Affies start 2025 season with high hopes

SPOTLIGHT: The South African schoolboy season will gather momentum this Saturday when Diamantveld host a promising Affies outfit, Garsfontein travel to Jeppe, and Welkom Gym tackle Grey College.

It will be a couple of months yet before the season takes shape and one or two frontrunners emerge.

At this stage, most teams are building towards the big festivals and derbies to come, while some schools are yet to play their first competitive match.

Grey College have already completed their first match of the season, while another top side in Affies will begin their campaign this weekend.

It will be another couple of weeks before the likes of Paul Roos – who went unbeaten last season – return to the fray.

@Rugby365com looks ahead to some of the biggest match-ups this Saturday.

JEPPE VS GARSFONTEIN

Jeppe recorded one of the biggest upsets of the 2024 season when they beat Grey College 22-19 at the Noord Suid tournament in Pretoria.

The class of 2025 will be put to the test from the outset, however, when they face Garsfontein at home this weekend.

Garsies have been one of the most consistent sides in Gauteng over the past couple of seasons, and finished 2024 with their second-consecutive Noordvaal Cup title.

DIAMANTVELD VS AFFIES

How much have Affies improved since last season?

The Pretoria giants dominated most teams last year to earn their place among South Africa’s ‘top dogs’.

However, in the head-to-head battles against Paul Roos, Paarl Gym and Grey College, Affies finished on the losing side – albeit by margin of five points or less.

Nevertheless, they should go into the first match of the 2025 season against Diamantveld as favourites.

The Kimberley-based side is coming off a 25-7 win against Fichardtpark, but may have to divide their resources this week, given that they will travel to Upington on Wednesday before hosting Affies on Saturday.

WELKOM GYM VS GREY COLLEGE

Grey College hit the ground running when they scored six tries in the 38-10 win against Trio at the recent President Steyn Sports Day.

They may view the next clash against Welkom Gym as an opportunity to build momentum ahead of more demanding contests against Oakdale and a highly rated Monument in subsequent weeks.

Elsewhere in the Free State, Voortrekker Bethlehem will host Durban High School.

DHS are coming off a successful 2024 season in which they emerged at the top of the KwaZulu-Natal pile. Following the clash with Voortrekker, they will host Maritzburg College.

Down in the Eastern Cape, Ooskus Gim will play host to several local clashes – including a battle between Dale and Brandwag.

In one of the few competitive matches staged in the Western Cape this Saturday, Worcester Gym will travel to Stellenberg.