Paul Roos brace for 'Wit Bulle'
PREVIEW: Paul Roos will have a score to settle with Affies in Stellenbosch on another action-packed weekend of schoolboy rugby.
It’s that time of year where the fixtures come thick and fast – with two and occasionally three matches staged over the space of a week.
A clutch of Western Cape teams travelled to Paul Roos in Stellenbosch on Tuesday, to compete in the WP Schools Day.
Paarl Boys – who finished the 2025 season as the leading team in South Africa – started their 2026 campaign with a 20-5 win over Rondebosch.
Just three days after sustaining a shock defeat to Durbanville, Boland Landbou went down 20-25 to Bishops.
Some of these teams will be in action again this Saturday, with Paul Roos hosting Affies and Boishaai playing their first home match of the season against Outeniqua.
Meanwhile, Graeme College will stage a two-day festival in Makhanda this weekend, with the hosts playing Marlow in the final match on Saturday afternoon.
Looking further ahead, the North-South festival at Affies kicks off on March 27, followed by the respective Easter festivals at KES, Kearsney, St. John’s and St Stithians.
Rugby365 shines a light on some of the fixtures scheduled for this Saturday.
PAUL ROOS V AFFIES
More than 30 games will be staged across the age groups when Affies travel to Paul Roos this weekend.
The First XVs have enjoyed some tight battles in recent seasons – with the last four matches decided by six points or less.
Affies beat Paul Roos at the North-South festival back in 2022, before Paul Roos won the next two games in 2023 and 2024.
Last year, Affies edged Paul Roos 20-18 at the Wilderklawer Festival in Kimberley.
As Paul Roos coach Corné Uys told Rugby365 recently, the Maroon Machine will be desperate to set the record straight in a rare match-up staged at the Markotter Stadium.
READ: Paul Roos v Affies ‘like a one-off between Boks and All Blacks’
Paul Roos have shaken off the rust in recent weeks, winning 24-7 at Drostdy before downing Wynberg 15-5 at the WP Schools Day this past Tuesday.
Affies made a statement when they beat Waterkloof 34-20 in Pretoria last week, but will want to take things further in the marquee clash in Stellenbosch.
PAARL BOYS V OUTENIQUA
Boishaai are coming off a 20-5 win against Rondebosch at the WP Schools Day, but may view the clash against Outeniqua in Paarl as their first proper outing of the season.
Sean Erasmus’ charges won 15 of their 16 matches last year, including the Paarl derby against Gimmies.
After claiming the unofficial South African title in 2025, they will have a target on their backs in 2026.
And looking at their schedule, it won’t get any easier in the next week or so when they face Jeppe and Garsfontein at the North-South tournament in Pretoria.
Outeniqua have racked up some big scores in recent weeks, thrashing Worcester Gim 99-0 and Nico Malan 45-0.
The Kwaggas will need to step up, however, if they are going to challenge the No.1 team in the country on their own turf.
RESULTS – MARCH 17
Scottsville 5-40 HTS Bellville
Stellenberg 40-0 Bellville
Boland Landbou 20-25 Bishops
Milnerton 5-30 Durbanville
Paarl Gim 30-5 SACS
Rondebosch 5-20 Paarl Boys
Paul Roos 15-5 Wynberg
SELECTED FIXTURES – MARCH 20/21
NOORDVAAL:
Piet Retief v Waterkloof
Ben Vorster v Eldoraigne
Kempton Park v Nelspruit
Jeppe v St Davids
KES v St Johns
St Stithians v Pretoria Boys
CENTRAL:
Bethlehem Voortrekker v Diamantveld
Fichardtpark v Trio
Jim Fouche v Witteberg
Grey College v Monument
Welkom Gym v Potch Gim
KWAZULU-NATAL:
Hilton v DHS
Glenwood v Kearsney
Westville v Maritzburg College
Michaelhouse v Northwood
WESTERN CAPE:
Paul Roos v Affies
Stellenberg v Worcester Gim
Paarl Boys v Outeniqua
Brackenfell v SACS
Durbanville v Paarl Gim
Oakdale v Upington
EASTERN CAPE:
Woodridge v Port Rex
Daniel Pienaar v Stirling
Grey High v Hudson Park
Queens v Nico Malan
Dale v Brandwag
Selborne v Framesby
St Andrews v Pearson
Graeme v Marlow
