Schools Rankings - August 2

SPOTLIGHT: The town of Paarl fell unusually quiet on Saturday — everywhere except Faure Street, where one of South African schoolboy rugby’s greatest traditions once again delivered an unforgettable spectacle.

A remarkable crowd of 23,218 scholars, parents, supporters, sponsors, media representatives and old boys from across South Africa packed the venue for the annual King Price Derby between Paarl Gimnasium and Paarl Boys’ High, widely regarded as the biggest schoolboy rugby derby in the world. Better known as the clash between the Galpille and the Bloedworse, the fixture once again lived up to its legendary status.

Old boys travelled from around the globe to witness the occasion, while thousands of neutral rugby supporters descended on Paarl simply to experience the unique atmosphere of Inter-Schools Week. From Monday until the final whistle on Saturday, the entire town embraces the rivalry. Streets, businesses and even the trees are decorated in the colours of Paarl Girls’ High, Paarl Boys’ High and Paarl Gimnasium. There is simply no other schoolboy rugby derby quite like it.

Paarl Gimnasium entered the contest as deserved favourites, but Sean Erasmus’ Boishaai side had no intention of surrendering without a fight. These players have known one another since their Under-14 days, understand each other’s strengths and weaknesses, and the opening exchanges reflected exactly that.

Boishaai exploded out of the blocks, dominating possession and territory during the opening 25 minutes with a high-tempo attacking game. Both teams produced outstanding defence, with several superb try-saving tackles keeping the scoreboard tight.

The turning point came through a moment of individual brilliance. Thomas Saunders produced a sublime offload near the touchline to send Derick Cloete over for Gimnasium’s opening try. From that moment, Gimnasium appeared to shift into another gear. They gradually established control and deservedly took a 10-6 lead into the halftime break.

The second half largely belonged to Pieter Rossouw’s side. Gimnasium crossed for three more tries, including a sensational individual effort by Saunders, whose blistering pace once again demonstrated that genuine speed remains one of rugby’s greatest weapons.

Boishaai continued to battle courageously until the final whistle, but Rossouw’s exceptionally well-drilled outfit ultimately proved too strong, securing a convincing 25-11 victory to claim the 2026 Paarl Derby and the bragging rights for another year.

Schoolboy Rugby Rankings – August 2:

A Season Worth Remembering

It is a bold statement—and perhaps a controversial one- but there is a compelling statistical case that this Paarl Gimnasium side deserves to be remembered among South Africa’s finest schoolboy teams of the modern era. (Average score of 50-12)

Although they did not complete an unbeaten season — their only defeat being a narrow 20-19 loss to an outstanding Stellenberg side in the opening match of the year — their overall body of work has been extraordinary. In many respects, this team has been more dominant than several unbeaten sides that came before them.

The foundation of that argument lies not merely in winning matches, but in the manner of those victories. Paarl Gimnasium have dismantled exceptionally strong opposition throughout the season. Comparing teams from eras before the last decade has become increasingly difficult, as today’s leading schools consistently play one another during the same campaign. Apart from Garsfontein, Gimnasium have faced every major contender in South African schoolboy rugby.

History has produced several legendary schoolboy teams. Grey College’s famous 1981 side, featuring six SA Schools players in the starting XV, remains one of the great benchmark teams. Paul Roos produced an outstanding outfit in 1991, while Dale College’s celebrated 1993 side also deserves mention. More recently, Paarl Boys’ High’s exceptional teams between 2015 and 2017, together with Grey College’s outstanding 2019 and 2023 sides, have all set remarkably high standards.

Grey College’s unbeaten 2019 campaign remains one of the greatest ever assembled. They averaged 58 points per match while conceding only 19 points across a remarkable 20-match unbeaten season. Their victories included convincing wins over Outeniqua (64-7), Paarl Gimnasium (47-33), Paarl Boys’ High (43-24), Affies (50-28), Waterkloof (63-27), Grey High (58-0), Glenwood (50-27), Oakdale (57-26), Christchurch (73-26), Hartpury College (60-0) and Paul Roos (51-28).

Grey College’s 2023 side was equally impressive, recording notable victories over Paarl Gimnasium (33-12), Outeniqua (19-17), Garsfontein (23-9), Stellenberg (33-8), Affies (62-19), Paarl Boys’ High (39-30), Monument (31-10), Grey High (38-17), Oakdale (36-25) and Paul Roos (28-20).

Paul Roos’ unbeaten 2024 team also deserves its place in any discussion surrounding the greatest modern schoolboy teams.

Yet Paarl Gimnasium’s 2026 campaign comfortably belongs in that same conversation. Their list of victories speaks for itself:

Paul Roos (68-22)
Grey College (29-15)
DHS (47-7)
Affies (51-22)
Wynberg (66-14)
Oakdale (49-13)
Rondebosch (52-24)
Bishops (66-14)
Boland Landbou (69-15)
Helpmekaar (45-10)

Whether one ultimately ranks them as the greatest or simply among the greatest may always remain a matter of opinion. What is far less debatable is that Paarl Gimnasium have earned the right to be recognised as South Africa’s No.1 schoolboy rugby team of 2026.

Regardless of the remaining fixtures elsewhere in the country, their body of work throughout the season has been nothing short of exceptional, and they have fully deserved the top ranking.

This week’s results have brought significant movement within the Top 40 rankings. As always, these rankings remain an informed opinion rather than an exact science. They are based on the strength of opposition, consistency of performances, current form and head-to-head results.

Healthy debate is one of the reasons South African schoolboy rugby remains so special, and we welcome your thoughts and opinions in the comments section.

Best of luck to every team for the week ahead. Recover well, stay fit, and we look forward to another thrilling weekend of South African schoolboy rugby.

As the late Zanberg Jansen so famously said:

“Nag, ou Grote.”

— In memory of Paul Dobson —

School Rugby Results – 1 August 2026:

Alexander Road 17–17 Westering
Andrew Rabie 15–12 Otto du Plessis
Bergvliet 36–31 Scottsdene
Brandwag EP 81–12 DF Malherbe
Eden HTS 43–12 McLachlan
Pacaltsdorp 20–17 Eden HTS
Oakdale 46–22 Framesby
Graeme College 33–22 Dale College
Hudson Park 38–17 Stirling
Pearson 19–17 Marlow
Nico Malan 42–8 Daniel Pienaar
Port Rex 36–22 Cambridge
Queen’s College 55–15 Selborne
Union 33–7 Gill College
DHS 26–19 Northwood
Alberton 21–16 Randburg
Affies 66–24 Noordheuwel
Centurion 48–22 Dinamika
Curro Hazeldean 34–27 Delmas
Pietersburg 57–19 Eldoraigne
Ellisras 67–5 Bastion
Magalieskruin 27–23 Jabulani
Hans Strijdom 46–24 HTS John Vorster
Jeppe 49–31 KES
Lichtenburg 27–18 Secunda
Piet Retief 71–26 Ligbron
Louis Trichardt 31–30 Benoni High
Marais Viljoen 27–14 Ben Vorster
Menlopark 36–5 EG Jansen
Garsfontein 45–7 Middelburg
Midstream 32–13 Ermelo
Zwartkop 50–14 Middelburg HTS
Montana 36–31 Klerksdorp
Nelspruit 30–29 Kempton Park
Glenwood 43–36 Parktown
Potchefstroom Gimnasium 27–25 Hugenote Springs
Maritzburg College 33–13 Pretoria Boys High
Pretoria Noord 31–26 Lydenburg
Rietondale 55–14 Vereeniging Gimnasium
Monument 38–31 Rustenburg
Parys 51–0 Schoonspruit
Schweizer-Reneke 44–7 Vanderbijlpark
Standerton 32–17 Driehoek
Wesvalia 24–21 Transvalia
Oosterlig 38–19 Tuine
Wagpos 40–31 Leeuwenhof
Helpmekaar 38–34 Waterkloof
Wolmaransstad 23–13 Krugersdorp High
Wonderboom 33–29 Vryburg
Zwartkop 45–19 Klerksdorp
Bellville HTS 38–21 Bosmansdam
Curro Langebaan 29–26 Curro Hermanus
De Villiers Graaff 13–7 Labori
Brackenfell 43–34 DF Akademie
Drostdy HTS 22–20 Milnerton
Gordons Bay 52–23 Edgemead
Charlie Hofmeyr 20–18 Hermanus
Hugenote Wellington 39–34 Hopefield
Montagu 38–33 Langenhoven Gimnasium
Melkbosstrand 40–14 Hottentots Holland
Oudtshoorn 36–19 Knysna
Oudtshoorn 51–19 McLachlan
Paarl Gimnasium 25–11 Paarl Boys’ High
George 37–29 Pacaltsdorp
Paul Roos 45–14 Boland Landbou
Parel Vallei 52–14 Tygerberg
Porterville 59–0 Dirkie Uys
Punt vs Swartland (not played/result unavailable)
Rondebosch 36–30 SACS
Stellenberg 42–12 Durbanville
Bellville 20–17 Strand
Settlers 15–14 Strand
Bredasdorp 52–49 Swellendam
Glenwood House 31–28 Van Kervel
Piketberg 29–26 Vredenburg
Wynberg 64–12 Bishops
York 26–22 Langenhoven