Planet Rugby Forum

Boland Landbou turns fifty
Mon, 30 Jan 2012 10:03

Bearing in mind the enormous contribution this proud institution makes to the agricultural wellbeing and sporting character of the Western Province, you would be forgiven for thinking it must have been gracing the Windmeul area just outside Paarl and Wellington for well over a century.

It also stands to reason that Boland Landbou must have a pretty large enrolment, given the marvelous sporting achievements it boasts and the persistently high levels at which it competes, particularly as the school's rugby teams are enrolled at a level that demands one fields around sixteen teams.

Well, you'd be wrong on both counts. It only opened its doors as recently as 1962 and the current enrolment stands at a little over 370. Do the maths: let's say sixteen sides at around 22 players each, that gives you 352 regular players, a 95% participation level.

It only takes skeptics one short visit to their vast immaculately maintained grounds, affectionately referred to as The Farm, to understand the complete devotion of learners, educators and workers alike to the land for which they are responsible.

But, this is a rugby website so here are some facts about the Landbou legacy in this sphere.

The school has produced four Springboks, starting with Attie Strauss in the early 1980s, taking in WP stalwart Hottie Louw and culminating in Deon Carstens - whose younger brother Jonty until recently coached the First XV - and the celebrated Derick Hougaard, just one of whose achievements is scoring the most points in a Currie Cup Final.

The last three came through the ranks of the SA Schools side, as have eight others. Yet, probably the best known of all Landbou's various local and overseas provincial rugby representatives is one who graced SA fields for many years without ever earning recognition at the very highest level - the ageless Willem de Waal.

Realising that a solid understanding of schools rugby requires exposure to as wide a range of styles as possible, the Bolanners have undertaken tours to South America (1997); Dubai (2001); Japan (2002, where they won the Sanix International World Youth Rugby Tournament); England, Wales and France (2006) and New Zealand (2011).

It stands to reason that, with such an apparently limited player pool from which to draw, the 1st XV's fortunes will differ markedly from year to year, but everyone whoever comes up against them will attest that their relentless commitment more than levels any playing field.

This year's campaign starts and ends with home matches, against Augsburg Gym (Wednesday, 7 March) and the 25th Interschools showdown with arch-rivals Oakdale - an annual clash which Boland leads 15-9 - on Saturday, 18 August.

The festival weekend of 16 and 17 March sees a variety of celebrations, culminating in the First XV match against Punt of Mossel Bay. Later in the year, on Sunday, 29 July, there will be a Thanksgiving Service at the majestic Agter-Paarl Church.

Principal Chris Fourie's close-knit school family received an early birthday present in December last year when Jan Frylinck, the 2011 First XV flyhalf, was awarded South African Schools colours for cricket at the conclusion of the Khaya Majola Week in Cape Town.

And when you consider that Tian Roelofse was the second most successful learner in the 2010 Western Cape Matric exams - and the top first year Engineering student at Maties in 2011 - you have just two indications of the versatility and potential of the gentlemen entrusted with the privilege of keeping the Windmeul turning in the years to come.

OomPB wrote:FNB Top 20 - 8 September (The final one for 2011):

1. Grey College of Bloemfontein
2. Affies
3. Selborne
4. Paarl Boys' High
5. Monument
6. Waterkloof
7. Noord-Kaap
8. Queen's
9. KES
10. Dale
11. Kearsney
12. Oakdale
13. Bishops
14. Glenwood
15. Paarl Gim
16. Paul Roos
17. Grey High of Port Elizabeth
18. Drostdy
19. Maritzburg College
20. Diamantveld

pavlovsgod wrote:Kearsney College. Two guys playing for England at the same time. Not bad for a small private school in South Africa.

Kearsney Festival 2012
Thu, 24 Nov 2011 10:48


Kearsney College are gearing up for a busy season

The Kearsney Festival takes place at the Botha's Hill school in early April 2012 and again it has attracted several of South Africa's top schools.

Again the Festival takes place over the Easter Weekend, 5-9 April 2012.

Participating schools: Affies (Pretoria), Dale College (King William's Town), Dr EG Jansen (Boksburg), Glenwood (Durban), Grey College (Bloemfontein), Monument (Krugersdorp), Paarl Gim, Paul Roos (Stellenbosch), Queen's College (Queenstown), Selborne College (East London), Westville (Durban) and hosts Kearsney College.

Easter Rugby Fixtures 2012:

Day One - Thursday, 5 April:

08.30: Kearsney College vs Selborne College
09.45: EG Jansen vs Affies
11.00: Grey College vs Paarl Gimnasium
12.15: Primary Schools
13.15: Dale College vs Westville
14.30: Paul Roos Gymnasium vs Queen's College
15.45: Glenwood vs Monument

Day Two - Saturday, 7 April:

08.30: Monument vs Paul Roos Gymnasium
09.45: Dale College vs Glenwood
11.00: Grey College vs Westville
12.15: Primary Schools
13.15: Affies vs Paarl Gimnasium
14.30: Selborne College vs EG Jansen
15.45: Kearsney College vs Queen's College

Day Three - Monday, 9 April:

08.30: Dale College vs Paul Roos Gymnasium
09.45: Queen's College vs Glenwood
11.00: Westville vs EG Jansen
12.15: Primary Schools
13.15: Selborne College vs Paarl Gimnasium
14.30: Kearsney College vs Affies
15.45: Grey College vs Monument
17.00: Awarding of Sharks Academy and Varsity College bursarie

Wilson's Toffee wrote:Grey vs. Monnas will be a thriller.

OomPB wrote:

Wilson's Toffee wrote:Grey vs. Monnas will be a thriller.

Grey will get klapped this year.

DraadkarD wrote:

OomPB wrote:

Wilson's Toffee wrote:Grey vs. Monnas will be a thriller.

Grey will get klapped this year.

Grey PE usually gets klapped!

leather wrote:I was amazed to see how many english primary schools have taken up rugby, I am talking of JHB primary schools, this is very good for the english high schools at least if this continues they will not always be on the backfoot in U/14's , having to teach the boys from scratch how to play rugby.
I see there is an easter festival as well for primary schools in JHB.

Rugby Festival 1st - 3rd March 2012 St Benedict's Preparatory Rugby Festival 1st - 3rd March 2012

As a result of the tremendous success, growth and extended relationships achieved with top traditional Schools at the previous five years’ U/13 Rugby Festivals hosted by St Benedict’s Preparatory School, St Benedict’s Preparatory School have formed a committee who will be undertaking the challenge once again for the 2012 Festival. We have already invited 24 Schools who have accepted and confirmed their attendance at this year’s Rugby Festival. The teams are from Gauteng, Eastern Cape, Northern Cape, Free State, North West and the Pretoria area. This year’s very strong line up of top traditional rugby Schools will be visiting our School on 1, 2 & 3 March 2012.

The Schools who have confirmed their participation at the 2012 Festival are as follows;

Truida Kestell, KEPS, L/S Helderkruin, L/S Vastrap, L/S President Steyn, L/S Lichtenburg, Queens College, Pridwin, L/S Paarl Gimnasium, L/S Collegepark, Hurlyvale Primary, L/S Orion, The Ridge Prep, Westville Senior Primary, L/S Florida, Jan Celliers, St Benedict’s 1ST XV, St Benedict’s 2nd, Leeuwenhof, St John’s Prep, L/S Generaal De La Rey, and L/S Louw Geldenhuys.

In addition, we have through consultation with the Lions Rugby Union invited two PDI Teams for whom we are trying to raise sponsorships for kit items. We are also very fortunate at St Benedict’s Preparatory School to have the services of the Golden Lions A panel referees who will be taking charge of all matches at the 2012 Festival.

The St Benedict’s Preparatory School U/13 Rugby Festival will certainly deliver a fun filled festive rugby event for the whole family to enjoy. We would hereby like to extend an invite to all Bennies families to attend and support this Festive Bennies event. The beer tent will be open throughout the festival on the D rugby field, entertainment area for the kids, live music on Friday and Saturday night, food stalls and many other activities will be on offer for the duration of this event.

With every event of this magnitude comes the arduous task of fundraising and securing sponsorships.

OomPB wrote:KleinGim played on friday against an English touring school. Wasnt funny when some of that english kids put up some sun tan lotion at 18h00.

DraadkarD wrote:

OomPB wrote:KleinGim played on friday against an English touring school. Wasnt funny when some of that english kids put up some sun tan lotion at 18h00.

Who won?

OomPB wrote:
Three big clashes for Paarl Gim in just 5 days and promoted by the Sharks Academy to try and poach top SA schoolboy rugby talents.

Boishaai T20 Champions!
After 600 teams had fallen by the wayside in the Cricket South Africa Schools T20 Challenge it was left to the country’s top six teams to battle it out to claim the title as T20 champs!

Westville Boys’ High, Nelspruit High, Paarl Boys’, Potchefstroom Gim, Northern Cape High and Grey High slugged it out and put on a display of amazing talent.

However it was clear from the start that there was on team, Paarl Boys High that was simply a cut above the rest and would go on to be the nemesis of all who faced them as they bludgeoned their way to claim the title.

Boishaai who progressed to the finals without losing a single match, went on to crush Northern Cape who for the second year in a row had to play bridesmaid and settle for second spot.

Northern Cape got off to a decent enough start after winning the toss and choosing to take first strike. However they soon found themselves struggling to come to grips with the tight line and length of the Boishaai bowlers who proceeded to strangle them into submission. Wickets tumbled regularly preventing Northern Cape building up any momentum, and save for Xander Pitchers who slapped 40 runs off 36 balls there was little for them to cheer about.

Darren Papier bowled brilliantly in his spell to pick up three sticks for a miserly 16 runs and he was well supported by Jean-Luc du Plessis, son of Springbok great Carel du Plessis, who took two for 21.

At the end of 20 overs Northern Cape had posted a less than competitive score of 120/9 and it was never going to be enough against a team that had already shown that they had the firepower to chase down far bigger targets.

Still Northern Cape caused havoc in the beginning of Paarl Boy’s innings when first Marcke Cilliers departed cheaply and then GM Bruwer took a blinder to dismiss Hanno Kotze. Panic seemed to set in and with the rain clouds looming Paarl slipped behind the Duckworth/Lewis total. Finally in the eighth over, the heavens opened stopping the match with Paarl teetering at 53/4 and still needing 60 runs to win.

The rain only lasted a few moments and the short break seemed to ignite Boishaai into action and the runs began to flow. Nelis van Rensburg, who would go on to take the Man of the Match award, ended with an unbeaten 51 runs off 43 balls as Northern Cape struggled to plug the gaps and were unable to prevent Boishaai reaching the target with nine balls to spare.

“It means so much to us,” said Paarl captain Eddie Schutte. “We’re traditionally a rugby school, and it is wonderful to show what we can do in cricket as well. We reached the regional finals in 2010 and 2011, so we were overjoyed when we got to the national finals this year.

“Our headmaster promised us that if we won the tournament, the prize money will be used to develop indoor nets at the school – and our photo will be on the wall.”

Northern Cape captain Rosier said his players were deeply disappointed to have lost the final for the second time, but he conceded that they had not scored enough runs.

“Paarl kept things very tight – we were aiming for 160, and we knew it was going to be a struggle. But I’m very proud of the way we played, and I can assure you that Northern Cape High will be back next year.”

He said his school would use the prize money to develop turf nets.

Paarl Boys High won a total of R100 000 and Northern Cape R60 000. Hanno Kotze, who was the leading run scorer for the tournament, was named Man of the Series.

KZN welcomes three new coaches
Mon, 05 Mar 2012 11:17

Three of the major players on the KwaZulu Natal schools rugby front have made significant new coaching appointments ahead of the 2012 rugby season.

At Westville Boys High School Grant Bell, the existing Head of Sport has replaced Mike Vowles as the first team head coach.

Bell, an Old Boy of Westville has been actively involved in age-group coaching at the school. He was in charge of Westville’s Under-16 rugby team until the end of the 2011 season. In 2011 he was also head coach of the KwaZulu Natal Grant Khomo Under-16 team.

Although he has not been a teacher for quite some time now, in addition to his new important and time-consuming role, Bell will still be responsible for the full-time task of running 21 different sports at Westville including their highly successful swimming programme. Good planning and time management, along with the valuable support of his rugby coaching, conditioning and medical staff have enabled him to comfortably handle what might otherwise be considered a bit of a juggling act.

Included in his day-to-day rugby coaching duties are sessions before school, during the sports academy and in the afternoons.

Hilton College has also appointed an Old Boy as head coach. Brad MacLeod-Henderson played for the Sharks from 1998-2003 before spending time in England and Italy. He recently made a name for himself as a highly successful club rugby coach where he helped College Rovers capture the 2010 National Club Championships title, amongst other honours.

The experienced Tony Richter who coached Hilton for 10 seasons from 2001 to 2010 and was the KwaZulu Natal Craven Week head coach for four of these years will continue in his role as Director of Hilton College Rugby and will no doubt provide MacLeod-Henderson, a rookie coach at schools level with valuable support.

Extracts of a newsletter from Hilton Headmaster Gavin Thomson spelt out the reasons for the external appointment and the path forward for Hilton College sports:

“On the sports scene, there has been evidence that our sport in recent times has not delivered the professional approach and necessary level of excellence expected of a school of this stature. With the increasing demands of providing a professional approach to coaching sport at schoolboy level, it was agreed to opt for an external first team coach in each of these sports who would be contracted to devote the necessary time and energy to provide a quality coaching experience for the team and influence overall strategy. This has been a lengthy debate over the entire year and not a decision taken lightly. There is opportunity to add a professional touch to our sport that will provide our players with a fresh and dedicated approach.”

At Maritzburg College, Ryan Strudwick has been appointed as Director of Coaching.

First team head coach Steve Botha will now be freed up to focus his attention on training College’s first team. As part of overseeing all rugby affairs at College, Strudwick will provide input into first team matters on a consulting basis. His will also share his vast technical knowledge in the area of line-outs.

Strudwick, a Wartburg Old Boy has played for the Sharks during part of his 12-year long professional rugby career which includes spells in England and Ireland. Over the last four years he has coached at club level and worked with different Sharks representative teams. In 2011 he was the head coach responsible for the amazing turnaround in the fortunes of the Sharks Under-19 team and even made use of 5 schoolboy players during this provincial campaign.

The Maritzburg College website displays this statement of Strudwick’s vision for the school with a proud rugby history:

"The short term goal for College Rugby is to put some structures in place to assist both the coaches and the players and contribute as much value as I can. Hopefully with these structures in place the success on the field will improve. Then the vision will take on another angle, and that is, making the school a more favourable choice for youngsters seeking a high school. I appreciate the fact that these changes will not bring automatic success on the field and that this will be a process over time; but in the long term, I would like to see College rugby get back into the top echelons of school boy rugby competing against the top schools once again. In a nutshell, I would like to get College back to the top rugby school in KwaZulu Natal and then the long term outlook is to get it back to the top in RSA."

Rocketz wrote:Who has the strongest school team in the world?

OomPB wrote:

Rocketz wrote:Who has the strongest school team in the world?

Grey Bloem.

Rocketz wrote:

OomPB wrote:

Rocketz wrote:Who has the strongest school team in the world?

Grey Bloem.

I would think so too, but I would be great to see a team sheet vs the nr 1 school in NZ but I cant seem to find any listings for them

Ali's Choice wrote:This isn't a troll, just a comment.

I'm always hearing about the strength of SA schoolboy rugby, and of how strong the top SA schools are. Yet you'd think this would be reflected in their u20s results. And it's not. What's SA's u20s record like against teams like NZ?

Ali's Choice wrote:This isn't a troll, just a comment.

I'm always hearing about the strength of SA schoolboy rugby, and of how strong the top SA schools are. Yet you'd think this would be reflected in their u20s results. And it's not. What's SA's u20s record like against teams like NZ?

OomPB wrote:Wilson we lost most of our schoolboy talent not getting Craven Week and sponsor to a Academy. Most of them end up at Varsity and had to prioties between studies and rugby. Obvious the amount of money of varsity fees its not that difficult they end up in koshuis rugby in first year and in the pubs in their second/third year. Our Top 20 schools have a top standard of rugby. 20+ teams per school and at least six U18 teams to pick from. Cant compare your countries U20 teams strength on your schoolboy depth base.

Grey College 2012
Wed, 07 Mar 2012 14:53


Grey College have a huge support base

939 days! When Grey College kicks off its 2012 season on 17 March 2012, that’s how long it would have been since the Springbok rugby factory operating out of Bloemfontein last tasted defeat on a rugby field – 939 days!

Grey College have gone through the entire 2010 and 2011 seasons undefeated. It’s therefore not surprising that they were ranked as South Africa’s number one rugby school in both years.

Grey College have once again taken on a very demanding schedule for 2012. Many of their traditional rivals are also top contenders for national honours this year and every year.

Grey’s first team players also form the backbone of the highly successful Free State Schools under-18 team that participates at Craven Week.

In the last couple of years, Grey College has been well represented in the SA Schools team selected at the conclusion of Craven Week.

Grey College have selected their team to face Duineveld and outstanding loose forward Henco Greyling has been named as captain. Greyling has had the privilege of playing an important role in the school’s unbeaten 2010 and 2011 seasons and has also been a member of the Free State Schools under-18 team that won the unofficial Craven Week final in both years.

The team includes Pieter Jordaan who represented SA Schools against France in 2011.

Grey-College First XV: 15 Pieter Faber, 14 Ernest Haarhoff, 13 Johan Nel, 12 Stephan Janse van Rensburg, 11 Lezar Marnewick, 10 Pieter Jordaan, 9 Arrie Vosloo, 8 Reinhardt Arndt, 7 Marius Louw, 6 Henco Greyling (captain), 5 Awie Thompson, 4 Billy Wagner, 3 De Ville Piek, 2 Corniel Els, 1 Andrew du Plessis. Replacements: 16 Markus Odendaal, 17 Ruan Kramer, 18 Edwardt Schmidt, 19 Raymond Weimann, 20 Pieter Michau, 21 Carel Durow, 22 Steven Rautenbach.

Grey Fixture List

17 March: Grey College vs Duineveld

24 March: Grey College vs Hentie Cilliers

05 April: Grey College vs Paarl Gimnasium

07 April: Grey College vs Westville

09 April: Grey College vs Monument

14 April: Grey College vs Jim Fouché

21 April: Grey College vs Louis Botha

28 April: Grey College vs Waterkloof

30 April: Grey College vs EG Jansen

05 May: Grey College vs Selborne

12 May: Grey College vs Affies

19 May: Grey College vs Sentraal

22 May: Grey College vs Fichardtpark

26 May: Grey College vs Paarl Boys' High

29 May: Free State Schools Trials

02 June: Free State Schools Trials

09 June: Free State Under-18 vs Griffons Under-18

23 June: Free State Under-18 at Bondedag

08 14 July: Craven Week

21 July: Grey College vs Pretoria Boys High

28 July: Grey College vs Grey High (PE)

10 August: Grey College vs Glenwood

18 August: Grey College vs Paul Roos

Wynberg set sights on Ireland
Thu, 08 Mar 2012 10:13

It really looks like wanderlust has grabbed the minds of the leading southern suburbs schools in the Cape. Scarcely had SACS revealed their itinerary for a mid-year trip to Zimbabwe when Rondebosch gave notice of a March-April jaunt to Wales and Ireland.

Only a busy festive period and hectic fund-raising efforts have kept the usually effusive Gus Leslie, who returns to the helm of the Wynberg 1st XV after a few years building up the age-group sides, from letting the rugby365 fraternity know that his guys are also off to the Emerald Isle at the end of the first term.

With Gus’s long-time fellow-coach Gerry Posthumus now plying his trade at St Andrew’s in Grahamstown, Riaan Barnard and Craig Childs will be assisting Leslie this season. Justifiably restless campers after enduring several indifferent seasons, the Lovers Walk faithful will be hoping that the new squad learns the ropes early on.

The ’Berg will be using the tour to help knit a combination that, despite the continued presence of skipper Sikhumbuzo Notshe, features much young talent. They certainly appear to be going about things the hard way: Methodist College have been Irish schools champions several times in recent years and are currently in the 2011-2012 semi-finals, while RS Armagh are also regulars among the nation’s top four.

As both Rondebosch and Wynberg leave South Africa in the week of the Prestige Day at Newlands, they felt it would be tempting fate to take part in that event. Supporters of both schools who were curious about their absence can now rest easy!

Wynberg Tour Itinerary

Saturday 24 March: Wynberg vs Methodist College (Belfast)

Monday 26 March: Wynberg vs Portadown

Wednesday 28 March: Wynberg vs Royal School Armagh

Friday 30 March: Wynbewrg vs Limavady