South African Schoolboy Rugby Round-Up: The 2025 Season Is Heating Up!

The 2025 schoolboy rugby season has started with a bang, with the Noord-Suid Festival and Grey High Rugby Festival providing thrilling encounters, dominant statements, and early-season surprises.

These festivals not only serve as crucial measuring sticks for the country’s top rugby schools but also set the stage for an intense season ahead. This weekend’s results have already given us a glimpse of which teams are peaking early, which still have work to do, and which emerging contenders could disrupt the traditional powerhouses. Let’s break down the standout results, performances, and key talking points from both festivals, along with a classic Michaelhouse vs St Andrew’s showdown.

Noord-Suid Festival 2025: Where the Best Meet Early

Regarded as one of South Africa’s premier schoolboy rugby festivals, the Noord-Suid Festival once again lived up to its billing, producing top-class matchups between some of the strongest teams in the country.

Grey College vs Norries

Grey College faced off against Noordheuwel in what can only be described as a thrilling encounter at the Noord-Suid Rugby Tournament on March 29, 2025. The match ended with a narrow 24-22 victory for Grey College, but it was a game full of drama and intensity. Both teams scored two tries each, leaving the score tied at 12-12 with just minutes to go.

It was a crucial penalty kick in the dying moments that gave Grey the edge they needed, though Noordheuwel pushed hard in the final minutes to clinch the win. However, Grey College held their ground, ultimately securing the win in a match that will surely go down as one of the most memorable of the tournament.

Affies vs Paarl Boys - A Sweet Redemption

In another highly anticipated fixture, Paarl Boys' High (Boishaai) triumphed over Affies from Pretoria with a 25-17 victory. This match was significant, not just for the victory itself, but for the emotional weight it carried. Boishaai had suffered a heavy defeat to Affies in the previous year’s Wildeklawer Tournament, making this win a sweet redemption for the team.

The two teams have been fierce competitors over the years, and this victory puts Paarl Boys' High in a strong position, as they continue their dominance in schoolboy rugby.

Key Results & Insights

• Paarl Gim 102-0 KES – A ruthless attacking display. Paarl Gim put on an absolute clinic, running riot against KES with a 100+ point thrashing. This was a statement win that showcased their athleticism, skill, and sheer dominance at this level.

• Paul Roos 34-32 Garsfontein – A thriller that could have gone either way. Paul Roos edged a resilient Garsfontein side in a high-intensity battle, displaying their ability to close out tight contests—an essential trait for title contenders.

• Boland Landbou 71-10 EG Jansen – An attacking showcase. Boland Landbou flexed their muscles, exposing EG Jansen’s defensive frailties with a free-flowing, expansive style of rugby.

• Outeniqua 24-34 Menlopark – A statement win for Menlopark. Outeniqua are no pushovers, but Menlopark controlled proceedings with a clinical performance in both attack and defence.

• Durbanville 27-21 Monument – A hard-fought victory. Durbanville showed impressive defensive resilience and structured play, edging a typically tough Monument outfit in a close contest.

• Oakdale 45-12 Nelspruit – Oakdale making early waves. This was a dominant, well-rounded performance, with Oakdale dictating the tempo and executing their game plan to perfection.

• Stellenberg 52-7 Voortrekker (Bethlehem) – A one-sided affair. Stellenberg imposed themselves early and never looked back, running in try after try against an outmatched Voortrekker team.

• Rondebosch 38-12 Jeppe – Attacking intent on display. Rondebosch showed their sharp attacking structures, tearing Jeppe apart with clinical finishing and fast-paced rugby.

Noord-Suid Takeaways

Paarl Gim’s 102-point thrashing is one of the biggest results in recent years—early favourites for the season? Paul Roos’ composure in tight matches could prove invaluable as the season progresses. Menlopark and Oakdale made big statements, showing they belong among SA’s elite. Boland Landbou, Stellenberg, and Rondebosch proved their attacking quality—defences will need to be sharp against them.

Grey High Rugby Festival 2025: Strong Performances Across the Board

The Grey High Rugby Festival always brings together a mix of powerhouse teams and rising challengers, and this year was no different. Some teams reinforced their reputation, while others showed they’re ready to take the next step.

Key Results & Insights

• Grey High 28-28 Michaelhouse – An absolute classic. Michaelhouse extended their three-year unbeaten run, but Grey High pushed them to the limit. Neither side backed down in a highly tactical, physical battle, and the draw was a fair result.

• Selborne 12-45 Westville – A massive statement from Westville. They were clinical in attack and relentless on defence, completely outclassing Selborne.

• Kingswood 20-41 Durban HS (DHS) – DHS looking dangerous early. A dominant second-half display saw them pull away from Kingswood, showing excellent fitness and composure under pressure.

• Dale 0-24 Northwood – A complete shutout. Northwood’s defence was nearly impenetrable, while their forward pack laid the platform for a structured, dominant performance.

• Pretoria Boys High 26-28 Kearsney – A nail-biter decided in the final moments. Kearsney held on in a game that could have gone either way, showing excellent decision-making under pressure.

• Queen’s 13-13 St Stithians – Two evenly matched teams battled to a stalemate. Both sides had opportunities but failed to land the knockout blow.

Grey High Festival Takeaways

Michaelhouse remained a top contender, but Grey High matched them in every department. Westville and DHS stood out—expect big things from both schools this year. Northwood’s defensive performance was among the best of the festival. Kearsney’s ability to win tight games could be crucial in the bigger fixtures ahead.

Michaelhouse vs St Andrew’s: A Rivalry That Never Disappoints

This year’s Michaelhouse vs St Andrew’s match lived up to the hype, ending in an intense 22-22 draw on Lower Fields. Michaelhouse came into the match unbeaten against St Andrew’s since 2023, but this time, the contest was closer than ever.

Key Takeaways

• Will Stevens (St Andrew’s) showed why he’s one of the top players in the country, dictating play with his kicking and scoring a try himself.

• Will Ridl (Michaelhouse) was immense, leading his team back into the match when they were trailing.

• Michaelhouse remains unbeaten against St Andrew’s for a third straight year, but the gap between them is clearly closing.

  
  

Final Thoughts: A Season of High-Quality Rugby Awaits

If this opening round of festivals is anything to go by, the 2025 schoolboy rugby season is going to be one of the most competitive in recent memory. Paarl Gim’s 102-point masterclass puts them in early pole position as one of the teams to beat. The entire top 5 in SA Rugby look like genuine title contenders with their ability to grind out results. Westville, DHS, and Oakdale made major statements—can they sustain this momentum?

Monument, KES, and Selborne will need to bounce back after tough outings.

With several major fixtures looming, expect even more fireworks in the coming weeks!

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Which team has impressed you the most so far? Let us know in the comments!