts, B Field
10h45: South Western Districts v Free State, A Field
11h00: Leopards v Valke, B Field
12h00: Western Province v Griffons, A Field
12h30: Border v Namibia, B Field
13h30: Blue Bulls v Eastern Province, A Field
13h45: Boland v Pumas, B Field
14h45: Sharks v Golden Lions, A Field
15h00: Sharks XV v Zimbabwe, B Field
FNB U16 Girls Week (Tuesday, 30 June)
09h30: Pumas v Border Country Districts, A Field
09h30: Griffons v Free State, B Field
10h45: Border v Eastern Province, A Field
10h45: Boland v Griquas, B Field
12h00: Western Province v KwaZulu-Natal, A Field
12h00: South Western Districts v Leopards, B Field
13h30: Opening Ceremony
14h30: Golden Lions v Blue Bulls, A Field
14h30: Limpopo Blue Bulls v Valke, B Field
