Grey Bloem's 2017 Season

Without a doubt they are the star rugby school in modern times. They are a benchmark for all rugby schools in South Africa.

To play Grey you have to be exceptionally strong. To beat them is a feat that will be in headlines in your school's history.

Look at their fixtures and you know that they have a tough season ahead. It is quite possible that the toughest of the lot will be on 13 May 20917 when Paarl Boys' High come to Bloemfontein with a team that has been brilliant since its Under-14 days. Grey will want to get things right after losing their last two matches to Booishaai, including the 2015 match in Bloemfontein, the first time the Paarlites won there.

There will be this year a great deal of focus on Grey's centres, Rikus Pretorius en Janco van Heyningen, who were Free State's centres at the 2016 Craven Week. More than that Pretorius played for SA schools and Van Heyningen for SA Schools A in 2016. Fullback David Kriel was also at 2016's Craven Week. The flyhalf is also interesting – Christopher Schreuder, who played for SA Schools at cricket last year.

There is a big change this year – no Dries van der Waal after 35 years intense involvement in Grey, Free State and South African Schools rugby. One of the great rugby schoolmasters of his time.

Grey College's Fixtures, 2017

11 March: Grey College vs Waterkloof (home)

16 March: Free State league match

25 March: Grey College vs Maritzburg College

1 April: Union High Festival in Graaff-Reinet

3 April: Union High Festival in Graaff-Reinet

22 April: Free State league match

29 April: Grey College vs Boland Landbou (Wildeklawer)

1 May: Grey College vs Paarl Gimnasium (Wildeklawer)

6 May: Grey College vs Affies (home)

13 May: Grey College vs Paarl Boys' High (home)

20 May: Grey College vs Selborne (away)

5 August: Grey College vs Grey PE (home)

12 August: Grey College vs Glenwood (home)

19 August: Grey College vs Paul Roos (away)

21 August: Possible semifinal

28 August: Possible final