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)

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

• Crowd: 20,000+ regularly

• Described as the biggest schoolboy derby in the world

Grey College vs Paul Roos Gymnasium

• Two of the biggest Springbok-producing schools combined

Bishops vs Rondebosch

• Bishops leads historic wins (103 vs 80, with 19 draws recorded)

Jeppe vs KES

• Over 100 meetings; rivalry dates back to 1935

Affies vs Waterkloof

• Began in 1987; Affies dominant historically

Hilton vs Michaelhouse

• Played since 1904; one of KZN’s big rivalries

SACS vs Wynberg

• Among the oldest Cape school rivalries

Boland Landbou vs Oakdale

• The farmers’ derby physical, proud and unforgiving

Easter Rugby Festivals: The National Measuring Stick

The four major national festivals:

• Kearsney Easter Rugby Festival

• KES Easter Rugby Festival

• St John’s College Easter Festival

• 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

• SA Schools ‘A’ is selected

The Schools That Built the Springboks

Photo: Grant Pitcher/Gallo Images

Most Springboks Produced by School

Source:

The Western Cape production line of Springboks is unmatched.

Springbok Test Centurions and Their Schools

Springbok Test Centurions, by their School

*2007 World Cup winner Percy Montgomery, SACS, was the first Springboks Test Centurion. 

Photo: Duif du Toit / Gallo Images

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.

SA URC ORIGIN – THE SCHOOLS

18 Players

• Grey College

• Paarl Boys’ High

12 Players

• Paul Roos Gymnasium

10 Players

• Paarl Gimnasium

9 Players

• Hoërskool Monument

8 Players

• Glenwood High School

• Bishops (Diocesan College)

5 Players

• Westville Boys’ High School

• Maritzburg College

4 Players

• Afrikaanse Hoër Seunskool (Affies)

• Hilton College

3 Players

• Northcliff High School

• King Edward VII School (KES)

2 Players

• St Albans College

• Hoër Landbouskool Boland

• Hoërskool Garsfontein

• Hoër Landbouskool Oakdale

• Michaelhouse

• Jeppe High School for Boys

• Potchefstroom Gimnasium

1 Player Each

• St Stithians

• Bersig

• Hudson Park

• Linden

• SACS

• Stellenberg

• Transvalia

• Frikkie Meyer

• Fichardtpark

• Graeme College

• Ben Vorster

• EG Jansen

• St Andrew’s College (Makhanda)

• Dale College

• HTS Middelburg

• Durban High School (DHS)

• Hoërskool Klerksdorp

• Hoërskool Tygerberg

• Huguenot High School

• Grey High School

• Jim Mvabaza Senior Secondary

• Piet Retief High School

• Churchill Boys High School

• HTS Louis Botha

• Queens College

• Hoërskool Oos-Moot

• Diamantveld

• Wonderboom

• Outeniqua High School

• Hoërskool Eldoraigne

• Northwood

• St John’s College

• Rondebosch Boys’ High

• Wynberg Boys’ High

• Hoërskool Pietersburg

• Welkom Gimnasium

• Hoërskool Brandwag

• Hermanus High School

• Hoërskool Riebeeckstad

• Klein Nederburg

• Hoërskool Standerton

• Total schools represented: 64

• 2 schools with 18 players

• 1 school with 12

• 1 school with 10

• 1 school with 9

• 2 schools with 8

• 2 schools with 5

• 2 schools with 4

• 2 schools with 3

• 7 schools with 2

• 42 schools with 1

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:

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.

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.

GIM v BOISHAAI: THE BIG ONE

ALL ROADS LEAD TO PAARL – OUR WEEKEND PREVIEW

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:

• Quintin Potgieter (Paarl Gim, loose forward)

• Alutha Wesi (Rondebosch, loose forward)

• Randall-John Davids (Rondebosch, centre)

• Matt van der Merwe (Rondebosch, prop)

• Jordan Steenkamp (Paul Roos, wing)

• Altus Rabe (Paul Roos, hooker)

• Gert Kemp (Paul Roos, loose forward)

• Yaqeen Ahmed (Wynberg, flyhalf)

• Jayden Brits (Boland Landbou, scrumhalf)

• 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 

MULLER LEAD STORY ON SA RUGBY MAGAZINE

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

Noord/Suid PHOTO GALLERY

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.

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

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

SA Rugby Mag report on WP 73-0 win against Free State

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

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

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

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

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

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