Schools Rankings - July 26

SPOTLIGHT: South African schoolboy rugby returned in spectacular fashion this weekend, reminding everyone why it remains one of the country’s greatest sporting attractions.

At JA Kriel, the nation’s top-ranked side, Paarl Gimnasium, once again demonstrated why they continue to set the benchmark. They faced a determined Rondebosch Boys’ High outfit that refused to go away quietly.

With just seven minutes gone in the second half, only seven points separated the teams, and the visitors looked capable of causing a major upset.

Then came one of the tries of the season.

Thomas Saunders launched a breathtaking counter-attack from deep inside his own half before Corne de Beer produced a superb support line to finish under the posts. It was a moment of brilliance that created the first crack in the dam wall, shifting the momentum firmly in Paarl Gimnasium’s favour.

The boys from the Southern Suburbs battled bravely throughout, but in the end Paarl Gim’s dominant forward pack laid the platform for a convincing victory. Their slick backline movement also deserves special mention, with the ball moving effortlessly through the hands.

This is a remarkably complete side, and one cannot help but wonder why more players from this squad were not selected for the SA Schools team, especially when considering the outstanding talent that even missed this year’s Craven Week.

Paarl Gimnasium eventually ran out deserved 52-24 winners.

Next weekend, however, presents an entirely different challenge. Their neighbours, Paarl Boys’ High, await in what is widely regarded as the biggest schoolboy rugby derby in the world.

Boishaai certainly did their part to build anticipation, producing an outstanding 56-7 victory over Hoërskool Durbanville. The stage is now perfectly set for another unforgettable derby. If there is one team capable of stopping Paarl Gim’s remarkable run, it is undoubtedly their neighbours. Sean Erasmus will certainly have a few tricks up his sleeve—but so will Pieter Rossouw.

Our early-season rankings leaders, Stellenberg, continued their impressive campaign with a hard-fought 26-21 victory over Outeniqua. HTS Drostdy produced one of the surprises of the weekend by defeating Oakdale Landbou 31-24, while Paul Roos Gimnasium had to dig deep before edging SACS 38-34 in another thrilling encounter.

In KwaZulu-Natal, Affies continued their outstanding season with an impressive away victory over Maritzburg College at Goldstones. The contest was evenly balanced at 5-5 shortly before half-time before Affies crossed to take a 12-5 lead into the break. Whatever was said in the Pretoria side’s changing room certainly had the desired effect, as they dominated the second half to record a convincing 40-12 victory.

In the Eastern Cape, Grey High survived a thrilling encounter against their neighbours, Framesby, in their annual derby. Locked at 28-28 with just four minutes remaining, Grey kept their composure. After the final hooter sounded, they retained possession through a gruelling five-minute scrum battle before eventually crossing the tryline for the match-winning score, sealing a dramatic 35-28 derby victory.

North of the Vaal, the Wit Bulle of Monument from Krugersdorp continued their impressive season with a high-scoring 68-40 victory over Hoërskool Middelburg, while Hoërskool Rustenburg edged Helpmekaar 37-34 in another classic encounter.

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 careful analysis of strength of opposition, consistency of performances, current form and head-to-head results.

Healthy debate is part of what makes South African schoolboy rugby 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 —

Results:

Eastern Cape
Grey High School 35–28 Framesby
Queen’s College 63–0 Cambridge
Hudson Park 28–26 Selborne College
Dale College 55–19 Oostkus Gimnasium
Marlow Landbou 49–21 Port Rex THS
HTS Daniel Pienaar 45–43 Andrew Rabie
Die Brandwag (Uitenhage) 36–24 Muir College
Graeme College 61–24 Pearson
Kingswood College 70–7 Stirling
Nico Malan 95–12 DF Malherbe

KwaZulu-Natal
Affies 40–12 Maritzburg College
Durban High School 21–21 Jeppe High School for Boys
Northwood 82–23 Glenwood

Western Cape
HTS Drostdy 31–24 Oakdale Landbou
Paarl Boys’ High 56–7 Hoërskool Durbanville
Stellenberg 26–21 Outeniqua
Wynberg Boys’ High 42–26 Boland Landbou
Paarl Gimnasium 52–24 Rondebosch Boys’ High
Paul Roos Gimnasium 38–34 SACS
Hoërskool Bellville 26–13 Hermanus
Brackenfell 54–5 Monumentpark
DF Akademie 31–27 Punt HS
Parel Vallei 52–12 Melkbosstrand
Milnerton 19–15 Tygerberg
Charlie Hofmeyr 45–28 Hugenote (Wellington)
Porterville 53–12 Dirkie Uys
Overberg 23–19 Montagu

Gauteng / North West / Mpumalanga
Waterkloof 34–24 EG Jansen
Monument 68–42 Hoërskool Middelburg
Hoërskool Rustenburg 37–34 Helpmekaar
Menlopark 45–42 Noordheuwel