The Jade Brigade are on top of the world

OPINION: More than 7,000 spectators – old boys and members of the Northern Suburbs community – turned out in force to support their team. It was a remarkable occasion, and arguably one of the largest crowds ever seen at the home of the Jade Brigade.

What a dream season it has been so far. Few would have predicted that Stellenberg would defeat the three traditional powerhouses of South African schoolboy rugby – Grey College, Paul Roos Gimnasium, and Paarl Gimnasium – within the space of just three weeks. While there was always a sense that this 2026 outfit would be special, the extent of their dominance has taken many by surprise.

This is a group that has come through the ranks together from a young age, and credit must go to their parents for resisting the lure of bursaries and opportunities elsewhere. Their unity and continuity have clearly paid dividends, offering a compelling reminder of the value of stability and long-term development within a single system.

Stellies’ supporters are still in disbelief after the victory over an unbeaten Paul Roos side. However, the season is far from over, and a clash against Boishaai still awaits if they are to complete the unofficial “Grand Slam.” Their campaign is being followed with great anticipation, and it is fair to say that Stellenberg currently deserves the number one ranking.

Should more Northern Suburbs families choose to keep their boys at local schools, institutions such as Stellenberg, Durbanville, and Bellville could increasingly challenge the traditional dominance of the Stellenbosch and Paarl giants, who have historically drawn heavily from this region. Maybe these schools must also start a campaign, keep winning, stay home!

It is a trend already evident with success in Mpumalanga, with Hoërskool Nelspruit enjoying considerable success again by keeping their boys at home with great success through its “Bly tuis, bly wen” (“Stay home, stay winning”) campaign.

The much-anticipated Southern Suburbs clash between Rondebosch and Wynberg delivered a spectacle of high-quality running rugby—a fitting showcase of Cape Town’s schoolboy game. Wynberg emerged as the deserved 27-17 winners.

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Paarl Gimnasium travelled north and handed their Pretoria hosts a lesson they will not soon forget. While Affies may have secured the majority of results across the day, it is the first team’s result that ultimately defines the occasion. As the adage goes: win the first team match, and you win the day; win the A-team matches, and you win the war. In reality, it is the first XV that carries the pride and attention of the school’s rugby programme with the bragging rights.

In Gauteng, the eagerly awaited derby between KES and Jeppe lived up to expectations. In a tightly contested encounter, Jeppe edged KES 31-24.

Elsewhere, Oakdale and Boishaai played out a dramatic draw, with Oakdale slotting a last-minute penalty to level matters. Outeniqua defeated Boland Landbou 34–24, Durbanville edged SACS 20–18, Maritzburg College overcame Glenwood 33-13, and Westville beat Northwood 35–29.

There have been several shifts in the rankings, and with a long season still ahead, further changes are inevitable as teams continue to test themselves.

As always, we welcome your views and will take them on the chin. These rankings remain, by nature, a “thumb suck”—ultimately just an informed opinion.

How are the rankings compiled?

While subjective, several factors are considered: strength of opposition, head-to-head performances, the Under-16 final rankings from 2024, and overall squad potential.

A points system like World Rugby’s simply does not work at school level, and last year’s final rankings cannot be relied upon either, as many teams have changed by as much as 60 percent, with some fielding almost entirely new squads.

One thing is certain: the talent within South African schoolboy rugby is exceptional. It is little wonder that rival nations look on with envy at the depth on display. Looking forward to your comments.

As the legendary Oom Zanberg Jansen used to say: “Nag ou Grote.”

— In memory of Oom Paul Dobson —

By: Johan Orton

Photo by Marnus van Wyk