First FNB Top 20 of 2010
Tentatively, we publish the first FNB Top 20 of 2010. In it we seek to honour the top rugby teams in South Africa where school rugby is a phenomenon of skill and enthusiasm.
This is the 11th year that we have been producing a Top 20, and it does not get any easier. In those 11 years we have not once produced a Top 20 that met with universal approval and it will be no different this year.
Here goes, and it has been a tough job.
Just choosing the top school has been a problem as there are four who are so close and clearly positions will change as the season goes on. This coming weekend could already cause changes. For this ranking we took into account number of matches and calibre of oppostion.
There are two interesting arrivals on the FNB Top 20 – Ben Vorster of Tzaneen and Jeppe.
Apart from the teams who have made the Top 20, we also had a long look at Eldoraigne, Framesby, Rooiskool of Kroonstad, Drostdy, Maritzburg College, KES, Centurion, Hilton, Michaelhouse, Pretoria Boys High, Noord-Kaap, Die Brandwag of Uitenhage, Marlow and Outeniqua.
FNB Top 20 – 21 April 2010
1. Affies
2. Grey College (Bloemfontein)
3. Paul Roos
4. Paarl Boys’ High
5. Monument
6. Boland Landbou
7. Paarl Gim
8. St Andrew’s (Grahamstown)
9. Ben Vorster
10. Diamantveld
11. Selborne
12. Waterkloof
13. Grey High (PE)
14. Westville
15. EG Jansen
16. Florida
17. Glenwood
18. Queen’s College
19. Jeppe
20. Dale
What is different in doing the Top 20 in recent times is that we have given readers the opportunity to comment. Last year, after teething problems, comments were excellent and we ended the season with a celebratory get-together of people who had commented. This year things need tightening up. Some of the comment are puerile, some nasty and some simply unworthy of schools rugby in South Africa. Using foul language in Afrikaans does not make it more acceptable. Our aim with the schools site is to give news on schools and make their achievements known. It is not to produce a “blog”. We are not a “blog”.
By all means comment on the Top 20 and criticise it, but, please, don’t turn it into squabbling and insult.
