ISRF in history

Ryno Combrinck, the director of rugby at Michaelhouse, who are the hosts of this year Independent Schools Rugby Festival, writes on the festival, its history and philosophy.

The Independent Schools Rugby Festival is thirty one years old, probably the oldest festival in South Africa. Much has changed in the Rugby world since the festival’s inception and in many ways the Independent Schools’ Rugby Festival event has reached a point where it may have to adapt to the current rugby environment in South Africa.

With some challenges ahead it is important to understand the past before we can move forward and therefore an effort was made to research the history of this unique Festival. The event has always shied away from a winning at all costs mentality. In its place, spectators and competitors can look forward to seeing all the best of  what fierce rivalry on the field, but not at the expense of friendships being cemented off the pitch can deliver. The philosophy is therefore about making friends, playing hard rugby and interacting with people from all over Southern Africa.

What adds to its unique nature is that it’s a biennial festival that keeps its title while changing its venue. Schools interested to host get the opportunity to present and motivate to the rest of the attending schools – a ballot then confirms where the following festival is to be hosted.

Although it has a long and rich history it was quite a challenge to find an accurate collection of the festivals past. After going through many school magazines, contacting a number of schools, including involving Sir (my opinion) Basil Bey, Bishops 1st XV Coach and Gordon Patterson, the Michaelhouse 1st XV Coach, now living in New Zealand we were able to start putting the pieces of the puzzle together.

First Festival: 1983 at Kingswood as the Invitation Private Schools Festival, held to open the City Lords after Kingswood bought it.

New ‘members’ in 2014: CBC Bulawayo (CBC = Christian Brothers' College)

Hosts Down the Years

1983: Kingswood            

1986: Hilton                

1988: St Andrew's (Grahamstown)

1990: St Charles             

1992: St John's             

1994: Kingswood            

1996: Bishops            

1998: Woodridge            

2000: Michaelhouse            

2002: St Andrews (Bloemfontein)

2004: Uplands            

2006: Kearsney            

2008: St Benedict's            

2010: Falcon                

2012: Penryn                

2014: Michaelhouse            

Combrinck ends by saying: "My hope is that every player, coach and supporter has a magnificent time in the Midlands, where they will experience fantastic rugby while building and renewing friendships through the wonderful game of Rugby."

By Ryno Combrinck