Cor blimey, it's the British invasion!
Don't worry, no need to get the kruithorings and voorlaaiers out. This isn't a warning, but rather an invitation to get out and catch a brief glimpse of the state of the game in the schools of the country which gave us rugby.
Just as the Cape is regularly saturated with visiting Argentinian sides towards the middle of the first school term, it acts as something of a magnet to British and Irish teams on their end-of-season tours round in late July.
Last year, for instance, locals were privileged to see illustrious Wellington College play Bishops and Rondebosch.
The three touring schools who start their itineraries at the Swartland Festival in Malmesbury on Saturday (Royal Grammar School, Lancaster; Pate's Grammar School of Cheltenham and the Royal Academy of Ulster) are just the thin end of the wedge.
The highlights thereafter appear to be the Royal Academy match against Tygerberg in Parow on Monday, 16 July; the three games scheduled for Tuesday, 17 July (Rondebosch vs Bradford Grammar School, SACS vs Kirkham Grammar School and Paarl Boys' High vs Royal Grammar School, Lancaster) and the Bishops vs Dulwich College fixture on Thursday, 19 July.
There are as many as 27 touring parties expected, many of whom will not be playing local First XVs as they comprise junior age-groups or players at the younger end of the Under-19 range; so you would be well-advised to check with the host schools beforehand.
Here is a detailed list of the major fixtures:
Saturday, 14 July: (all at Swartland)
HTS Drostdy vs Royal Academy, Belfast
Swartland vs Pate's Grammar School
Tygerberg vs Royal Grammar School, Lancaster
Monday, 16 July:
Tygerberg vs Royal Academy, Belfast
Swartland vs The Grammar School at Leeds
President vs Taunton School
Tuesday, 17 July:
Rondebosch vs Bradford Grammar School
SACS vs Kirkham Grammar School
Paarl Boys' High vs Royal Grammar School, Lancaster
Porterville vs Pate's Grammar School
Thursday, 19 July:
Bishops vs Dulwich College
Strand vs Hutcheson's Grammar School
Monday, 23 July:
Bredasdorp vs King's College, Taunton
Worcester Gym vs Plymouth College
Wednesday, 25 July:
Punt vs Limavady Grammar School
Monday, 30 July:
Overberg vs Woodhouse Grove
Wednesday, 1 August:
President vs Woodhouse Grove
By Tony Stoops
