The SATA Junior Touchboks of the Western Cape were welcomed back at Cape Town International Airport by family and friends on Tuesday, returning from the Atlantic Youth Touch Cup 2025, held in Ireland from 1 to 3 August.
The national team, which includes players from the Western Cape, KwaZulu-Natal and Gauteng, departed for Ireland on 27 July, following a meet-up in Johannesburg the day before.
South Africa competed across four divisions: u-18 Girls (Bronze medal), u-18 Mixed (6th place), u-20 Ladies (Bronze medal); u-20 Mixed (Bronze medal).
In total, South Africa brought three bronze medals home, a commendable achievement on the international stage. Over three days the teams faced-off against top-tier competition, including Ireland, England and Scotland. The bronze-medal match was played against Scotland on 3 August with South Africa clinching the win.
Among the standout players was André Lee Geldenhuys, a 16-year-old from Scottsville, the same hometown as sports legends Bok Cheslin Kolbe and athletics champ Wayde van Niekerk. A rising star in his own right, André is a 100 m and 200 m sprinter, described by commentators as a “speedster” throughout the tournament.
Despite his age André competed in the u-20 Mixed Division, where he earned the title Man of the Match. He currently attends Meridian Pinehurst and also plays full-back in his school’s 15-man rugby team.
