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South Africa’s State of Origin – our Schools system works

Published

6 months ago

26th February 2026

Keo

The elite layer is concentrated but across the Bulls, Lions, Sharks and Stormers there are 64 schools represented. That tells you the base of the South African game is broad and that the state of Origin on this celebratory United Rugby Championship Origin weekend is healthy.

The natural feeder system is in Paarl and Stellenbosch. It has always been the case with Paarl Boys High, Paarl Gim, Paul Roos and Boland Landbou producing elite professional players with each matric cycle.

Grey College, in the past 30 years, has owned the title of a Springboks and professional rugby player factory more than any other school in the country. Others, like Boshaai, Gim and Paul Roos are always present, but over this period Grey College has produced the greatest number.

In this URC season, Grey College and Boshaai share the top spot of providing 18 players, split across all four South African URC clubs.

Krugersdorp’s Monument (Lions) and Bishops (Stormers) are a celebration of home grown talent graduating from schoolboy to professional rugby without having to relocate, while the traditional rugby powerhouses in Kwazulu-Natal (Glenwood, Hilton, Westville and Maritzburg College) continue to make a statement that local is lekker in KZN.

The Bulls, of the four SA clubs, have the most extensive recruitment drive, and have over the years consistently been leaders in securing the most sought after talent, be it out of school or at a later stage.

Bloemfontein, by way of Grey College, and Paarl, are greater feeders for the Bulls, who have not relied exclusively on the Schools Big Five. Many a player from local schools has proven good enough to be contracted.

The Stormers will also feel they’ve been true to realism in their recruitment because there are only so many players who can be signed and the core of the country’s elite talent comes out of the Western Cape.

The fact that these players are willing to relocate and are so sought after is what ensures a balance in domestic strength, which is illustrated in this season’s URC SA Shield. With two rounds to play, any one of the four teams could win the Shield. The final SA derby is played at Loftus between the Bulls and Stormers, and the Shield winner could come down to this match.

There could also be a situation where all four teams end on three wins from six.

AFRICA PICKS: CASHING IN ON SA’S DERBY SUPER SATURDAY

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A post shared by SA Rugby magazine (@sarugbymag)

The elite layer is concentrated, with Grey College and Boshaai the most prominent producers of professional players, but the good news story is a reach that extends to another 62 schools.

What it says to me is that if you are good enough you will make it, regardless of the school you attended.

One only has to look at the composition of the back to back World Cup-winning Springboks to have this point reinforced. So many of those gold medal winners did not come through the elite and premier rugby schooling institutions.

The URC’s Origin weekend is a celebration of a player’s roots, and an acknowledgement of where it all started, but it is also a statement of what is good in the schools system in South African rugby.

TOP 10 SCHOOL PRODUCERS OF SA-BASED URC PLAYERS IN 2025/26

1. Grey College 18 players

Bulls: 8
Sharks: 4
Stormers: 4
Lions: 2

1. Paarl Boys’ High School 18 players

Lions: 6
Sharks: 5
Stormers: 4
Bulls: 3

🎓 @Paarl_Boishaai to @LionsRugbyCo‘s Stalwart: Quan Horn 🪄🇿🇦@Vodacom #URC | #OriginRound pic.twitter.com/fOWgF0ofPQ

Vodacom United Rugby Championship (URC) (@URCOfficial_RSA) February 23, 2026

Behind them:

3. Paul Roos Gymnasium 12

Stormers: 5
Sharks: 4
Bulls: 2
Lions: 1

That Willemse step? @PaulRoos_Gym origins 👌@Vodacom #URC | #OriginRound pic.twitter.com/kDeSpv12FH

Vodacom United Rugby Championship (URC) (@URCOfficial_RSA) February 24, 2026

Bringing the heat for Origin Round with the Boogieman, Jurenzo Julius! 🔥💪🏉 pic.twitter.com/gljKPGgjDl

The Sharks (@SharksRugby) February 23, 2026

4. Paarl Gimnasium 10

Bulls: 4
Stormers: 4
Sharks: 2

5. Hoërskool Monument 9

Lions: 7
Sharks: 2

Those five schools alone account for 67 contracted players across the four South African URC franchises.

That is the spine of the professional game.

Then comes the second tier:

Glenwood High School 8

Sharks: 4
Lions: 2
Bulls: 2

Bishops Diocesan College 8

Stormers: 6
Bulls: 1
Lions: 1

Westville Boys’ High School 5

Sharks: 3
Bulls: 1
Lions: 1

Maritzburg College 5

Sharks: 3
Stormers: 2

Afrikaanse Hoër Seunskool (Affies) 4

Bulls: 1
Sharks: 1
Lions: 1
Stormers: 1

The deeper story is:

64 schools represented
37 schools with one player
11 schools with two players
The rest clustered at three and above

So what does it tell us?

First, the elite rugby factories still dominate the professional pipeline. Grey and Paarl Boys are not historical brands they are current production leaders. Paarl Boys High, Paul Roos, Paarl Gim, Bishops and Grey College remain structurally embedded in the Stormers and Bulls pathways. Monument underpins the Lions and Glenwood, Westville and Maritzburg sustain the Sharks.

Second, recruitment has shifted. The Bulls are the most nationally constructed squad: eight from Grey, four from Paarl Gim, three from Paarl Boys, two from Paul Roos. Pretoria contracts beyond provincial borders better than any other franchise.

Third, accessibility remains real. Thirty-seven schools have one representative. That is opportunity and shows that the pathway is not closed but very competitive.

What the numbers from Origin weekend confirm is that the factor model works and that the professional door remains open to any player who is good enough.