Scarcely six months since the first @lantic schools 7's tournament took place 2 players have been taken up in the Springbok 7's squad. Gerhard van den Heever (Affies and now Blue Bulls) and Danie Poolman (Paul Roos and now WP) have been included in Paul Treu's Springbok squad.
Dederick Venter, marketing director of @lantic has confirmed that there will be a further 11 tournaments from August to October. Venter also confirmed that the champion of champions tournament, where all the winners will play against one another, will take place on 25 October in Pretoria. According to Venter "We are extremely satisfied with the opportunity offered to these boys. We never expected our decision to launch the @lantic 7's series in 2007, to have such an immediate impact in the 7's arena. With such a return we will definitely increase our involvement in the development of the sport in future."
According to series promoter Willem Strauss, he is very satisfied with these results. "We have exposed in excess of 4000 boys to 7's rugby and I believe that we will bring through many more via the @lantic tournaments." The development of the boys skill levels is also remarkable according to Strauss who believes that the new ELV laws will require more creative backline play in rugby.
According to Gerhard van den Heever, who played 7's rugby for the first time during last year's @lantic tournament in Pretoria, it was a big occasion for him to have played for the Springbok 7's team during the @lantic tournament in Swellendam. "Sevens rugby helps me to improve my running lines and one-on-one defence play tremendously" said van den Heever.
The winners of the first 5 @lantic tournaments this year are:
Pretoria - Ben Vorster (Tzaneen)
Bethlehem - Voortrekker HS (Bethlehem)
Bloemfontein - Harmony Sports Academy (Virginia)
Stellenbosch - Harmony Sports Academy (Virginia)
Swellendam - Excelsior Secondary School
Photo (l - r) Willem Strauss, Gerhard van den Heever & Dederick Venter
@LANTIC PRODUSEER SPRINGBOKKE
Skaars ses maande nadat die eerste @lantic skole 7's toernooi plaas gevind het is 2 spelers, wat die eerste keer tydens die @lantic reeks blootgestel is aan 7's rugby, opgeneem in die Springbok 7's groep. Gerhard van den Heever (Affies en nou Blou Bulle) en Danie Poolman (Paul Roos en nou WP) vorm reeds deel van Paul Treu se Springbokgroep.
Volgens die reeks promoter Willem Strauss, is hy baie tevrede met hierdie resultate. "Ons het reeds bykans 4 000 seuns aan 7's rugby blootgestel en ek glo dat ons nog heelwat Springbokke via die @lantic toernooie sal kan deurbring." Die ontwikkeling van die seuns se vaardigheidsvlakke is ook opmerklik volgens Strauss wat glo dat die nuwe reëls meer kreatiewe agterspel gaan benodig in rugby.
Volgens Gerhard van den Heever, wat die eerste keer sewes rugby gespeel het verlede jaar tydens die @lantic toernooi in Pretoria, was dit vir hom 'n groot geleentheid om verlede naweek vir die Springbok sewesspan te kon speel tydens die @lantic toernooi in Swellendam. "Sewes rugby help my geweldig om my hardlooplyne en een op een verdediging te verbeter" het Gerhard gesê.
Dederick Venter, bemarkingsdirekteur van @lantic het bevestig dat daar nog 11 toernooie sal plaasvind vanaf Augustus tot Oktober vanjaar. Venter het ook bevestig dat die kampioen van kampioen toernooi, waar al die @lantic wenners teen mekaar sal speel, 25 Oktober in Pretoria sal plaasvind. Die wenners van die eerste vyf @lantic toernooie vanjaar was:
Pretoria - Ben Vorster (Tzaneen)
Bethlehem - Voortrekker HS (Bethlehem)
Bloemfontein - Harmonie Sportakademie (Virginia)
Stellenbosch - Harmonie Sportakademie (Virginia)
Swellendam - Excelsior Sekondêre Skool
Foto (l - r) Willem Strauss, Gerhard van den Heever & Dederick Venter
