Schools Rugby
Monty’s Magical SACS
SACS, South Africa’s oldest rugby school, have reached a national high ranking of four in 2017 – and at the heart of SACS’s rugby turnaround has been the Percy Montgomery SACS Rugby Foundation, started seven years ago.
The first is less than charitable and it is of a young standard four (grade six) Montgomery being hung out of a second-storey window by a teacher who, to quote the man, was going to ‘shake your brains from your arse into your head’. The second and more significant one is of a teenager who lived for first and second break and couldn’t wait to get onto the practice field to kick and pass a rugby ball, and if he wasn’t on a rugby field, he was in the pool, swimming or playing water polo.
Montgomery, then and now, understood the distance from the pass to the tackle more than he appreciated nouns and adjectives and whatever they taught in mathematics back then. He loved drawing and painting and excelled at art, but he was not a scholar by definition, never wanted to be and has never pretended to be one. But he was a good rugby player in his U9 year and by the time he left SACS 10 years later, he was the best schoolboy fullback in South Africa.
Springbok fullback of the 1960s, HO de Villiers, guided Montgomery’s schoolboy talent from the age of 16. I would have said he ‘coached’ him but HO prefers to use the term ‘guide’ because he says there was very little coaching of a player who would get better with experience but would not be any better than he already was at 16 because someone taught him how to kick, catch and pass a ball.
‘I didn’t walk in and teach him how to play,’ recalls De Villiers. ‘There wasn’t a great deal to teach Percy and all I could offer him were insights gained from having played Test rugby and from having been around a bit longer.’
Simon Perkin, deputy headmaster of SACS and 1st XV coach during the Montgomery era, asked HO to have a look at the ‘boy wonder’ because Perkin was convinced Montgomery was the best rugby player he had seen at SACS. De Villiers started with a simple exercise in contact practice sessions in which he would position himself behind Montgomery and play the practice as if he was the fullback. De Villiers says Montgomery ran and he hobbled, but the purpose of it all was to understand Montgomery’s feel for the game and to study his natural appreciation of how to use the width of the pitch and how he read the play of the opposing flyhalf.
‘Monty was instinctive in a lot of what he did and that is a gift some have and others never get. I told him that he was playing fullback and I was playing fullback, and decision-making was what defined a fullback, so every time at training, in defence or on attack, both of us would have to play the moment as we saw it. I wanted to get a sense of his appreciation of depth, space and field position and I had to put myself in the same position to read the play and react at the same time. I told him that if one of us went right and the other went left then one of us was getting it wrong and it didn’t mean it was him. On most occasions, we took a similar option and there were times when he went right and I went left and I thought I’d taken the wrong decision.
‘What I spoke to him about in the beginning was decision-making – of understanding the qualities or limitations of his team-mates and of backing himself to have a go. If he stuffed it up, but in his heart he felt it was on, then it was not necessarily the wrong decision, but the wrong execution. I knew I could impart knowledge that I had gained through experience and because of his age, that was one thing he didn’t have. He didn’t play in particularly strong SACS teams yet he always excelled and his influence won many games.
‘We worked on him dominating the opposition flyhalf because of superior positioning on defence and how he could turn the flyhalf’s clearances into an advantage for his own team. Most flyhalves were right footed and because of this they would kick onto Percy’s strongest foot, which is his left. It was important for him to watch the ball onto the boot of the flyhalf, and not the flyhalf himself, because that half a second was worth the critical metre a fullback gets when anticipating where the ball would go.
‘Percy was also one of the quickest players and I thought that he could be as much a success on the left wing as he was at fullback. I’d have loved to see him on the wing playing alongside André Joubert at fullback, with Percy then having moved to fullback when André retired. It never happened that way but I always thought Percy would have gained enormous benefit from André and that André would have enjoyed having a specialist fullback among his wingers.
‘Some believed flyhalf was Percy’s best position, but my view was he would be too restricted at flyhalf and he was a greater danger at fullback or wing where he could roam. The fact that he has played flyhalf, centre, wing and fullback for the Springboks shows his versatility but 15 always was the number he coveted and history will judge him as one of South Africa’s finest 15s, who got there because of natural talent and an incredible determination to succeed.
‘Percy’s longevity is because of his discipline in training and his willingness to listen and learn. During those 1st XV school days, he was like a sponge, taking in whatever information I shared and I made sure it was a two-way thing because an old dog can always learn a few things from a young one. I challenged him to show me a few things and I think that encouraged him to think about the game even more. Some would say I coached him, but I never saw it like that. He was a boy in need of an older pal, with a bit more life experience and I think that’s the role I played for him.
‘He adored his parents and he talked a lot about his father’s rugby days in Namibia and about his dad’s advice about rugby, but naturally as a boarder who only saw his parents during holidays, he missed the interaction any boy would have with his dad on a day-to-day basis. The last thing I ever wanted to be was a surrogate parent or a substitute for a father and fortunately Percy never saw our relationship like that. If anything, I was more like an older mate and he treated me like that from the age of 16 and has never stopped treating me in this way.
‘When he first became professional, I managed his affairs, but quickly realised he needed a specialist in that field but we’ve never lost touch. I’d leave a message on his voicemail before every Test, which would be in keeping with what I used to say to the 16-year-old SACS laaitie, and he would always get back to me after the game with a thank you and, if needed, a short discussion about what worked or perhaps didn’t. As two guys who live for rugby, we instantly had a connection and that has never changed.’
Montgomery’s recollection of working with De Villiers is of the respect he and the other players got from him on the training field, and that he was always a buddy more than a master in a school where tradition dictates that older blokes and coaches aren’t mates, but educators.
‘He was amazing to work with because he never preached or spoke about when he was a Springbok. I can’t ever remember him speaking about himself and he really didn’t have to because everyone I knew who had seen HO play spoke about how good he was. I just liked him and felt I could speak to him and that he would never judge what I had to say.
‘When we trained I could ask him questions without feeling stupid and he would give me a rugby explanation if he felt I could have done something better or why my execution of a kick, pass, tackle or move was poor. I knew I was lucky to have a mentor like that but I was as lucky to have a school master in Simon Perkin who allowed the relationship to develop and was never threatened by HO’s influence at training.’
Perkin still teaches at SACS and his classroom has all the standard high-school trappings of chairs, desks and that wonderful smell of wood, but it could also be a rugby museum to Montgomery with his exploits in the SACS No 15 jersey equally prominent in the wall-to-wall classroom display alongside Montgomery, the Springbok. The walls boast newspaper clippings of the brilliant schoolboy Percival Montgomery and one particular match report is of the influence of Montgomery in trouncing Jan van Riebeeck, coincidentally the school attended by Montgomery Senior. There are provincial reports of Montgomery and there are the more obvious ones of Montgomery the World Cup-winning hero, and there are pictures, many of them. There are also gifts of Springbok memorabilia – from Montgomery to Perkin and from Montgomery to SACS.
‘He does anything and everything for the school and he does it without us asking,’ says Perkin. ‘He donates signed Bok kit to help the school raise funds and when in Cape Town, he has always phoned to say hello and see if the school needs him to do a fundraiser or donate anything that can help us. When he was playing for Western Province and had already made the Springbok side, I once asked him to come down and work with the U14C team because they were in need of a boost and I thought that having the Springbok fullback, who just happened to be a SACS old boy, helping out at training would motivate them and show we cared about them as much as we did the U14A team. Monty only asked what time he had to be there and on what afternoon.
‘Whenever he has been in town with the Springboks, he has made an effort to connect with the school and in 1998 when he was on tour with the Springboks in England, he even took the train from London to watch SACS’ 1st XV play a tour game two hours outside London. He sat in the stands, popped into the change room and said hello to everyone afterwards, got back on the train and returned to London to be with the Boks. You can only imagine what that did for the schoolboys because he had come on his own accord when he heard SACS were on tour.’
Other SACS old boys make the wall, with Western Province trio Paul Delport, Ross Skeate (now with Toulon) and Isma-eel Dollie’s achievements honoured, but the walls in this classroom belong to Montgomery.
‘This is it,’ says Perkin. ‘This is Monty’s old class, although he will tell you his class was outside on the Memorial Field and he won’t be wrong because all he ever wanted to do was to be on the field kicking and training. He liked art and design and in 1992, when SACS hosted an arts festival, it was Monty’s painting that was chosen as the programme cover. He enjoyed being creative but academics was not his strength, as I am sure he has told you.’
Montgomery has never pretended to be anything he is not. A giant among academics? He laughs when asked about schoolbooks and exams.
‘I was definitely Perkie’s A student and whenever I e-mail him, I remind him of that in the way I say goodbye. It usually goes: “Your number-one A student, Monty”. I know he gets the humour in it because he used to get it at school when I used to tell him the same thing whenever he had to speak to me about my grades. I always found sport easier than academics and I had greater interest in a ball than a book. I wasn’t a lazy student, but being in a classroom was not something I found easy. I just wanted to play rugby, run, swim and play water polo. We had a crazy water polo coach in Alan Footman and some of my fondest school memories are water polo tours and sessions in which Footie killed us in the pool.
‘However, rugby was always the priority for me. In matric, I made the WP Schools waterpolo team and I asked Footie if he thought I had a chance of making SA Schools. He said yes, but I had to choose between the water polo national trials and going on tour to England with the SACS 1st XV. I had never been overseas and Footie told me I’d probably never get to go on another overseas rugby tour. He suggested I take the rugby tour at the expense of the water polo national trials.’
Footman, at the 2008 SACS Old Boys reunion, reminded Montgomery of the advice, given that for the last 14 years he spent nearly as much time touring overseas with rugby teams as he did at home, before finally settling in Cape Town in 2008 to play out his final year with WP and the Stormers.
‘I dreamed of playing for Western Province at Newlands and of the SACS blue and white being the WP blue and white. My ambition was to play for the Springboks but to get there, I first had to play for Province and I used to love going to Newlands as a schoolboy, watching the rugby and getting lost in my own world where I was playing for Western Province and not a schoolboy on the side of the field. Those were great days, taking the walk down from SACS to Newlands to watch Province play.
‘Perkie always used to say my favourite subjects were first and second break because I could go on the field and practise my kicking and be in my own world and he was right. I loved the Memorial Field and I used to run Newlands Forest most mornings before the other guys in the boarding house were even awake, get back to the boarding house, sneak a carton of milk, down it, have a shower and be ready for first break’s kicking. If they had given grades for sport, for getting up early and for dreaming big about being a Springbok, then I would have been top of the class.’
Montgomery, the most capped Springbok of all time, the most capped Test fullback in the history of the game, Tri-Nations and World Cup winner, is SACS’ most famous modern rugby son, but Perkin will tell you Montgomery is also the school’s most humble celebrity. Humility is the word everyone uses to describe Montgomery, and schoolmasters, housemasters, coaches and old school class-mates all just say he was a popular kid but he was a normal kid, who loved sport and wasn’t that keen on being in a classroom. They all remember him as a boy with strong values and simple tastes.
‘If you gave him a ball to play with, he was at his happiest and that is how we remember him at SACS,’ says Perkin, who also talks of Montgomery’s loyalty to a school whose members were family. ‘This is where he spent his entire youth and the connection between Monty and the school must be how most kids would relate to life at home because when most kids went home in the afternoon, Monty went to Memorial Field to train and then to have fun. He only went home for holidays and as he got older and toured with schools and provincial sporting teams, those holidays at home either got shorter or on occasions didn’t happen. I know he loved going home to Namibia because of his close bond with his parents, but SACS was his home for more than 10 years and I think that is why he is so comfortable coming back here and why he always wants to give so much back to the school. He certainly is not your average past pupil.’
Perkin adores Montgomery, as a dad to a son and an older brother to a younger sibling. He never speaks of them being mates and the relationship will always have the respect of schoolmaster and pupil. Montgomery’s work ethic is singled out, as is his loyalty to people. Perkin gives one example of Montgomery’s loyalty and appreciation to those who have helped him throughout his career, describing the evening Montgomery was selected for the SA Schools team in 1992.
‘The WP Schools team arrived back from Craven Week and Monty was to spend the evening at the home of team-mate and friend Johan van Schalkwyk in Oranjezicht in the City Bowl. I got a message from Johan’s dad asking me to be at the house as Monty needed to see me urgently. He didn’t know what was so important but he asked if I could be there by the time he got back from the airport, at midnight. When I got there, Monty and the Van Schalkwyk family were already there, waiting for me to celebrate his selection for the SA Schools team. He wouldn’t open the bottle of champagne unless I, as his school coach, was there to share the moment. He thanked me for supporting him and for always believing in him. I was overwhelmed that he would involve me in what was his celebration and he has never lost that quality of always being prepared to honour anyone he feels has played a part in his development or success.’
Montgomery played more than 60 games for SACS’ lst XV in three successive seasons, which Perkin believes is a school record, although the inconsistent keeping of documents for records, appearances and points scored means it can’t be verified. Perkin also can’t guarantee Montgomery is the school’s most prolific point-scorer as Anton Chait, who would play flyhalf for WP in the 1990s, was an outstanding schoolboy goal kicker and a SACS points machine.
‘SACS have had some wonderful players over the years. Peter Kirsten [who played cricket for South Africa and rugby for the Junior Springboks] is the most prominent of our flyhalves and Anton Chait was a big star for SACS,’ says Perkin. ‘But Monty has been the most successful rugby player in the school’s history because he played SA Schools for two successive years and only Warren Kruger, in 1975, had made the SA Schools side.’
In 1992 and 1993, Montgomery scored half of the 1st XV’s points, played for WP Schools and SA Schools, with the SA Schools match against a Nampak Academy XV at Newlands in 1992 the apex of his schools rugby career.
‘We were the main curtain-raiser to the Bok match against the Wallabies, who had won the World Cup the year before, and the atmosphere at Newlands was incredible. I scored my first-ever try at Newlands and the only disappointment was that we played in white jerseys and black shorts and the Academy team, which was like an SA Schools B team, played in green and gold. We were told it had to do with politics and we weren’t allowed to play in green and gold as the national schools team. We won and the occasion is still one of the most memorable of my career.’
It was also the only time Montgomery’s mother and father saw him play a live schools game and it so nearly didn’t happen. The SACS Old Boys had raised the funds to sponsor return flights from Namibia and accommodation for the Montgomerys, but they couldn’t get match tickets because the Wallabies were in town. Newspaper reports changed that and Hugh Wiley, head of sponsorship at Norwich Union (WP team sponsor), ensured the Montgomerys would be their guests at the curtain-raiser and Test match. Montgomery scored one of three tries in a 15-13 win that also featured the mercurial talents of Herschelle Gibbs, who’s now an international cricketer, at flyhalf. Montgomery is still of the opinion that he hasn’t seen a schoolboy flyhalf as good since playing against and alongside Gibbs.
‘He could kick the ball for miles and because of the distance of his kicks, it made it very difficult to play against him and I don’t remember us winning much against Bishops when he was there,’ says Montgomery. ‘As a fullback, I had it easier when he was at flyhalf for the SA Schools team. He was also bloody naughty and when the pranks were played or a few rules were broken, you always knew Herschelle would be in there somewhere. He never took himself seriously and back then, among schoolboys, that was just perfect.’
If Gibbs was the superstar at Bishops, then Montgomery held a similar status at SACS, although he says no individual was ever allowed to get ahead of himself, even though it was not in his nature to behave like he was better than any other player.
‘If any guy thought they had made it, the other guys would quickly cut him down to size. Boarding school teaches you to always clean up, it gives you discipline and it also creates an environment that doesn’t tolerate individuals. It didn’t matter if I had scored the winning points or made the SA Schools team, my responsibilities and duties remained the same. The team ethos always came before the desires of any individual.’
Montgomery talks up the virtues of boarding school, suggests his 12-year-old son, Nicholas, could do with the experience and then admits it is unlikely to ever happen.
‘I would never get his mother [Tasmin Tobitt] to agree to it and in any case, I am too close to him and wouldn’t want him away from us.’
Montgomery was a boarder at SACS in Newlands from standard two (grade four), but it was a situation forced on his parents through circumstance and ideally they would have wanted him at home.
‘I know why my parents sent me to boarding school and the experience shaped my character, so if the circumstances were similar and I felt Nicholas would benefit more in that environment then I would have no fear sending him to boarding school, based on my own experience.’
Montgomery, on his return to Cape Town in 2008, enrolled Nicholas at SACS, but not as a boarder, as their Camps Bay home is a 20-minute drive from the school.
‘To be able to send Nicholas to SACS is special for me,’ says Montgomery. ‘And what will make it even more enjoyable is being able to watch him develop and to be able to share some of my memories with him because he will be in a position to relate to the place and the traditions. Who knows, maybe Perkie will even teach him.’
Despite the plaudits for SACS’ boarding school environ-ment and the school itself, Montgomery admits his first year, as an eight-year-old, was painful and that it is difficult to articulate the loneliness and the confusion in understanding how the absence of a traditional home life was actually a good thing. In that first year, he often felt nauseous and home sick and he craved those afternoons at the rugby field watching his dad play or coach, and most of all, he longed for the freedom of doing as he pleased as a six- and seven-year-old in Namibia. Rugby days there were days of being treated and of treats.
Montgomery Senior and Monty speak of the bond there has always been between the two, but a long-distance relationship comes with restrictions and neither father nor son can talk of intimacy during the decade Monty was in Cape Town as a schoolboy and Montgomery Senior was in Namibia. It is why Monty is so determined to make up that time post-rugby.
‘I want to get closer to my family and I also want to make more of an effort with old school friends. I seem to have been on the road since I was eight years old, but being back in Cape Town with Taz, Nicholas and [daughter] Taneal, and having my folks an hour’s drive away in Hermanus, makes me feel settled and content. I am desperate to make up for lost time, especially with my mom and dad, and I will always want to give back to a school that gave me so much.’
It is at SACS that Montgomery was taught discipline and to work hard, and while you can sense the hurt and humiliation when he tells of being hung out of a window by a school teacher and embarrassed in front of his class-mates, the tears of a young boy lessened as the teenager thrived and triumphed. Montgomery, despite times of loneliness in his first few years, never talks of feeling neglected.
‘My parents were a phone call away and in the boarding house people cared about us and there were always invites from class-mates to spend the weekends at their homes. I missed my home, but I never felt unloved and the more I got involved with sport, the less time I had to feel lonely.’
SACS junior-school headmaster, Stuart Anderson, who retired at the end of 2008, described Montgomery as an honest and well-liked boy. Anderson, like those who taught Montgomery at junior school, can’t recall anything out of the ordinary, other than the obvious sporting talent that saw Montgomery play for the U13A cricket side and captain the U13A rugby team. Montgomery doesn’t tell any remarkable junior-school stories either. He missed the normality of home life and of doing things without constant supervision. But in time, he would learn to miss SACS more than Namibia, especially as he prospered in his rugby and water polo, and most holidays were spent on tour with the rugby team.
Montgomery calls himself ‘a boy in blue and white for life’. He has played professional rugby in Wales and France and spent two years playing for the Sharks, in KwaZulu-Natal, on his return to South Africa in 2005. But in his heart, the only rugby home he knows is in the suburb of Newlands.
Montgomery is the only SACS Bok Test player since Cecil Moss played in 1948. The tradition Montgomery refers to was born when SACS, then the South African College (SAC), played the first-ever match at Newlands against Bishops. The 2nd XVs had the honour and the second match, between the 1st XVs, followed. SACS also gave Western Province their blue and white hoops, a playing strip they had gained by default and not design.
Sir Henry Juta, in the history of SACS, is quoted as saying that SACS’ players initially turned out in whatever each man fancied or possessed, but when they played Bishops, who always dress in dark blue, this prompted a change and SACS’ players decided they too wanted a uniformed strip. Rugby historian Paul Dobson writes that SACS’ players had to take what was available from an Adderley Street supplier, Porter Hodgson’s. The only jerseys he had in stock, in two sizes, were those with blue and white hoops and they became SACS’ official colours. Western Province, winners of the Currie Cup in 1892, wore SACS jerseys because their captain Ben Duff was a SACS man and they have worn the blue and white hoops ever since.
When Montgomery was at school, he was taught about those who helped shape the tradition of SACS and of the exploits of those who would play for South Africa in various sports. Among the famous stories is that of Billy Millar, who survived typhoid fever as a baby, went to SAC and ran away at 16 to join the Cycling Corps in the Anglo-Boer War. He nearly lost an arm and to strengthen himself, took up boxing and walking and became the Cape Colony amateur heavyweight champion. Millar played for South Africa in 1906. Tom Hepburn is another famous name because he kicked the conversion in South Africa’s first-ever Test win in 1891.
But the most remarkable story of SACS rugby is that after producing the first Springbok selection in 1891, when Ben Duff was alphabetically listed as the first South African national team player against the British Isles, the school would 117 years later produce the first Springbok to win 100 Test caps in Percival Montgomery.
– This is an edited extract from Monty by Mark Keohane
KEO News Wire
SA Schools Rugby: The Springbok Factory
South African schools rugby is the foundation of the Springboks, with historic derbies like Paarl Boys High vs Paarl Gimnasium showcasing the intensity, tradition and talent pipeline that defines the game.
The road to 100 Springbok Test caps does not start with a professional contract. It starts at SA Schools Rugby and South Africa is blessed to have among the most powerful rugby-centric schooling institutions. The result is nine Test Centurions and four RWC titles and two third place finishes in eight tournaments since the Springboks won the 1995 World Cup on their first attempt.
SA Schools Rugby
South African rugby starts on school fields in Paarl, Newlands, Durbanville, Stellenbosch, Bloemfontein, Johannesburg, Durban and Cape Town, where reputations are made long before players earn contracts, caps or salaries.
This is where the edge is built, with rivalries more than 100 years old. This is where the journey of the greatest Springboks began and it is the playground of future Springboks and South Africa’s professional rugby elite.
Photo: Paul Kane/Gallo Images
The scale of the system is unmatched globally: structured leagues, nationally broadcast derbies, Easter festivals that act as early-season measuring sticks, and the annual Coca-Cola Craven Week, which remains the definitive pathway into SA Schools selection.
The Premier Schools: The heavyweights of South African rugby.
There is no officially sanctioned national ranking body in South African schools rugby. However, multiple independent platforms compile results-based rankings using fixtures, strength of schedule and head-to-head outcomes.
The most widely referenced is NextGenXV, whose final 2025 rankings are also incorporated into broader consensus rankings by platforms such as SchoolboyRugby (which combines data from NextGenXV, SA School Sports and Rugby365).
Top 20 Schools (Results-based – 2025 Final Ranking)
| Rank | School |
|---|---|
| 1 | Paarl Boys’ High |
| 2 | Paarl Gimnasium |
| 3 | Grey College |
| 4 | Affies |
| 5 | Oakdale Landbou |
| 6 | Westville |
| 7 | Paul Roos Gymnasium |
| 8 | DHS |
| 9 | Garsfontein |
| 10 | Rondebosch |
| 11 | Helpmekaar |
| 12 | Outeniqua |
| 13 | Hilton College |
| 14 | Wynberg |
| 15 | Stellenberg |
| 16 | Menlopark |
| 17 | Northwood |
| 18 | Noordheuwel |
| 19 | Boland Landbou |
| 20 | Queen’s College |
The Western Cape dominates the depth conversation. Free State has Grey College and the Eastern Cape has heritage. Gauteng and KZN bring muscle, but no province matches the Western Cape for weekly jeopardy and top-20 spread.
Western Province: The Deepest Schools League in the Country
South African schools rugby’s heart beats the loudest in the Western Cape.
On a single WP Schools Day card in 2026, you get: Paarl Boys, Paarl Gim, Paul Roos, SACS, Bishops, Rondebosch, Wynberg, Boland Landbou, Durbanville and Stellenberg.
In the 2025 Top 20 rankings, the Western Cape placed eight schools in the top tier, including Paarl Boys, Paarl Gim, Oakdale, Paul Roos, Rondebosch and Wynberg.
No province produces pressure like this and no province produces Springboks like this. It is borne out by how Western Province dominated the annual Coca Cola Craven Week.
FNB Classic Clashes & King Price Derby Series
South African schoolboy rugby attracts some of the biggest sponsors, with FNB having the longest association with Schools Rugby. The additional exposure, through SuperSport’s live coverage of Schools 1st XV matches has added to the value of commercial alignment with Schools rugby.
The SuperSport Schools app has exceeded one million downloads.
The FNB Classic Clashes, launched in the early 2000s, grew from 10 fixtures to more than 50 nationwide, becoming a cornerstone of school rugby broadcasting on SuperSport Schools.
Today, the King Price Derby Series carries that torch, packaging the biggest rivalries into a national viewing product built on history, tribalism and crowd energy.
This is where schoolboy rugby becomes appointment viewing.
The Biggest Schoolboy Derbies in South Africa
This is the soul of the South African game.
Paarl Boys’ High vs Paarl Gimnasium
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Crowd: 20,000+ regularly
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Described as the biggest schoolboy derby in the world
Grey College vs Paul Roos Gymnasium
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Two of the biggest Springbok-producing schools combined
Bishops vs Rondebosch
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Bishops leads historic wins (103 vs 80, with 19 draws recorded)
Jeppe vs KES
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Over 100 meetings; rivalry dates back to 1935
Affies vs Waterkloof
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Began in 1987; Affies dominant historically
Hilton vs Michaelhouse
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Played since 1904; one of KZN’s big rivalries
SACS vs Wynberg
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Among the oldest Cape school rivalries
Boland Landbou vs Oakdale
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The farmers’ derby physical, proud and unforgiving
Easter Rugby Festivals: The National Measuring Stick
The four major national festivals:
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Kearsney Easter Rugby Festival
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KES Easter Rugby Festival
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St John’s College Easter Festival
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St Stithians Easter Festival
- Graeme College WildeKlawer Rugby Festival
Craven Week: Where Schoolboys Become Internationals
First played in 1964, the Coca-Cola Craven Week remains the pinnacle of schoolboy rugby.
At the end of the tournament:
-
SA Schools is selected
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SA Schools ‘A’ is selected
The Schools That Built the Springboks
Photo: Grant Pitcher/Gallo Images
Most Springboks Produced by School
Source:
| Rank | School | Springboks |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Paul Roos Gymnasium | 56 |
| 2 | Grey College | 49 |
| 3 | Bishops | 43 |
| 4 | Paarl Gimnasium | 32 |
| 5 | SACS | 32 |
| 6 | Paarl Boys’ High | 26 |
| 7 | Kimberley Boys High | 23 |
| 8 | Rondebosch | 21 |
| 9 | Grey High School | 17 |
| 10 | Maritzburg College | 17 |
The Western Cape production line of Springboks is unmatched.
Springbok Test Centurions and Their Schools
Springbok Test Centurions, by their School
| Player | Tests | School |
|---|---|---|
| Eben Etzebeth | 141 | Tygerberg |
| Victor Matfield | 127 | Pietersburg |
| Bryan Habana | 124 | KES |
| Tendai Mtawarira | 117 | Peterhouse (Zimbabwe) |
| John Smit | 111 | Pretoria Boys High |
| Jean de Villiers | 109 | Paarl Gimnasium |
| Siya Kolisi | 103 | Grey High |
| Percy Montgomery | 102 | SACS * |
| Willie le Roux | 101 | Paul Roos |
*2007 World Cup winner Percy Montgomery, SACS, was the first Springboks Test Centurion.
Photo: Duif du Toit / Gallo Images
KEO News Wire
South Africa’s State of Origin – our Schools system works
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
BULLS v SHARKS: WIN WITH AFRICA PICKS
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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
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Bulls: 8
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Sharks: 4
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Stormers: 4
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Lions: 2
1. Paarl Boys’ High School 18 players
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Lions: 6
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Sharks: 5
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Stormers: 4
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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
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Stormers: 5
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Sharks: 4
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Bulls: 2
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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
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Bulls: 4
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Stormers: 4
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Sharks: 2
5. Hoërskool Monument 9
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Lions: 7
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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
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Sharks: 4
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Lions: 2
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Bulls: 2
Bishops Diocesan College 8
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Stormers: 6
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Bulls: 1
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Lions: 1
Westville Boys’ High School 5
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Sharks: 3
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Bulls: 1
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Lions: 1
Maritzburg College 5
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Sharks: 3
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Stormers: 2
Afrikaanse Hoër Seunskool (Affies) 4
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Bulls: 1
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Sharks: 1
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Lions: 1
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Stormers: 1
The deeper story is:
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64 schools represented
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37 schools with one player
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11 schools with two players
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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.
SA URC ORIGIN – THE SCHOOLS
18 Players
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Grey College
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Paarl Boys’ High
12 Players
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Paul Roos Gymnasium
10 Players
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Paarl Gimnasium
9 Players
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Hoërskool Monument
8 Players
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Glenwood High School
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Bishops (Diocesan College)
5 Players
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Westville Boys’ High School
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Maritzburg College
4 Players
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Afrikaanse Hoër Seunskool (Affies)
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Hilton College
3 Players
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Northcliff High School
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King Edward VII School (KES)
2 Players
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St Albans College
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Hoër Landbouskool Boland
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Hoërskool Garsfontein
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Hoër Landbouskool Oakdale
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Michaelhouse
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Jeppe High School for Boys
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Potchefstroom Gimnasium
1 Player Each
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St Stithians
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Bersig
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Hudson Park
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Linden
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SACS
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Stellenberg
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Transvalia
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Frikkie Meyer
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Fichardtpark
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Graeme College
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Ben Vorster
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EG Jansen
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St Andrew’s College (Makhanda)
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Dale College
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HTS Middelburg
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Durban High School (DHS)
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Hoërskool Klerksdorp
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Hoërskool Tygerberg
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Huguenot High School
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Grey High School
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Jim Mvabaza Senior Secondary
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Piet Retief High School
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Churchill Boys High School
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HTS Louis Botha
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Queens College
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Hoërskool Oos-Moot
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Diamantveld
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Wonderboom
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Outeniqua High School
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Hoërskool Eldoraigne
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Northwood
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St John’s College
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Rondebosch Boys’ High
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Wynberg Boys’ High
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Hoërskool Pietersburg
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Welkom Gimnasium
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Hoërskool Brandwag
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Hermanus High School
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Hoërskool Riebeeckstad
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Klein Nederburg
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Hoërskool Standerton
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Total schools represented: 64
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2 schools with 18 players
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1 school with 12
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1 school with 10
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1 school with 9
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2 schools with 8
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2 schools with 5
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2 schools with 4
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2 schools with 3
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7 schools with 2
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42 schools with 1
KEO News Wire
Weekend Wrap: Boishaai – the kings of Paarl!
Paarl Boys’ High celebrated a famous victory against Paarl Gimnasium while there were also notable wins for Oakdale Landbou, Queen’s College, DHS, Affies and Jeppe on Saturday.
Trailing 33-21 with just seven minutes to play, Boishaai produced a stunning fightback, crossing for two late tries.
Centre Tristan Joubert scored the decisive try in the 66th minute, before Iwan Jordaan calmly slotted the conversion to complete the comeback.
For Gim, SA Schools centre Markus Muller was a standout performer, scoring a try and adding three conversions and four penalties, but even his heroics couldn’t prevent the blue-and-white celebrations.
Both teams finish with a 16-1 record for the season, with Boishaai’s derby win giving them the unofficial No 1 SA schools ranking.
Meanwhile, the only team to beat Paarl Boys’ this year, Oakdale Landbou, completed their season with a memorable 21-17 victory against Paul Roos Gimnasium. The hosts led 12-5 at the break.
In Gauteng, Jeppe beat KES 39-31 in the 100th meeting between the schools, Affies thrashed Waterkloof 64-19 and Noordheuwel beat Noordvaal Cup champions Garsfontein 28-22.
In the Eastern Cape, Queen’s edged Selborne 31-28 and Grey High went down 48-15 to Grey College, while DHS defeated Northwood 36-5 in a KwaZulu-Natal clash.
Currie Cup
Bulls ruthless, Lions composed, Griquas bold, and Cheetahs bounce back
The second round of the Carling Currie Cup served up big wins, heavy hits, and a comeback for the ages.
The Vodacom Bulls were in a different class in Pretoria, dishing out a 64-0 hiding to the Hollywoodbets Sharks XV. It was brutal, clinical and complete six tries in each half, a mauling that leaves the Durban side still scoreless after two rounds.
Earlier in the day, the Fidelity ADT Lions showed composure and power to outplay DHL Western Province 40-19 at Ellis Park. WP scored first, but the Lions hit back hard and controlled the tempo. It’s now two wins from two for the Joburg side.
Toyota Cheetahs, stung by their opening-round loss, found their rhythm in Bloem. Jandre Nel’s four-try performance powered them past the Airlink Pumas 42-25 in a match they led from the front. The Pumas had moments but lacked the control to finish.
But the story of the weekend came out of Kimberley. Suzuki Griquas, trailing 34-19 at halftime, launched a second-half blitz to beat the Sanlam Boland Kavaliers 48-39. Caleb Abrahams scored twice, Derik Pretorius sealed it late, and the crowd got their money’s worth.
After two rounds, the Bulls and Lions lead the log with 10 points apiece. The Cheetahs follow on seven, then Boland and the Pumas on six. Griquas are next with five, while WP and the Sharks are still looking for their first points.
Round 3 kicks off Friday with Griquas hosting WP in Kimberley. The Bulls face the Pumas, Sharks take on the Cheetahs, and Boland welcome the Lions to Wellington on Sunday.
Wallabies hit back in wet Sydney finale
The Wallabies salvaged pride with a 22–12 win over the Lions in a storm-delayed third Test in Sydney. Tries from Pietsch, Jorgensen and McDermott gave Australia control, while the Lions already 2–0 up in the series never hit their stride. Will Stuart and Jac Morgan crossed late, but it wasn’t enough.
Australia avoid the whitewash. The Lions take the series, but leave with bruises and questions.
Other selected Schools results:
KEO News Wire
Weekend Preview: All Roads lead to Paarl
There’s no rugby match in South Africa this weekend bigger than Paarl Gim vs Paarl Boys’ High. It’s not a fixture – it’s identity. It’s family. It’s blood. Here’s your weekend preview:
Paarl Derby
Faure Street Stadium will be packed for the derby that means everything in the Winelands. Forget rankings. Forget the Boks. This is the one that counts.
Gim arrive unbeaten in 16, powered by Stormers-bound Markus Muller – scoring, kicking, tackling, creating. Boishaai have 15 wins of their own and, as Keo says, a handful of future Test Springboks will be on the field.
Gim hammered Boys’ High 30-8 last year, but history warns against reading into form. This game doesn’t care for predictions. It writes its own story.
Gim vs Boishaai: The Real Big One
And a nod to Keo’s favourite, Boishaai (Old Boy) No 10 Jack Cloete – who played 9 and 10 earlier this week and wears the family name with pride.
Currie Cup
Bulls out to batter bruised Sharks
The Bulls return to Loftus flying high after subduing WP in Cape Town. The Sharks, meanwhile, are still licking their wounds from a 44-3 hammering by the Lions.
Last year’s semi-final thriller ended 40-all, but this Bulls side looks more settled. The Sharks will need something special to avoid another bruising.
Castle Lager, Springboks, you & your bestie … a match made in rugby heaven
Cheetahs look to bounce back in Bloem
Frans Steyn’s side need a response after that Boland ambush. But the Pumas arrive confident after easing past Griquas.
The Cheetahs took last year’s final, but the Pumas beat them twice in the SA Cup. This one’s a toss-up.
Lions licking their lips
The Lions were ruthless against the Sharks and will back themselves to put WP away.
Province haven’t beaten the Lions since March 2023 and looked lost against the Bulls. Another tough afternoon looms.
Boland eye back-to-back upsets
Boland’s dramatic win over the Cheetahs has injected belief. Griquas have bossed this fixture in recent years, but Hawies Fourie’s men are starting to believe.
Lions eye whitewash, Wallabies cling to pride
The Lions head into Saturday’s final Test in Sydney chasing a 3–0 series sweep a feat last achieved in Australia over a century ago. Andy Farrell’s side is largely unchanged, while the Wallabies turn to experience with Nic White in his final Test. The series is won, but pride, history, and one last battle remain.
KEO News Wire
Why 2025 the Paarl rugby derby is so big for the class of 2020
They are the lost matric generation: The Covid Kids. The ones who in 2020 missed out on the biggest rugby match of their schooling: Paarl Boys High versus Paarl Gimnasium. This is why in 2025 the Paarl rugby derby is so big for the class of 2020, writes Mark Keohane.
This was unfinished business for the class of 2020.
It’s been a long five year wait for them to participate in the Old Boys’ derby week when the two renowned schooling institutions, and two of the most famed, in producing Springboks, square up to determine who gets to walk Paarl’s 11 kilometre Main Street with the broader shoulders in 2026.
Craig Cloete is my oldest and dearest friend. He was a fine schools rugby player and under 20s international. Then the knee went and club cricket was his outlet, aligned to a working profession.
His son Jack Cloete, formerly of Gene Louw primary school, and of Boshaai, played everything as a junior for Western Province, be it cricket, rugby or golf. The latter became his chosen game as rugby, post school, took a back seat.
But the seduction of the derby week and the five year frustration of what so many from both schools missed in 2020 was luring enough to get the young Cloete back on the rugby field in the past month, back in training and ready for the class of 2020 to finally make a statement.
Cloete, a No 10 who was/is as comfortable at No 9, turned back the clock along with some of his best mates as Boshaai triumphed against their greatest and closest rivals.
As everyone who has attended both schools says, it matters more to be No 1 in Paarl than in South Africa.
Both schools often sit one or two in the national school rankings. This season Gimmies, let by the most talked about schoolboy in the past decade, outside centre Markus Muller, are unbeaten in 16 matches. They are coached by former Springboks winger Pieter Rossouw and they are favourites to add to last year’s 30-8 win.
Boshaai have won 15 from 16 and with Sean Erasmus back at the helm as Director of Rugby, it is going to be a lot closer than last year.
Erasmus enjoyed five successive derby wins in his first stint at the school before joining the Lions and heading up the under 20 programme and being part of the senior team’s coaching group.
Since he has returned, so has the consistency and mojo of Boshaai.
Saturday will be huge, as it always is when these two rugby giants clash. The schools have combined for 58 Springboks and both have representation in the current World Cup-winning Springboks squad.
Injured Springboks loose-forward Cameron Hanekom has been in Paarl this week and his presence proved inspirational as Boishaai won.
The victory though was not in the result but in the occasion of finishing something that should have happened five years ago.
Those matrics, like every matric class in the country, were robbed of their crowning moment on the sports field.
For the likes of young Jumping Jack and his mates, it was that they finally got the opportunity to write their final schools rugby chapter.
ALL ROADS LEAD TO PAARL – OUR WEEKEND PREVIEW
KEO News Wire
Markus Muller: Stormers snap up SA’s top schoolboy rugby midfielder
The two most talked about schoolboy midfielders in South African rugby have made their post-matric movesand the biggest winner is unquestionably the DHL Stormers with the signing of rugby golden boy Markus Muller. The Lions have pounced on Grey College’s Ethan Adams. The duo headline rugby’s Class of 2025..
Muller, the captain of Paarl Gim for the upcoming season, is not just the best schoolboy centre in the countryhe’s been the standout midfielder across all schools for the last two years. With over 50 tries and try assists to his name, including more than 20 tries this season alone (four hat-tricks, three braces), the No 13 jersey in the SA Schools team seems his for the taking.
And here’s why Muller just hit the professional jackpot: He joins a Stormers backline that boasts Damian Willemse and Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu, two of the most gifted Springboks of the modern era. Whether playing inside or outside of this generational duo, Muller will be learning and linking with the best.
Cape Town Strikes Gold Again with Markus Muller
The Stormers didn’t just get Muller. The Western Cape conveyor belt is buzzing, and head coach John Dobson is keeping the local flavour strong with a serious intake of regional talent.
Joining Muller in Cape Town next year are:
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Quintin Potgieter (Paarl Gim, loose forward)
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Alutha Wesi (Rondebosch, loose forward)
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Randall-John Davids (Rondebosch, centre)
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Matt van der Merwe (Rondebosch, prop)
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Jordan Steenkamp (Paul Roos, wing)
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Altus Rabe (Paul Roos, hooker)
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Gert Kemp (Paul Roos, loose forward)
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Yaqeen Ahmed (Wynberg, flyhalf)
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Jayden Brits (Boland Landbou, scrumhalf)
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AJ Meyer (Grey College, lock)
MULLER STARS FOR PAARL GIM IN 2025
Dobson’s message is clear: build from within, strengthen the Western Province schools-to-Stormers pathway, and back the region’s talent.
“This speaks to our aim of harnessing the talent we have on our doorstep,” Dobson said. “We want our fans to see their players, from their communities, making it with the Stormers.”
Dobson also emphasized that while the focus is local, the Stormers remain alert to top-tier prospects from outside the region.
“We will make strategic acquisitions from around the country if they can make a big difference.”
The Battle of the Midfield Stars: Muller vs Adams
While Muller heads to the coast, Ethan Adams, the powerful outside centre from Grey College, is heading north to join the Lions. Adams, originally from Kareedouw in the Eastern Cape, has also starred in the SA Schools setup and was a standout at last year’s U18 Craven Week.
Both players will be tracked closely in their rookie professional seasonsbut it’s Muller’s opportunity to slot into a backline with established Boks and gamebreakers that has him leading the headlines.
The Stormers Development Dream
Muller follows in the footsteps of a who’s who of Western Province-developed stars. Names like Damian Willemse, Salmaan Moerat, Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu, JD Schickerling, and Suleiman Hartzenberg all came through the Western Province pathway.
Now it’s Muller’s turn.
Our Verdict: The Stormers didn’t just sign a schoolboy star. They signed the schoolboy starMarkus Muller. And with Willemse and Feinberg-Mngomezulu in the mix, Cape Town may have just locked in its next great midfielder.
YOU TUBE’S TRIBUTE VIDEOS AND SHORTS OF PAARL GIM SCHOOLS SENSATION MARKUS MULLER
KEO News Wire
Paul Roos lead Western Cape charge in stunning North/South Schools festival
Paul Roos Gimnasium made a rugby statement at the famed Markotter Fields in the NMI Toyota Noord-Suid Schools Rugby Festival. Winners on the field, the school was even big victors off it for the magnificent hosting, writes Mark Keohane.
Schools rugby in South Africa is strong, but in the Western Cape it is particularly potent and the local teams, led by the hosts, were powerful over the four-day event, in which each team played two 1st XV and 2nd XV matches respectively.
Paul Roos, unbeaten in 2024, edged last Saturday night and they put the finishing touches to a brilliant Schools extravaganza in beating Noordheuwel 26-19 in the final match on Tuesday evening. A massive crowd ensured festivities would end on a high, while SuperSport Schools provided non-stop live coverage of every 1st XV match. Paul Roos, earlier in the festival, edged Garsfontein 34-32.
On Tuesday night, left wing Jordan Steenkamp scored three tries, while Zander Smit also got a hat trick for Grey College against Jeppe.
Traditional South African schools powerhouses Grey College, two from two, exacted revenge on Jeppe for a 2024 defeat, triumphing 64-31 and Paarl Gimnasium were imposing over the Festival, with a 102-0 demolition of KES and a 66-16 whipping of Monument . Paarl Gim also fielded their second team and a Paarl Gim XV in a testament to their depth.
Paarl Gim 1st XV centre and captain Markus Muller was the standout back on display, getting hat tricks in both wins, and taking his season tally to 11 tries in four matches.
Photo: Ashley Vlotman/Gallo Images
Paarl Boys High were also two from two in defeating northern foes Waterkloof 66-0 and Affies 25-17 in Monday’s marquee match, while Western Province’s southern suburbs duo of Rondebosch Boys High and SACS were also unbeaten in their two matches.
Durbanville High, with two impressive wins, continued to reward the investment in their rugby programme and Boland Landbou and Outeniqua were predictably good.
Oakdale, not surprisingly, were good.
The organisation of the event was world class, the rugby facilities are among the finest on the planet and the backdrop sits comfortably with most scenic mountain ranges.
The rugby talent on display, in the 1st and 2nd team matches, showcased South Africa’s natural breeding ground for producing outstanding rugby player, in every position, in so many schools, north or south.
CHECK OUT THYS LOMBAARD’S VISUALS FROM THE FESTIVAL
I enjoyed Monday’s afternoon/early evening matches and future Springboks will come from this festival and a host of players will make the transition into professional rugby. Don’t be surprised to see some even play international rugby for other countries if history is the barometer.
Everything you need to know about the Noord/Suid Schools Festival
North-South/Noord-Suid Festival results/fixtures
Friday/Saturday
SACS 31-12 Welkom Gim
Outeniqua 24-24 Menlopark
Boland Landbou 71-10 Dr EG Jansen
Durbanville 27-21 Monnas
HTS Drostdy 17-61 Affies
Paarl Boys’ High 66-0 Waterkloof
Paarl Gim 102-0 KES
Nico Malan 17-33 Helpmekaar
Stellenberg 52-7 Bethlehem Voortrekker
Oakdale 45-12 Nelspruit
Rondebosch 38-15 Jeppe
Grey College 24-22 Noordheuwel
Paul Roos 34-32 Garsfontein
Monday
Melkbosstrand 25-24 Mzwandile Mali XV
Outeniqua 50-24 Welkom Gim
HTS Drostdy 29-43 Menlopark
Durbanville 34-16 EG Jansen
Boland Landbou 46-37 Waterkloof
SACS 27-5 KES
Paarl Gim 66-16 Monument
Paarl Boys’ High 25-17 Affies
Tuesday
Brackenfell 38-12 Marais Viljoen
Nico Malan 15-15 Rustenburg
Worcester Gim 1st XV 26 – Paarl Gim XV 43
Duineveld 19-53 Voortrekker
Framesby 29-59 Diamantveld
Rondebosch 47-12 Nelspruit
Stellenberg 18-25 Garsfontein
Oakdale 40-21 Helpmekaar
Grey College 64-31 Jeppe
Paul Roos 26-19 Noordheuwel
*Grey High also enjoyed a successful hosting.
Grey High Festival results
Queen’s 13-13 St Stithians
Dale 0-24 Northwood
Pretoria Boys’ High 26-28 Kearsney
Graeme 17-27 Hilton
Kingswood 20-41 DHS
Selborne 12-46 Westville
Grey High 28-28 Michaelhouse
Westville 28-13 Dale
Selborne 5-35 DHS
Hudson Park 31-41 Kearsney
Pretoria Boys’ High 14-17 Queen’s
Kingswood 14-33 Northwood
Port Rex 17-19 St Stithians
Bishops 26-17 Michaelhouse
St Charles 26-13 Daniel Pienaar
Muir 26-12 Ithembelihle
Grey 20-17 Hilton
Schools Rugby
Stats show rugby still way too white in South Africa
The lie is that rugby is transforming at schools level when you consider the statistical return of Springboks among the country’s elite rugby schools.
The Rapport newspaper’s report on the effects of professionalism on schools rugby was revealing in that 44% of the Springboks selected since 1996 came from just 25 schools. The most startling statistic was that of the 131 players who became Springboks from these schools, 119 were white!It is still a game dominated by the country’s minority.
There has to be a continued focus on this for it to ever change.
Transformation is about opportunity and clearly this isn’t happening in too many schools that focus so intensely on rugby as the premier sport. I was shocked at how few black and coloured Springboks came from the 25 elite school feeders to the Springboks.
It is also equally depressing how few black and coloured coaches we have in South African professional rugby.
Super Rugby is again an all-white affair when it comes to head coaches. There has to be an emphasis on changing this. It simply can’t continue to be so white-dominated. There was a 100-year history of black rugby before unity and yet there is so little to show for this history in the professional arena.
Black coaches struggle to get an opportunity in the professional ranks. White players retire and are coaching professionally within two or three years. It is so skewed. Too many continue to defend the status quo. It must be challenged every day of the week.
Rugby can’t be the game of the people when a minority still controls it.
And it is this minority that keeps on insisting the game is changing and transforming.
The fabric of the South African professional game remains white. The numbers don’t lie. There has been an improvement in playing squad numbers, but they are nowhere near what they should be.
In a previous column, I lamented the situation and the absolute disregard from within regions to even come close to a 50% split.
When you assess the numbers of black and coloured players selected during the opening weekend of Super Rugby, it is obvious that the Springbok World Cup squad won’t be split racially 50% black and 50% white.
This was rugby’s promise to the government in 2011 when the racial make-up of the World Cup squad was white-dominated. The problem is not with the Springboks but with the Super Rugby regions.
Every Super Rugby coach must make it a priority when it comes to black player selection. They have to give Springbok coach Rassie Erasmus the biggest possible pool of players.
This year should only be about doing what is best for the Springboks’ World Cup prospects.
Unfortunately, it doesn’t work this way in South African rugby.
There have been huge improvements in communication between the national coach and regional coaches, but in a World Cup year there should be intent from each region that every sacrifice will be made to accommodate the preparations of the Springboks to send a fully transformed squad to the tournament – a transformed squad that is good enough to have a chance of glory.
*This article was first published in the Cape Times. Keohane, a former Springboks Communications Manager and multiple award-winning sports writer, is head of Independent Media Sport.
Schools Rugby
SA Schools predominantly WP
10 of the 30 squad members of the SA Schools side come from Western Province, who beat the Sharks 47-8 in the unofficial Craven Week final.
Coached by Sean Erasmus, the side will get their Aon U18 International Series started at Boland Landbou, then move on to Stellenberg to face France, concluding their tournament in Newlands at SACS.
Notably, former Bok centre Brendan Venter’s son, Brendan Junior has been included (from WP), as has referee Marius Jonker’s son Rynhardt Jonker (from the Sharks).
“I am very happy with the quality of the players in the squad,” said Erasmus.
“All of the players performed well at Craven Week, and they showed that they can play an exciting brand of rugby. I was particularly impressed with the resilience and character they showed during the week and I am very excited to work with them.
“The experience and leadership that the players such as Adrian, Celimpilo and Banele will bring is also good as they will set the pace and intensity at training.
SA Schools squad:
Forwards (18)
Jacobus Agenbag (prop), Free State/Grey College
Adrian Alberts (lock), Western Province/Paarl Boys High
Dewald Donald (prop), Blue Bulls/Affies
Tristan Dullisear (flank), Golden Lions/Monument
Jacques Goosen (hooker), Border/Selborne College
Celimpilo Gumede (No 8), Sharks/Durban High School
Hanru Jacobs (prop), Western Province/Paul Roos Gymnasium
Jean-Jacques Kotze (hooker), Western Province/Paul Roos Gymnasium
De Wet Marais (flank), Free State/Grey College
Mihlali Mgolodela (flank), Western Province/Rondebosch Boys High
Keketso Morabe (No 8), Griffons/Welkom Gimnasium
Banele Mthenjane (prop), Pumas/Nelspruit
Lunga Ncube (lock), Sharks/Glenwood
Evan Roos (No 8), Western Province/Paarl Boys High
Sibusiso Sangweni (lock), Sharks/Kearsney College
Jarrod Taylor (flank), Border/Selborne College
Uzile Tele (flank), Border/Hudson Park High
Emile van Heerden (lock), Western Province XV/Paarl Boys High
Backs (12)
Lionel April (flyhalf), Boland/Hermanus High
Thomas Bursey (scrumhalf), Border/Selborne College
Jurich Claasens (scrumhalf), Blue Bulls/Garsfontein
Darren Hendricks (fullback), Western Province/Boland Landbou
Stravino Jacobs (wing), Western Province/Paarl Gymnasium
Rynhardt Jonker (centre), Sharks/Glenwood
Muzilikazi Manyike (centre), Golden Lions/Jeppe Boys High
Juan Mostert (flyhalf), Western Province/Paul Roos Gymnasium
Brendan Venter (centre), Western Province/Paul Roos Gymnasium
Wyclef Vlitoor (wing), Free State/Grey College
Sibabalwe Xamlashe (fullback), Border/Selborne College
Mnombo Zwelindaba (centre), Border/Selborne College
Aon U18 International Series fixtures:
Friday, August 10 (at Boland Landbou)
14:15 – England vs France
16:00 – SA Schools vs Wales
Tuesday, August 14 (at Stellenberg)
14:15 – Wales vs England
16:00 – SA Schools vs France
Saturday, August 18 (at SACS)
12:15 – France vs Wales
14:05 – SA Schools vs England
Schools Rugby
Coca Cola Craven Week – WP take all the schools’ glory
Hosts Western Province were supreme in the Coca Cola Craven and Academy Week final day, being crowned unofficial champions in both festivals.
South Africa’s premier schools rugby week concluded with a thumping WP 47-8 against Kwazulu-Natal’s young Sharks. Province ended the week unbeaten in their three matches. The WP also finished the Academy Week undefeated. The hosts were particularly harsh in hammering Free State 73-0. The WP XV completed a wonderful day for the province in beating the Bulls 20-16.
Paarl Boys High hosted the week.
U18 Craven Week day five results (Saturday, 13 July):
SWD 48-14 Pumas
Griquas 24-15 Limpopo Blue Bulls
Western Province XV 20-16 Blue Bulls
Eastern Province 21-10 Leopards
Border 33-17 Free State
Blue Bulls XV 29-17 Golden Lions XV
Golden Lions 51-12 Boland
NWU Valke 19-22 Griffons
Sharks 8-47 Western Province
SARugby Mag report on WP 47-8 win against KZN
Coca-Cola Academy Week Day 5 results:
Sharks 24-10 Golden Lions
Griquas 27-31 Eastern Province CD
Blue Bulls CD 33-22 Western Province CD
Leopards 19-8 Griquas CD
Border 17-38 Blue Bulls
Boland 20-8 Golden Lions XV
Griffons CD 8-10 Sharks CD
Pumas CD 10-10 Valke CD
SWD 45-12 Valke
Eastern Province 22-13 Griffons
Limpopo Blue Bulls 25-0 Pumas
Border CD 20-19 SA LSEN
Zimbabwe 27-6 Namibia
Western Province 73-0 Free State
Schools Rugby
Coca Cola Craven week day 4 wrap
Fixtures and results from day four of Craven Week and Academy Week at Paarl Boys’ High’s Brug Street field via sarugbymag.co.za
Craven Week
Leopards 17 Griquas 6
SWD 38 Golden Lions XV 24
Western Province XV 28 Valke 6
Boland 19 Blue Bulls 17
Sharks 29 Free State 20
Academy Week
Limpopo 25 Western Province CD 14
Griquas CD 26 Pumas CD 26
Griffons 15 Golden Lions CD 6
Griffons CD 17 Border CD 8
Golden Lions 21 Eastern Province 21
SWD 45 Eastern Province CD 15
Free State 29 Blue Bulls 18
Schools Rugby
Coca Cola Craven Week day 3 wrap: Blue Bulls win big, Province edge Lions
Western Province were able to hold off the Lions to secure a 13-5 win in the first unofficial semi final, while the Blue Bulls XV put 55 points past the Limpopo Blue Bulls.
Fixtures and results from day three of Craven Week and Academy Week at Paarl Boys’ High’s Brug Street field via sarugbymag.co.za.
Craven Week
Blue Bulls XV 55 Limpopo Blue Bulls 5
Pumas 45 Eastern Province 29
Border 52 Griffons 12
Western Province 13 Golden Lions 5
Academy Week
Valke 25 Border 22
Sharks CD 29 Leopards 14
Western Province 67 Sharks 14
SA LSEN 26 Valke CD 22
Namibia 18 Griffons CD 15
Zimbabwe 44 Blue Bulls CD 19
Boland 41 Pumas 24
Schools Rugby
Coca Cola Craven Week Day 2 wrap: Free State bully young Bulls
Fixtures and results from day two of the Coca Cola U18 Craven Week and Academy Week at Paarl Boys’ High’s Brug Street field, via sarugbymag.co.za
Craven Week
Golden Lions XV 15 Western Province XV 57
Valke 63 Leopards 24
Boland 61 Griquas 14
KwaZulu-Natal 46 SWD 28
Free State 38 vs Blue Bulls 21
Academy Week
Griquas CD 13 Griffons CD 17
Pumas CD 8 Border CD 15
Eastern Province CD 34 Limpopo 10
Golden Lions CD 25 Western Province CD 23
SWD 29 Griffons 20
Golden Lions 28 vs Free State 36
Blue Bulls 26 vs Eastern Province 7
Schools Rugby
U18 Craven Week wrap: Big wins for WP & Lions on Day 1
Western Province and the Lions were rampant on Day one of the Coca Cola Craven Week.
All results from day one of Craven Week and Academy Week at Paarl Boys’ High’s Brug Street field. Via sarugbymag.co.za
Craven Week
Griffons 51 Blue Bulls XV 17
Border 68 Limpopo 17
Golden Lions 46 Eastern Province 25
Western Province 72 Pumas 10
Academy Week
Sharks CD 27 Blue Bulls CD 27
Namibia 41 Valke CD 8
Zimbabwe 29 SA LSEN 27
Griquas 36 Valke 39
Border 31 Leopards 18
Boland 21 Sharks 43
Western Province 57 Pumas 28
Read SA Rugby Mag’s report on the Lions vs EP thriller and WP’s walloping of the Pumas
Schools Rugby
Kaplan hails Paul Roos team ‘once in a generation’
South Africa’s most experienced Test referee Jonathan Kaplan is also among the most respected authorities on schoolboy rugby. Kaplan, on his Twitter feed, described this season’s Paul Roos side as a ‘once in a generation’ team.
Paul Roos, unbeaten in 11 matches, smashed Paarl Boys High 44-8, just a fortnight after hammering Paarl Gim 32-13 at Paarl Gim.
Kaplan, who has refereed 165 different schools First XV’s, emphasised the quality of this year’s team when he said he hadn’t seen anything like it for a decade. Kaplan still referees a Schools match every Saturday.
Paarl Boys High have been the most dominant team in South Africa for the past three years, but this season the cycle was broken with defeat against Grey College and the whipping at Stellenbosch against Paul Roos.
Grey Kollege also kept their unbeaten status with a come from behind late surge to score two tries in the final five minutes and beat Affies. Grey raced to a 22-0 lead and Affies were outstanding in clawing back the deficit to lead 28-27 going into the final few minutes. Grey then scored twice to win 39-28.
Paul Roos and Grey College are without question the leading two teams in South Africa this season, with Paarl Gim and Glenwood and (probably) Paarl Boys completing the top 5.
Paul Roos will travel to Grey College in Bloemfontein on August 18 for the most anticipated Schools match of the season.
Glenwood are also unbeaten in KZN and were dominant at the Kearsney and Wildeklawer festivals. They recently beat Affies and at the weekend scored their most impressive win of the year with a 49-22 dismantling of the traditional powerhouse Monument.
Glenwood plays Grey College on August 4.
Boland Landbou, in the Western Cape, beat Bishops 24-14, Rondebosch were too strong for Durbanville High 30-15, Stellenberg downed SACS 25-22 at Newlands, scoring a converted try in the last five minutes. Paalr Gim also beat Oakdale 47-38.
Selected results on SARugby Magazine’s Schools’ Section
Western Cape
Worcester Gym 25 Bellville 29
Milnerton 7 vs Brackenfell 22
DF Malan 33 De Kuilen 5
Drostdy 25 Outeniqua 18
KwaZulu-Natal
Clifton 27 Northwood 41
DHS 45 vs Maritzburg College 30
Noordvaal
Ben Vorster 21 Helpmekaar 36
EG Jansen 15 Garsfontein 57
Eldoraigne 37 Zwartkop 24
Florida 20 Pietersburg 29
St Stithians 31 Jeppe 47
Menlopark 39 Nelspruit 12
St David’s 22 St Benedicts 19
St John’s 28 Pretoria Boys’ High 15
Eastern Cape
Cambridge 10 St Andrew’s 19
Dale 41 Grens 19
Hudson Park 37 vs Queen’s 22
Free State
Welkom Gim 20 Hentie Cilliers 20
Wilgerivier 18 Kroonstad 12
Diamantveld 57 Upington 24
Photo: Thys Lombard/Paul Roos Facebook
Schools Rugby
Schools Wrap: Paul Roos powerful, while Wynberg pip Grey
Paul Roos continued what has been a powerful 2018 season thus far, putting Bishops away 44-21. Wynberg, who appear to be the premier Southern Suburbs side this season edged Grey High 36-33 while Grey College were emphatic in smashing Selborne 62-24.
All the school results from around the country via sarugbymag.co.za
Visit their site for match reports on the schools clashes
WEEKEND’S RESULTS
Western Cape
Bishops 21 Paul Roos 44
Boland Landbou 20 Framesby 34
Paarl Gim 69 Rondebosch 28
SACS 17 Durbanville 13
Stellenberg 22 Outeniqua 31
Wynberg 36 Grey High 33
Brackenfell 20 Bellville 26
KwaZulu-Natal
DHS 60 Westville 10
Kearsney 6 Maritzburg 3 (abandoned due to lightning)
Michaelhouse vs Northwood (cancelled)
Noordvaal
Monument 26 Waterkloof 28
Pretoria Boys’ 23 Hilton 27
Menlopark vs Glenwood (cancelled)
St Stithians 31 Parktown 22
KES 26 St Benedict’s 24
St Alban’s 30 St John’s 12
Transvalia 23 Helpmekaar 20
Garsfontein 46 Middleburg 29
Nelspruit 34 EG Jansen 28
Eastern Cape
Dale 29 Queen’s 10
Selborne 24 Grey College 62
Kingswood 36 Union 15
Hudson Park 40 Pearson 25
St Andrew’s 43 Daniel Pienaar 7
Free State
Diamandtveld 22 Noord-Kaap 16
Welkom Gim 52 Kroonstad 7
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Carol
25th June 2017 at 6:00 pm
Having the ‘first signed copy’ of Monty in the British Isles I have read this before, but it was nice to have a recap!
Keo
25th June 2017 at 8:23 pm
Great to welcome you back to Keo Carol. Get your mates back here chatting.
Carol
25th June 2017 at 9:18 pm
Hi Keo… So you are putting a call out to the Night Owls?
Shall I summon the ‘Creatures of the Night’?
The likes of Robzim, Grant 10, Soda Joe, Puma, Stormersboy, BullScot, Grootbluesmile, K9, Tassis, superBul, Brumbies Boy, Ed The Lion, Boerboul, Super de Blou Bull, 4 Man, Gunther, Pietman, … To name just a few.
Rugby is the link but these guys love sport, music and life too. It would be great to catch up with them!!
Lets see………
keo
28th June 2017 at 7:59 pm
Indeed Carol Indeed
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