The second half of the 2009 @lantic 7's series kicks off on 1 August at Sundown Ranch near Sun City.  The first match commences at 08:30 with the Cup final being played at 16:00. 

According to Dederick Venter, Marketing Director of @lantic, is the inclusion of some of the star performers during the @lantic series like Piet Lindeque, Andile Jho and Liam Schwartz, in the SA Schools team after the recent  Craven week, hopefully an indication of the contribution that 7's rugby has made to the development of these and other players.  Lindeque was also a member of the @lantic Invitation side that won an international competition in Dubai last year.

The participating teams are: Carlton Jones High, Willowridge High, Marian College, HS Bastion, Vaalpark Hoër, HS Garsfontein, HS Merensky, HS Tuine, HS Silverton, HS Wesvalia, HTS Rustenburg, HS Drie Riviere, HS Coligny, Steelcrest High, Potch Boys High and HS Wonderboom.

The winners of the first five @lantic tournaments are:
Tzaneen - HS Merensky (Tzaneen)
Bethlehem - Pionier HS (Northern Natal)
Bloemfontein - Harmony Sport Academy (Virginia)
Pretoria - HS Merensky (Tzaneen)
Paarl - Tygerberg (Paarl)
 
The player of the first five @lantic tournaments are:
 
Tzaneen - Sello Sekwela (HS Merensky)
Bethlehem -  Oscar Limani (HTS Louis Botha)
Bloemfontein - Algervon Ouman (Harmony Sport Academy)
Pretoria - Inka Shirekk (Merensky HS)
Paarl - Ruan Mostert (HS Tygerberg)

19 Year old speedster, Gerhard Van Den Heever’s rise to stardom has been meteoric to say the least.

Shadow, as he is known, will be making his debut for the Bulls Super14 team against the Stormers this Saturday.

From player of the tournament in the inaugural @lantic 7’s school series to the top echelon of international rugby within a mere 19 months.

Gerhard also made the @lantic invitational team to the 2007 Dubai IRB Sevens tournament where he was noticed by Paul Treu and subsequently invited to the Springbok sevens training squad.

Gerhard made a name for himself in the Varsity Cup and then stepped up to the Bulls Super 14 Squad.

According to well known sport promoter, Willem Strauss, “the experience Gerhard picked up in the sevens arena has prepared him well for the task at hand. Gerhard’s natural talent, hard work and the opportunities offered to him all culminated in him being fast tracked into first class rugby in a very short time. One thing he has learned is to back himself in one on one situations, a characteristic that is lacking in South African backline play. ”

@lantic Marketing Director, Dederick Venter, commented that “Gerhard’s success makes the investment in the @lantic 7’s series worthwhile. We are all extremely proud of Gerhard and the way he grabbed the opportunities he got with both hands. The grit and hunger for success displayed by Gerhard should serve as an example to all our young players. Competitions like the @lantic 7’s series set the platform for our youngsters to hone their skills and more structures should be created between school level and first class rugby to provide our extremely talented juniors with opportunities to develop their skills further.”