Paarl Boys coach: Schools success is a long-term game

EXCLUSIVE: Paarl Boys High coach Sean Erasmus believes that Stellenberg’s rise to the top of the rankings is no accident and that more schools are reaping the benefits of a long-term vision.

Stellenberg have won 11 of their first 12 matches this season, sweeping traditional powerhouses such as Paarl Gim, Grey College and Paul Roos aside in the process.

The Jade Brigade will have the chance to make another statement this Saturday, when they travel to Paarl Boys High – a school that’s produced Springboks such as Frans Malherbe, Thomas du Toit and Evan Roos.

In a sense, the game will serve as a showdown between the leading team of 2025 and the best side in the country in 2026.

Boishaai haven’t been at their best this season, but will be desperate to set the record straight when hosting another potential powerhouse at Brug Street.

There’s more to the Stellenberg story than meets the eye, of course – and Boishaai coach Sean Erasmus is well placed to comment on the Jade Brigade’s rise and the state of schoolboy rugby as a whole.

“Schoolboy rugby has become a lot more professional,” Erasmus told Rugby365.

“The amount of time and effort that goes into preparing the boys has changed a great deal.

“I’ve been involved in schoolboy rugby since 1995, and I’ve seen the growth and the emphasis that has been put into preparation more recently.”

A shift towards stronger coaching teams as well as a focus on conditioning has contributed to an increase in standards at leading schools – and at some of the smaller, yet equally ambitious institutions.

As a result, the number of competitive schools within the South African system has grown.

“We are starting to see some of the so-called smaller schools making that shift,” confirmed Erasmus.

“It’s not just about identifying great players, it’s about helping them grow – and about putting structures in place to boost your entire rugby programme, from the U14s right through to the First XV.”

Erasmus went out of his way to praise Stellenberg’s head of sport, Andras Molnar, as well as head coach Divan Batt for what the Jade Brigade have built in recent seasons.

Last year, the plucky side from Bellville claimed a clean sweep of victories against the leading teams from Cape Town’s southern suburbs.

In 2026, they have take things further by beating some of the best teams in the country and moving to the top of the rankings.

Some might suggest that their rise has been meteoric.

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Erasmus – who knows that it takes to build a dynasty, having led Boishaai to three undefeated seasons between 2015 and 2017 – believes that Stellenberg’s success is the product of long-term planning.

“Stellenberg have done that really well.

“Andras and I go way back, having worked together at Glenwood many years ago. Both Andras and his brother Philip, who is now coaching Diamantveld, are two phenomenal young men.

“Andras, Divan Batt and others in that system have put a great deal of thought into their structures, and how they’ve wanted to put Stellenberg on the map.

“They’ve been putting in the hard yards over the years, and while they’ve had to bend the knee a few times, that’s made them stronger in the long run.

“That’s probably their secret, how they’ve invested time and effort into the structures.

“They’ve put good coaches into place across their age groups, and what we’re seeing now is players who have a clear idea of what’s required, and [at First XV level] a group of individuals that really complement one another.”

While Boishaai haven’t had the best season to date – winning five, losing three and drawing one – Erasmus is confident that his young charges will bounce back on Saturday.

“When Stellenberg come to Brug Street, it will require a change in mindset for both teams,” he said.

“The schoolboy schedule is relentless, and you really can’t afford to look too far ahead, but I’d be lying if I said I haven’t been following other games and trying to identify the patterns.

“Stellenberg have got some really good game-breakers that will bear watching [flyhalf Ethan van Biljon played for Western Province at the U18 Craven Week last year before representing SA Schools A].

“We will have to be at our best to keep them in check.”

Erasmus maintains that there is still time for Boishaai to turn their season around.

Wins against Stellenberg this weekend and against Paul Roos in Stellenbosch next Saturday would certainly change the narrative, as would another victory in the annual Paarl derby, which is scheduled for August 1 at Faure Street Stadium.

At the same time, the coach is mindful of the bigger picture.

“Back in 2024, we didn’t get the results we wanted [Boishaai lost to other leading teams like Affies, Gimmies, Grey College and Paul Roos, as well as Wynberg].

“What many people forget is that 90 percent of that team was in Grade 11, and what that meant is that we took most of that group through to 2025.”

From there, Boishaai won 16 of their 17 games and were crowned South Africa’s No.1 side.

“There are similarities between 2024 and 2026,” he explains.

“We’ve got two players who played First XV last year and about five or six who played Second XV – so it’s taken some time for most of the players to adapt to the speed and intensity at this level after making the step up from the U16s.

“You can’t say we were the No.1 team in the country last season and that it’s just a matter of using the same game plan that we used last year.

“That’s not going to work, because you have different players. The playmakers are different, so the decision-making is going to be different.

“There have been some improvements since the start of the season, and I’ve also been impressed by the character the team has shown,” Erasmus added.

“Rugby brings the players into the room, but often it’s character rather than talent that can mean the difference in the closing stages of a big game.

“We’ve worked hard on developing that character over the past few months, and while we have learned some tough lessons in a few narrow losses, we are getting closer to where we want to be.”