Regional schools preview 2026: Noordvaal

PREVIEW: Affies will fly the banner for the north this season while Garsfontein go hunting for a fourth-consecutive Noordvaal Cup title.

Rugby365 will be running a series of regional previews in the coming weeks, focusing on the leading First XVs and big matches in the Western Cape, Noordvaal, Central, Eastern Cape and KwaZulu-Natal.

The north will play host to a number of big derbies and tournaments this season, as well as several major festivals.

Affies will host the 2026 instalment of the North-South tournament between 27 and 31 March, while teams from around the country will travel to Gauteng over the Easter period to attend the festivals at St Johns, St Stithians and KES.

Meanwhile, Pretoria Boys High will celebrate their 125th anniversary with a rugby festival – among other sporting events – between 4 and 6 April.

Home advantage will certainly help, but it would come as a surprise if the balance of power shifts from the south to the north in 2026, and if three or four northern teams finish among the top five First XVs in South Africa.

RECAP OF 2025

As has been the case in recent years, Affies represent the north’s best chance of claiming the unofficial No.1 ranking.

The Pretoria-based side finished 2025 with a 13 from 16 record, bagging the big scalp of Paul Roos but losing to other top dogs like Paarl Boys and Grey College, while drawing with Paarl Gym.

Garsfontein had another season to remember, finishing with an overall record of 15 from 18, and winning their third consecutive Noordvaal Cup title.

Helpmekaar, who went down 19-30 to Garsies in the 2025 Noordvaal Cup final, made an impression locally as well as nationally – beating Wynberg at the St Stithians Festival.

Menlopark were unbeaten in their first eight matches, but lost momentum as the season progressed.

OPPORTUNITY KNOCKS

Affies have everything to prove after falling short against some of the leading teams in South Africa over the past few seasons.

Going by their 2026 schedule, Ruan Jacobs’ charges may have the chance to make a statement in the coming months.

Away matches against Helpmekaar (March 14) and Paul Roos (a week later) should provide Affies with the ultimate early season challenge.

It won’t get any easier when they tackle Oakdale at the North-South tournament, but they will have the benefit of playing that fixture and the next against Durbanville on home ground.

They should be strong for Michaelhouse and Grey High when they head down the road for the Pretoria Boys High festival in early April.

The big match against Gimmies (April 11) will be staged at home, and the showdown with Boishaai (April 27) will be staged at the Wildeklawer series in Kimberley.

What’s more, they will face Grey College in Pretoria on May 16.

Their schedule after the July holidays is far less intense – when you consider that how they will remain in Gauteng, or how they have bossed local opponents and the likes of Martizburg College in recent years.

If Affies win the big matches in the first part of the school season, they may well crack on to finish among the top two or three teams in the country.

Elsewhere in Pretoria, Garsfontein have undergone a change to the rugby structures, with Sylvester Booysen moving into the role of head coach following the departure of Johan du Plessis, who has taken up a post at Menlopark.

It will be interesting to see how Garsfontein fare, after winning three consecutive Noordvaal Cup titles.

The current coaching staff includes former Boks Andries Bekker (forwards) and Andries Coetzee (defence and kicking) as well as the performance coach and sports scientist Henning Gericke, who was part of the management team when the Boks won the 2007 World Cup.

A fourth consecutive title would be something special, and yet, Garsfontein will be pushing for more consistent results over the course of the season.

Garsies have drawn Stellenberg and Boishaai at the North-South tournament, and will face Affies in a brutal Pretoria derby (at home) on April 18.

Fixtures against Paul Roos and Northwood at the Wildeklawer series will test the team’s depth, before the focus shifts to their Noordvaal Cup campaign, which kicks off on May 2 with a match against one of the tournament’s leading title contenders, Helpmekaar.

The Noordvaal Cup aside, Helpmekaar can look forward to some especially big and challenging fixtures in 2026.

From March 28, the Johannesburg-based side will play Affies (home), Grey College and Boland Landbou (both at the North-South tournament) in the space of two weeks.

While a big scalp would certainly send a message to the wider rugby community, Helpmekaar opt to target matches against other top 20 schools, such as Westville (April 4).

Gimmies will have to manage their resources carefully over the course of a Wildeklawer series schedule that includes matches against Helpmekaar and Durban High School – and will also have to account for their fixture against Grey College on the eve of the tournament.

And if Gimmies field a weakened team against Helpmekaar, the latter side may fancy their chances of forcing an upset.

Jeppe claimed one of the great upsets in 2024, when they beat Grey College at the North-South tournament.

Jeppe produced a mixed bag in 2025, although they did win both derby matches against KES.

Jeppe will host the big Joburg derby on April 11, before travelling to KES for the rematch on August 1.