The South African national underâÂÂ18 rugby union team, commonly referred to as South African Schools, SA Schools or SA U18, is South AfricaâÂÂs official underâÂÂ18 ageâÂÂgrade rugby union side, administered by South African Rugby Union. The team is a key part of South AfricaâÂÂs player development pathway and compete in the Under-18 International Series, bridging school rugby and junior international rugby, and often serves as a stepping stone toward the Junior Springboks.
Selection for the team takes place annually after the conclusion of South AfricaâÂÂs premier youth tournament for schoolboys, the Craven Week UnderâÂÂ18 tournament. Top performers from provincial schools sides are chosen to represent South African Schools in international fixtures. Throughout history this selection process has formed a central element of South African schoolboy rugby culture and talent identification.
Although the SA U18 side does not participate in a formal global championship, since 2012 it has hosted an annual international competition known as the UnderâÂÂ18 International Series, which was rebranded from 2016 onwards as the U19 International Series. This series, usually staged in August in the Western Cape region of South Africa, brings together national ageâÂÂgrade teams from Europe and beyond for a series of three match days at school and club venues.
Participating nations in recent years have included England, France, Ireland, Georgia and Wales, with both an SA U18 (first team) and an SA U18 "A" (academy) squad competing. In the 2025 edition the SA U18 team won all three of its matches, defeating France, Ireland and England with a combined 157 points scored across seven tries per match on average.
This international series forms a key part of SA RugbyâÂÂs Elite Player Development (EPD) stream, giving South African schoolboys exposure to international competition and aiding the transition of top talents into South AfricaâÂÂs U19 and U20 structures.
Prior to ageâÂÂgrade restructuring in 2008, South Africa maintained a standâÂÂalone national U19 side that competed in the IRB U19 World Championship. After restructuring, the primary global ageâÂÂgrade competition became the U20 World Rugby Championship, and the U19 level has since operated mainly as a developmental stage within South African RugbyâÂÂs broader pathway system.
South African Schools U18 remains a principal feeder for both U19 academy squads and the Junior Springboks, with coaches and selectors from the U20 programme involved in talent identification and mentoring at the series and selection camps.
Selection to the SA Schools U18 side is widely regarded as one of the highest honours in South African schoolboy rugby and attracts attention from provincial academies and professional franchises. Performances at this level often influence progression into professional provincial sides as well as Junior Springbok selection in subsequent years.
<small>*Stats correct as of 6 February 2026</small>
<small>Note: These results reflect only the performances of South African Schools (SA Schools) since their reintroduction in 2012. SA âÂÂAâ (Academy) team results are not included in the table above.</small>
<small>*Stats correct as of 6 February 2026</small>
<small>Note: These results reflect only the performances of South African Schools (SA Schools) since their reintroduction in 2012. SA âÂÂAâ (Academy) team results are not included in the table above.</small>
The table below highlights South AfricaâÂÂs U18 top all-time points scorers since the Under-18 International Series started in 2012:
<small>*Stats correct as of 5 February 2026</small>
<small>Note: These stats reflect only the performances of South African Schools (SA Schools) players since 2012. SA âÂÂAâ (Academy) players are not included.</small>
The table below highlights South AfricaâÂÂs U18 top all-time tries scored since the Under-18 International Series started in 2012:
<small>*Stats correct as of 5 February 2026</small>
<small>Note: These stats reflect only the performances of South African Schools (SA Schools) players since 2012. SA âÂÂAâ (Academy) players are not included.</small>
<small>*Stats correct as of 6 February 2026</small>
<small>Note: These results reflect only the performances of SA âÂÂAâ (Academy) since their reintroduction in 2014. South African Schools (SA Schools) team results are not included.</small>
<small>*Stats correct as of 6 February 2026</small>
<small>Note: These results reflect only the performances of SA âÂÂAâ (Academy) since their reintroduction in 2014. South African Schools (SA Schools) team results are not included.</small>
South Africa's results in the 2012 Under-18 International Series were:
South Africa's results in the 2013 Under-18 International Series were:
South Africa's results in the 2014 Under-18 International Series were:
The results for South Africa and South Africa 'A' in the 2015 Under-18 International Series were:
The results for South Africa and South Africa 'A' in the 2016 Under-19 International Series were:
The results for South Africa in the 2017 Under-19 International Series were:
The results in the 2018 Under-18 International Series were:
The SA Schools results in the 2019 Under-18 International Series were:
No tournaments were held due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
No tournaments were held due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
The SA Schools results in the 2022 Under-18 International Series were:
The SA Schools results in the 2023 Under-18 International Series were:
The SA Schools results in the 2024 Under-18 International Series were:
The SA Schools results in the 2025 Under-18 International Series were:
The SA Schools fixtures for the 2026 Under-18 International Series are:
The South African Schools squad was named for the 2025 Under-18 International Series against France, Ireland and England.
The following players played at previous editions of the U18 SA Schools International Rugby Competition:
The following players played for the South Africa Schools Academy at previous U18 SA Schools International Rugby Competitions: