Schools Rankings - August 9

SPOTLIGHT: With the Virseker Noordvaal Cup entering its final stages, the weekend delivered some outstanding schoolboy rugby, with several of South Africa’s traditional rugby powerhouses producing performances worthy of the occasion.

The Noordvaal Cup has a proud history dating back to 1920. Over the years, the competition has been known as the AG Robertson Beker (1920–1933), Administrateursbeker (1934–1981), Direkteurstrofee (1982–1994), Beeldtrofee (1995–2015) and, since 2016, the Noordvaal/Virsekerbeker.

The historical pride and tradition attached to this famous trophy needs little introduction. Generations of players who went on to represent the Springboks have competed in this prestigious competition, adding another layer of significance to every fixture.

MONUMENT PRODUCE A THRILLER AGAINST WATERKLOOF

The Wit Bulle of Monument hosted Waterkloof at the Ras van Rooyen in a match between two genuine contenders for the 2026 Noordvaal Cup.

It was always going to be a tight contest — and it certainly lived up to expectations.

Both sides produced outstanding attacking rugby, with some superb running lines and quality tries making this one of the weekend’s most entertaining encounters.

Waterkloof’s Jacques Janse van Rensburg deserves special mention for his exciting attacking play and ability to threaten the Monument defence every time he had space to run.

The visitors from Pretoria led 31–26 at half-time, before the Blue Tornados struck first after the break. Monument were forced to dig deep, however, and produced a dramatic finish.

Then came one of the tries of the season.

With the match heading into its dying moments, Monument fullback Ray-Nathan van Kolver sliced through the Waterkloof defensive line to help Monnas score the winning try and send the home crowd into celebration.

It was a finish worthy of a classic Noordvaal Cup encounter.

With promotion and relegation now becoming increasingly important, the battle for positions in the Cup and Plate sections is intensifying.

At this stage, EG Jansen and Waterkloof appear to be in danger of dropping into the Plate section, while the Nelspruit Rhinos look set to make their way back into the Cup section following a clean sweep over their arch-rivals, HTS Middelburg.

For rugby supporters in Mpumalanga, seeing the Rhinos back among the top schools would be a welcome development.

The Rhinos of Hoërskool Nelspruit are a traditional South African rugby powerhouse that deserve their place among the country’s elite

For future Grade 8 parents, this is an important consideration. The opportunity for NHS boys to compete against the very best schoolboy rugby teams in the country — while remaining at home where they belong — would be a tremendous boost for the school and the broader Nelspruit rugby community. Parents don’t want to send their boys away; they want to keep them at home, where they belong.

In the Western Cape, Boland Landbou claimed bragging rights in the battle of the farmers, producing a superb performance to defeat Oakdale 40–36 in another high-scoring encounter.

In KwaZulu-Natal, Maritzburg College ended their season on a high note with an emphatic 64–7 victory over Glenwood.

Durban High School (DHS) also finished their season strongly, defeating King Edward VII School (KES) 22–12.

GREY V PAUL ROOS — NEXT WEEK’S BLOCKBUSTER

Next weekend brings one of the biggest traditional schoolboy rugby derbies in the country when Grey College face Paul Roos.

It promises to be an absolute cracker! For both schools, this is their fiercest and most feared and special rugby derby.

Should Paul Roos manage to overcome Grey College, they could move into second place on the Rugby365 rankings, adding even more significance to an already highly anticipated fixture.

TOP 40 RANKINGS

This week’s results have once again brought significant movement to the Top 40 schoolboy rugby rankings.

As always, these rankings remain an informed opinion rather than an exact science. They take into account the strength of opposition, consistency of performances, current form and head-to-head results, among other factors.

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

Congratulations to all the teams who took the field this weekend. To those preparing for another big week, recover well, stay fit and enjoy the challenge.

We look forward to another thrilling weekend of South African schoolboy rugby.

And, as the late Zanberg Jansen so famously said:

“Nag, ou Grote.”

— In memory of Paul Dobson

Results – August 8

* Selborne College 28–17 Dale College
* Graeme College 31–28 Queen’s College
* Nico Malan 26–12 Die Brandwag (Uitenhage)
* Grey High School 113–5 Muir College
* Marlow Landbou 57–13 Bergsig
* Ooskus Gym 22–22 Stirling
* Maritzburg College 64–7 Glenwood
* Durban High School 22–12 King Edward VII
* Hoërskool Upington 36–19 Duineveld
* Sentraal 29–28 Framesby
* Grey College 45–17 Outeniqua
* Welkom Gimnasium 64–28 Bethlehem Voortrekker
* Affies 45–18 Pretoria Boys High
* Boland Landbou 40–36 Oakdale Landbou
* DF Akademie – Bellville THS
* Tygerberg 22–15 Melkbosstrand
* Hermanus 33–31 Strand
* Swartland 24–14 Hopefield
* Standerton 60–51 Wonderboom
* Hans Strijdom 34–14 Hoërskool Alberton
* Ellisras 47–7 Oosterlig
* Pretoria-Noord 40–31 Wagpos
* Centurion 26–17 Potchefstroom Volkskool
* Potchefstroom Gimnasium 13–6 Midstream College
* Lichtenburg 39–35 Eldoraigne
* Hoërskool Pietersburg 52–10 Piet Retief
* Zwartkop 29–12 Montana (BB)
* Hoërskool Nelspruit 20–12 HTS Middelburg
* Oos-Moot 49–34 Hoërskool Klerksdorp
* Wesvalia 27–23 Kempton Park
* Monument 40–36 Waterkloof
* Garsfontein 76–5 EG Jansen
* Hoërskool Rustenburg 42–41 Menlopark
* Noordheuwel 31–14 Hoërskool Middelburg