The Percy Montgomery Foundation is a parent initiative which is unashamedly rugby orientated for the simple reason that Western Cape schoolboy rugby results appear in the newspapers every weekend and schools are ultimately judged by the success of the 1st XV.

SACS is currently not occupying an acceptable position amongst its Premier League rugby rivals, so it was decided that a fundraising body would be created to enable us to compete on even terms with our peer schools and make SACS a rugby school of choice. The money raised by the Foundation will be used for the following:

1. Offering bursaries to promising rugby players ensuring a decent talent pool entering the High School each year

2. Sending both Junior and High School coaches to ‘Coaching Academies’. All High and Junior School coaches have been Boksmart certified and have all attended the Jake White Winning Way course. Two High School coaches attended the Investec International Rugby Academy in September. Kirsten Marshall (Junior School Head of Rugby) has attended the prestigious two week “High Performance” course also offered by the Investec International Rugby Academy. Jason Wilmans (Under 13A coach) is also in the process of applying to attend one of the Investec International Rugby Academy Courses in 2011.

3. Paying quality assistant coaches who will come in and help the ‘main coach’ who at SACS is always a member of staff

4. Assisting with the payment of a specialised rugby person whose sole role will revolve around rugby at SACS. He will be responsible for match day video analysis for a number of teams , coaching clinics (rugby specific) during PE lessons, position specific workshops, talent scouting and bursary identification as well as focusing on his role as full time coach of an ‘A’ team. He will work closely with 1st and 2nd team coaches ensuring that there is continuity from the junior age groups into the open division and that players have the necessary skills and conditioning to make the step up to senior rugby the following year. He will also perform an administrative role in managing the website and social media platforms as well as doing analysis of rugby results throughout the year.

5. Capital improvements in rugby equipment (scrum machines, gym facilities and other coaching equipment). Urgent attention is to be given to upgrading the container which houses Mini Rugby equipment and to serve as a Mini Rugby tuckshop on the Annenberg Field. The Rosedale Gym was recently upgraded thanks to the Foundation.

6. Branded rugby banners, pole protectors and the painting of all in goal areas are also Foundation initiatives as we endeavour to grow the SACS rugby brand and create a rugby ‘Fortress’ for home fixtures.

There are currently 5 trustees of the Foundation who include the Headmaster of the High School Ken Ball, Headmaster of the Junior School, Francois Nel, Percy Montgomery himself and 2 parents of the school Mike and Leon De Villiers who are passionate about rugby at SACS. Foundation meetings are also attended by Barry Van Selm (Head of Rugby at SACS High School), Kirsten Marshall (Head of Sport at the Junior School), Graeme Wepener (1st XV Coach for 2011) and Nick Maurer (SACS Old Boy ‘96 and 1st XV assistant to Graeme). The necessary ‘checks and balances’ are thus in place to ensure that Foundation money is being channelled into the correct areas and being spent effectively and efficiently. Parent and Old Boy contributions are essential to the success of the Percy Montgomery Foundation as we move forward into an exciting new era of SACS rugby.

If you would like to contribute towards the SACS Percy Montgomery Foundation – please download the Debit Order Form here ( Debit Order Instruction – SACS Foundation) and email to percyfoundation@gmail.com or fax to 021-6852669 (attention Barry van selm)