School juggernauts seek redemption in Bloem
PREVIEW: Paarl Boys High travel to Grey College this weekend while top-ranked Stellenberg battle Oakdale on the farm in Riversdale.
We’re well into the month of May, and every one of the so-called top dogs of schoolboy rugby has suffered at least one defeat.
The heavyweight clashes continue this weekend, with Paarl Boys – the No.1 team in the country last season – heading to Grey College in search of a rare win in Bloem.
Stellenberg have impressed in recent home and festival matches, but their record will be put to the test when they tackle Oakdale on the farm.
Elsewhere, the Noordvaal Cup continues, while the leading teams from KwaZulu-Natal will be on show at the Sharks Rugby Day at Hilton College.
Continues below…
Rugby365 looks ahead to some of the biggest match-ups on the long weekend.
GREY COLLEGE V PAARL BOYS
We’re two months into the 2026 schedule, and Grey College and Boishaai have already suffered three setbacks apiece.
Grey lost three consecutive matches to Stellenberg, Nudgee College (Australia) and Paarl Gim.
Since then, they have bounced back to beat Noordheuwel and Jeppe.
Boishaai lost to Garsfontein at the North-South tournament in Pretoria before drawing 13-13 with Oakdale at home.
More recently, they went down 37-40 to Affies at the Wildeklawer Tournament in Kimberley.
Now they face the prospect of a visit to Grey College, and the threat of a home team that will be desperate to prove a point.
Perhaps Sean Erasmus’ charges will take heart from what Gimmies achieved at Grey last season.
Gimmies won 43-31 in Bloem to hand Grey their first loss at home in eight years.
On the other hand, Grey may view the upcoming match against the 2025 trendsetters as an opportunity to make a statement.
If Grey beat Boishaai and claim the scalp of Affies thereafter, they will extend their winning run in the lead-up to the final heavyweight clash of the season – against Paul Roos in Stellenbosch on August 15.
Boishaai could also change the narrative if they beat Grey College this Saturday and then go on to down Stellenberg and Paul Roos in the following weeks.
AFFIES V JEPPE
Affies have battled for consistency this season, but have managed to claim a few significant scalps.
While they’ve lost to Paul Roos, Michaelhouse, Paarl Gim and Garsfontein, they have beaten Oakdale and, most recently, Boishaai.
Jeppe are one of just two teams that have beaten a strong Garsfontein this season.
Some fans have pointed out that Garsfontein have gone on to beat the likes of Affies, Boishaai and Stellenberg – in order to highlight Jeppe’s threat.
Jeppe have produced a mixed bag of performances since then, though.
They beat Westville and Boland Landbou, but conceded 54 points in a heavy loss to Grey College.
Jeppe’s defence will be under scrutiny when they face Affies in Pretoria this Saturday.
OAKDALE V STELLENBERG
The point was made in this column last week.
While Stellenberg have claimed several big scalps and are full value for their No.1 ranking, they have played a whopping 11 matches in the space of nine weeks.
Will that workload take its toll in the near future, or will the team from Bellville continue its winning streak?
The Jade Brigade are coming off another emphatic win against Wynberg, but they will be put to a different sort of test when they visit Oakdale on the farm this Saturday.
Outside of festival games, the match in Riversdale marks Stellenberg’s first away match of the season.
Oakdale have lost to Grey College, Affies and Paul Roos – although they did manage to hold Boishaai to a 13-13 draw in the recent meeting in Paarl.
They will be gunning for a win against Stellenberg this Saturday, and may use their giant pack to dictate the flow of the game.
Apart from a narrow defeat to Garsfontein at the North-South tournament, Stellenberg have passed every test to date.
While a big win in Riversdale will be viewed as a success in isolation, it could also provide them with some momentum ahead of the next clash against Boishaai.
OTHER TEAMS TO WATCH
Hilton are currently undefeated after seven matches, and will be favourites to extend their winning record when they host Glenwood at the Sharks Rugby Day on Saturday.
Monument and Garsfontein will look to build on their impressive starts in the Noordvaal Cup when they face Noordheuwel and Waterkloof, respectively.
Monument currently lead the Noordvaal Cup log by virtue of their superior points-difference.
Down in the Eastern Cape, Dale College will look to build on their impressive 2026 win record – eight from 10 – when they host a Selborne side coming off a big victory against Ooskus Gim.
The four-way battle in Cape Town’s southern suburbs continues, with Rondebosch looking to claim an important win at home against SACS.
Parel Vallei have won their first seven games of the season, and recently thrashed Framesby 50-14 before downing Hudson Park at the Grey High Festival in Gqeberha.
The team from Somerset West will host DF Akademie this weekend.
Going forward, it will be interesting to see whether Parel Vallei maintain their winning momentum over the next few games, before they tackle SACS in Newlands on May 23.
SELECTED FIXTURES MAY 9
NOORDVAAL
Affies v Jeppe
Parktown v KES
St Davids v Pretoria Boys
Monument v Noordheuwel
Waterkloof v Garsfontein
EG Jansen v Rustenburg
Menlopark v Helpmekaar
CENTRAL
Jim Fouche v Duineveld
Grey College v Paarl Boys
Sentraal v Diamantveld
Trio v Bethlehem Voortrekker
Welkom Gim v Witteberg
EASTERN CAPE
Dale v Selborne
Graeme v Cambridge
St Andrews v Marlow
Pearson v Nico Malan
Grey High v Queens
Hudson Park v Kingswood
KWAZULU-NATAL
Clifton v St Charles
Kearsney v Michaelhouse
Northwood v Westville
Hilton v Glenwood
Maritzburg College v DHS
WESTERN CAPE
Oakdale v Stellenberg
Rondebosch v SACS
Bishops v Wynberg
Paul Roos v Durbanville
Paarl Gim v Boland Landbou
Outeniqua v Daniel Pienaar
Parel Vallei v DF Akademie
Milnerton v Bellville
Punt v Framesby
