Overview
- Free State, Western Province, Boland and the Sharks opened the festival with big wins in a Day 1 that produced 41 tries across four matches on Monday.
- The Golden Lions beat the Blue Bulls 43-32 in the Jukskei Derby on Tuesday in a back-and-forth contest that accounted for 10 of the 42 tries scored that day.
- Individual standouts are already emerging: Free State flyhalf Zachary Walbrugh scored 31 points including a hat-trick on Monday, Griquas fullback Tyler Campher scored a hat-trick on Tuesday, and Western Province flyhalf Achmat Behardien kicked six conversions and added a late try.
- The week-long tournament at Grey High School continues with Wednesday fixtures and will conclude with a final scheduled for Saturday, 11 July, keeping provincial selectors and scouts on site.
- Craven Week remains South Africa’s premier schoolboy pathway to provincial age-group sides and national junior teams, and the tournament’s loose, attacking play this year could accelerate selection decisions and spotlight new talent for provincial squads.