# Craven Week

> Mediated Wiki article. Canonical URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Craven_Week
> Markdown URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Craven_Week.md
> Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Craven_Week
> Source revision: 1304323758
> License: Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/)

Boys' rugby tournament

Craven Week The previous Coca-Cola Craven Week logo Sport Rugby union Instituted 1964; 62 years ago (1964) Number of teams 20

The **Craven Week** is an annual [rugby union](/source/Rugby_union) [tournament](/source/Tournament) organised for schoolboys in the [Republic of South Africa](/source/Republic_of_South_Africa). The tournament started in July 1964, and is named after the legendary [Springbok](/source/South_Africa_national_rugby_union_team) rugby union player and coach [Dr Danie Craven](/source/Danie_Craven).[1][2][3]

The tournament has its humble beginnings in an idea by [Piet Malan](/source/Piet_Malan), then Springbok [flanker](/source/Rugby_union_positions#6._Blindside_flanker_.26_7._Openside_flanker), in 1949, around the time of the [South African Rugby Board](/source/South_African_Rugby_Board)'s 75th anniversary. He wanted schools to feature in the celebrations and approached [Danie Craven](/source/Danie_Craven) in [Potgietersrus](/source/Mokopane) on how this could be done.

Dr Craven took the idea to his board who decided on getting the 15 schools unions together for a week. The man who kept the idea alive however was one [Jan Preuyt](/source/Jan_Preuyt), a former student at the [University of Stellenbosch](/source/Stellenbosch_University) and teacher at [Port Rex Technical School](/source/Port_Rex_Technical_High_School) in [East London](/source/East_London%2C_South_Africa). Preuyt had played rugby for [Griqualand West](/source/Griqualand_West) and was also the chairman of [Border Schools](https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Border_Schools&action=edit&redlink=1).

At the time there was no such thing as a South African Schools organisation, and the South African Rugby Board were not involved, so Preuyt and Schalk van der Merwe, Principal of George Randall High school, took the initiative to organise the first Craven Week tournament on their own.

The competition began with 15 teams in 1964, growing to 28 in 1987 and 32 in 2000. The format was changed in 2001, and now allows for just 20 teams. Each of South Africa's fourteen provincial unions field at least one team, with some unions sending two squads (one from their urban base and another representing "country districts"), plus representation from Namibia and Zimbabwe in most years.

Each year since 1974 a South African schools team has been selected, and the competition has been open to players of all races since 1980 when Craven himself requested that it be done. The competition has since become a hunting ground for talent scouts trying to find the best new players for their provinces and many young upcoming stars see the tournament as an opportunity to further their careers. The format has been replicated at other age and skill levels, including a U18 Academy Week for provincial B sides, the [Grant Khomo](/source/Grant_Khomo) Week for U16 teams, and Iqhawe Week for U15 sides which places special emphasis on players from underprivileged or underserved areas.

## Results

Despite there being no official final for the Craven Week tournaments, there is a main match every year that features the two best teams at the tournament. The results of these main matches since 1971 are:[4][5]

Main matches at the Craven Week Year Venue Winner Score Runner-up 1964 East London Border 10 -9 Natal 1965 East London Natal 22 - 11 Transvaal 1966 Pretoria Natal 13 Eastern Province 1967 Cape Town Vrystaat 8 - 3 Western Province 1971 Kimberley Western Province 11–0 Griqualand West 1972 Potchefstroom Western Province 16–9 Western Transvaal 1973 Stellenbosch Western Province 36–7 Transvaal 1974 Johannesburg Western Province 22–12 South Western Districts 1975* Pretoria Northern Transvaal 20–8 Transvaal 1975* Port Elizabeth Eastern Province 46–13 Natal 1976* Wolmaranstad Transvaal 28–10 Northern Transvaal 1976* Kroonstad Boland 13–9 Free State 1977 Oudtshoorn Eastern Province 19–17 Western Province 1978 Middelburg Western Province 12–3 Free State 1979 East London Northern Free State 9–6 Free State 1980 Stellenbosch Free State 16–6 Transvaal 1981 Worcester Transvaal 11–7 Western Province 1982 Windhoek South Eastern Transvaal 25–7 Northern Free State 1983 Upington Free State 13–9 South Eastern Transvaal 1984 Bloemfontein Transvaal 3–0 Eastern Province 1985 Witbank Free State 23–15 Transvaal 1986 Graaff-Reinet South Eastern Transvaal 19–12 Western Province 1987 Paarl Natal / Transvaal 22–22 N/A 1988 Port Elizabeth Western Province 16–3 Free State 1989 Johannesburg Transvaal 17–6 Eastern Province 1990 Durban Natal 18–8 Northern Transvaal 1991 East London Northern Transvaal 10–9 Border 1992 Pretoria Western Province 22–15 Free State 1993 Secunda Northern Transvaal 25–13 South Eastern Transvaal 1994 Newcastle Border / Eastern Province 13–13 N/A 1995 Bloemfontein Free State 15–13 Boland 1996 Stellenbosch Northern Transvaal 24–12 Western Province 1997 Kimberley Northern Transvaal 29–27 Western Province 1998 Vanderbijlpark Blue Bulls 23 - 19 Falcons 1999 George Western Province 15–11 Eastern Province 2000 Port Elizabeth Pumas 19–18 Boland 2001 Rustenburg SWD 26–20 Blue Bulls 2002 Pietermaritzburg Western Province 31–16 Free State 2003 Wellington Western Province 22–17 Free State 2004 Nelspruit Free State 17–16 Western Province 2005 Bloemfontein Golden Lions 38–15 Eastern Province 2006 Johannesburg Blue Bulls 35–20 Golden Lions 2007 Stellenbosch Free State 52–3 Western Province 2008 Pretoria SWD 31–25 Free State 2009 East London Western Province 19–17 Free State 2010 Welkom Free State 42–21 Western Province 2011 Kimberley Free State 28–17 Golden Lions 2012 Port Elizabeth Blue Bulls 46–0 Golden Lions 2013 Polokwane Western Province 45–29 Golden Lions 2014 Middelburg Eastern Province 25–7 South Western Districts 2015 Stellenbosch Western Province 95–0 Eastern Province 2016 Durban Western Province 27–20 Golden Lions 2017 Johannesburg Golden Lions 45–18 KwaZulu-Natal 2018 Paarl Western Province 47–8 KwaZulu-Natal 2019 Bloemfontein Western Province 56–31 Blue Bulls 2022 Cape Town Western Province 29–21 Blue Bulls 2023[6] George Western Province 29–5 Blue Bulls 2024[7] Krugersdorp Western Province 37–24 Free State 2025[8] Middelburg Western Province 27–21 South Western Districts

* In 1975 and 1976 there were 2 Craven weeks due to the school holidays of the old Transvaal and the rest of SA not corresponding.

## See also

- [South Africa national under-18 rugby union team](/source/South_Africa_national_under-18_rugby_union_team)

## External links

- [South Africa Schools Rugby Association](http://www.sasra.org.za)

- [School of Rugby Craven Week Website](http://www.schoolofrugby.co.za/cravenweek/history/previous-teams)

- [Rugby 365 Craven Week Site](https://web.archive.org/web/20150226165113/http://www.rugby365.com/page/144-sa-schools-craven-week)

## References

1. **[^](#cite_ref-A_bit_of_Craven_Week_history_1-0)** ["A bit of Craven Week history"](http://www.supersport.com/rugby/juniors/news/120709/A_bit_of_Craven_Week_history). SuperSport. 9 July 2012. Retrieved 23 April 2014.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-Coca-Cola_Craven_Week_celebrates_50_years_2-0)** ["Coca-Cola Craven Week celebrates 50 years"](http://www.schoolofrugby.co.za/news/649-coca-cola-craven-week-celebrates-50-years). School of Rugby. Retrieved 23 April 2014.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-History_of_Craven_Week_3-0)** ["History of Craven Week"](https://web.archive.org/web/20160304053819/http://schoolstribune.com/history-of-craven-week-p578-397.htm). *Schools Tribune*. Archived from the original on 4 March 2016. Retrieved 23 April 2014.{{[cite web](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Template:Cite_web)}}: CS1 maint: bot: original URL status unknown ([link](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Category:CS1_maint:_bot:_original_URL_status_unknown))

1. **[^](#cite_ref-Main_Matches_at_the_Craven_Week_for_High_Schools_(1971_-_2014)_4-0)** ["Main Matches at the Craven Week for High Schools (1971–2014)"](http://www.sasra.org.za/NewsDocuments/National_Weeks_Documents/Main%20Matches%20at%20the%20Craven%20Week.pdf) (PDF). South African Schools Rugby Association. Retrieved 26 February 2015.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-Venues_of_Previous_Weeks_5-0)** ["Venues of Previous Weeks"](http://www.sasra.org.za/national_weeks.htm). South African Schools Rugby Association. Retrieved 26 February 2015.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-6)** staff, News24 Sport. ["Craven Week: Western Province pummel Bulls in Craven Week 'final'"](https://www.news24.com/sport/rugby/live-craven-week-day-2-20230704). *Sport*. Retrieved 4 August 2024.{{[cite web](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Template:Cite_web)}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list ([link](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Category:CS1_maint:_numeric_names:_authors_list))

1. **[^](#cite_ref-7)** staff, News24 Sport. ["WP triumph again as they beat Free State in unofficial Craven Week final"](https://www.news24.com/sport/rugby/live-craven-week-results-and-fixtures-20240624). *Sport*. Retrieved 4 August 2024.{{[cite web](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Template:Cite_web)}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list ([link](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Category:CS1_maint:_numeric_names:_authors_list))

1. **[^](#cite_ref-8)** on, Standard published (12 July 2025). ["WP crowned Craven Week kings"](https://www.sarugbymag.co.za/wp-crowned-craven-week-kings/). *SA Rugby magazine*. Retrieved 13 July 2025.

v t e Rugby union in South Africa Governing body South African Rugby Union National teams Men's Springboks 'A' 7's Amateurs U-20 U-19 SA Schools U18 Women's Women's 7's Competitions International South Africa at the Rugby World Cup World Rugby Sevens Series South Africa Sevens South Africa Women's Sevens World Rugby U20 Championship United Rugby Championship The Rugby Championship Provincial Men's Currie Cup SA Cup SA Rugby Under-23 Cup Women's Women's Super League 1 Club Men's Gold Cup Varsity Rugby Women's Women's Varsity Cup Youth rugby Craven Week Defunct Vodacom Cup Rugby Challenge Mzanzi Challenge Related articles International players Rugby union and apartheid Springbok colours SA Rugby Awards M W

v t e South African youth provincial rugby competitions Under-23 seasons 1996 Under-21 seasons 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 — 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 A B 2011 A B 2012 A B 2013 A B 2014 A B 2015 A B 2016 2017 2018 2019 Under-20 seasons 2003 A B 2004 A B — 2016 2017 2018 2019 Under-19 seasons 1999 2000 2001 2002 — 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 A B 2011 A B 2012 A B 2013 A B 2014 A B 2015 A B 2016 2017 2018 Under-18 Craven Week

---
Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Craven Week](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Craven_Week) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Craven_Week?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.