Paarl derby to shape race for No.1 ranking

PREVIEW: Paarl Gim could finish at the top of the national rankings while Boishaai will be gunning for another win in the big derby at Faure Street Stadium on Saturday.

The South African schoolboy season enters the final phase this weekend, with Gimmies and Boishaai meeting in the annual Interschools derby in Paarl.

While both communities – and thousands of interested neutrals – will turn their attention to Faure Street on Saturday, several other key fixtures will be staged around the country.

Also Read: Paarl legend on why local derby is so special

Grey College head into the annual battle with Grey High with a point to prove – and the plucky side from Gqeberha may fancy their chances of an upset.

Graeme College tackle Dale in a tussle for top spot in the Eastern Cape, while the Noordvaal Cup reaches a crucial stage, with Garsfontein and Monument on track to secure home advantage for the play-offs.

Rugby365 looks ahead to some of the big match-ups scheduled for Saturday.

PAARL BOYS V PAARL GIM

Gimmies’ 19-20 loss to Stellenberg feels like a lifetime ago.

Since then, Stellenberg has burnished their reputation via a series of important wins, but have dropped two results, to Garsfontein and Boishaai.

Meanwhile, Gimmies have romped to 14 straight victories, and right now, they boast the best record – 14 from 15 – in the country.

If Pieter Rossouw’s side beat Boishaai this Saturday, they will become the No.1 side in South Africa.

While they’ve been among the top dogs in recent seasons, they have been pipped for the unofficial title by the likes of Boishaai, Paul Roos and Grey College.

Gimmies won’t be short on motivation this Saturday.

Boishaai will have fond memories of last year’s Paarl derby. That game doubled as a national final, as the teams went into the derby as the country’s most successful teams.

On the day, Boishaai fought back from a substantial deficit to beat Gimmies 35-33.

It was an outstanding result in isolation – and a significant one in the context of the rivalry, given that Gimmies thrashed Boishaai by 22 points in 2024.

What can we expect this Saturday? Will an attack-minded Gimmies rack up another big score, or will Boishaai spring a surprise?

The results suggest that Gimmies will start as massive favourites.

Rosssouw’s charges have scored 40 or more points in 12 of their 15 matches to date.

That record certainly isn’t padded by blow-outs against out-classed opposition, when you consider the scorelines against other top dogs like Affies (51-25), Paul Roos (68-22) and Oakdale 49-13.

A young Boishaai team has performed in patches, losing to Garsfontein, Affies, Grey College and Paul Roos, but beating one of the top teams in Stellenberg.

If they stop this Gimmies side on Saturday, they will have claimed two of the biggest scalps.

While it won’t be enough to propel Sean Erasmus’ side to the top of the rankings, it will ensure that they end the season on a high and take a lot of momentum into the 2027 campaign.

Teams:

Paarl Boys’ High: 15 Danté Davids, 14 Dirk Farmer, 13 Wian Delport, 12 Jeneall Davids, 11 Aleit Stander, 10 Daniël Meissenheimer, 9 Liam de Villiers, 8 Chris Nel, 7 Luhan Hattingh, 6 Steven Muller, 5 AD Faul, 4 Trichardt van Tonder, 3 Ruben de Jager, 2 JP Norton, 1 Max Malan.

Paarl Gimnasium: 15 Thomas Saunders, 14 Corné de Beer, 13 Derik Cloete, 12 Ethan Barker (captain), 11 De Waal Vivier, 10 Louis Koen, 9 Mickyle Booise, 8 Hendré van Zyl, 7 Dirk Hugo, 6 Corné Niemand, 5 Jean Dreyer, 4 Bernhardt Schulze, 3 Sebastian Bekker, 2 Charles Whitehead, 1 Jayden Steyl.

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GREY COLLEGE V GREY HIGH

Grey College will have their own point to prove over the next four weeks, when they face Grey High, Outeniqua, Fichardtpark and Paul Roos.

The first three matches will be staged in Bloemfontein, while the last game – and arguably the toughest– will be played in Stellenbosch.

Grey College have had a challenging season to date, losing three games in a row to Stellenberg, Nudgee College from Australia and Paarl Gim, and recording a rare defeat to Affies in Pretoria.

They simply have to win their last four matches to bolster their record.

Grey College rarely lose four games in a single season – but if they don’t hit back, they may well finish 2026 with five or even six defeats.

They’ve had the better of this particular derby in recent seasons, and will have the advantage of playing at home.

And yet, given all that’s transpired in recent months, Grey High may feel they have a chance of an upset.

Grey High have won eight of their 11 matches this season – a run that includes wins against form teams like Michaelhouse and Dale College.

Their losses have come against Affies, Paul Roos and Wynberg – a record that suggests they may struggle to slay Grey College this Saturday.

Grey College won last year’s meeting in Gqeberha 48-15, and prevailed 41-27 when the fixture was staged in Bloem in 2024.

GRAEME V DALE

Dale lost 16 of their 20 matches in 2025.

They’ve turned things around this season, winning 15 from 18 – and claiming the big regional scalps of Queens College and Selborne.

The next three matches will determine whether they finish as the leading team in the Eastern Cape or also-rans.

Graeme have been one of the most consistent teams in the region over the past few seasons, and are also in the running for top spot this year.

The side from Makhanda has won 13, drawn one, and lost one in 2026.

Unlike Dale, Graeme have beaten interprovincial opposition such as Bishops and Kearsney.

If Graeme beat Dale in Makhanda this Saturday, they may crack on to the down Queens and Muir in subsequent weeks, and claim the Eastern Cape crown.

OTHER TEAMS TO WATCH

Garsfontein could extend their lead at the top of the Noordvaal Cup standings when they travel to Middelburg this weekend.

Second-placed Monument (three points behind) could also strengthen their position via a big win at Rustenburg.

Northwood will look to clinch their second win of the series against DHS, while Jeppe will have similar ambitions when they travel to KES for the big Joburg derby.

In Cape Town, Wynberg should bolster their chances of a clean sweep of southern suburbs opponents when they host Bishops.

A much-improved SACS will be gunning for victory against Rondebosch, after pushing Paul Roos close at the Memorial Field last week.

SELECTED FIXTURES – AUGUST 1

NOORDVAAL:

Affies v Noordheuwel
Menlopark v EG Jansen
Middelburg v Garsfontein
Waterkloof v Helpmekaar
Rustenburg v Monument
Parktown v Glenwood
Pretoria Boys v Maritzburg College
KES v Jeppe

CENTRAL:

Grey College v Grey High
Welkom Gim v Outeniqua
Witteberg v Diamantveld
Goudveld v Fichardtpark
Jim Fouche v Trio

KWAZULU-NATAL:

DHS v Northwood

EASTERN CAPE:

Graeme v Dale
Queens v Selborne
Hudson Park v Stirling
Framesby v Oakdale
Marlow v Pearson
Nico Malan v Daniel Pienaar

WESTERN CAPE:

Paarl Boys v Paarl Gim
Wynberg v Bishops
SACS v Rondebosch
Stellenberg v Durbanville
Paul Roos v Boland Landbou
Drostdy v Milnerton
Parel Vallei v Tygerberg