SARugbymag.co.za looks ahead to the Wildeklawer Super Schools, Wynberg and Jeppe rugby festivals.
WILDEKLAWER SUPER SCHOOLS
HISTORY
The Wildeklawer Super Schools festival was first staged in 2009 after former Paarl Gym headmaster Basjan Reinhardt came forward with the concept of a strength versus strength schools rugby competition, which he believed was lacking at the time. The festival, which involves only the top-ranked schools in the country, started with 12 1st XV teams in 2009, and has grown into one of the flagship schools sport tournaments in South Africa.
THIS YEAR'S PARTICIPANTS
The number of teams has decreased from 20 in 2014 to 18 this year, because Paul Roos are representing South Africa at the Sanix World Youth Invitational in Japan, while Maritzburg have been granted leave to attend the Jeppe Boys' Festival in celebration of the school's 125th anniversary. Drosty, Grey High and KES are the other schools missing from last year's lineup and have been replaced with Paarl Boys', HTS Louis Botha and Menlopark, who are set to make their Super Schools debut.
MATCHES TO WATCH
The match-up between Grey High and Waterkloof headlines day one, while the contest between Glenwood and EG Jansen, which kicks off at the same time, is another to look forward to. On day two, it's north vs south when Pretoria powerhouses Menlopark and Affies come up against Boland's best in Landbou and Paarl Gym respectively.
HE SAID IT
'Our aim is to lure the top-ranked schools to the festival in order to present spectators with rugby of the highest quality. I also strongly believe the exclusive nature of the event encourages teams outside our grading system to improve their status through performance, so they can come into contention to feature at this prestigious event.' – Wildeklawer Super Schools tournament director Cassie Carstens
FIXTURES
Saturday
Selborne vs Outeniqua (08:00)
Monument vs Boland Landbou (09:10)
Paarl Gym vs Middelburg (10:20)
Paarl Boys' vs HTS Louis Botha (10:20, B Field)
Affies vs Saru Invitational XV (11:30)
Grey College vs Waterkloof (12:40)
Glenwood vs EG Jansen (12:10, B Field)
Diamantveld vs Oakdale (13:50)
Menlopark vs Noord-Kaap (17:15)
Monday
HTS Louis Botha vs Saru Invitational XV (08:00)
Noord-Kaap vs Glenwood (09:10)
EG Jansen vs Paarl Boys' (10:20)
Oakdale vs HTS Middelburg (11:30)
Diamantveld vs Selborne (12:40)
Waterkloof vs Outeniqua (13:50)
Menlopark vs Boland Landbou (15:00)
Affies vs Paarl Gym (16:10)
Monument vs Grey College (17:20)
WYNBERG FESTIVAL
HISTORY
After successfully hosting the 2005 Cape Schools Rugby Week, then director of sport Peter van Schalkwyk decided that Wynberg Boys’ High should host its own festival the following year. The festival has now expanded from a few 1st XVs competing into a massive schoolboy rugby exhibition involving 21 schools across several age groups.
THIS YEAR'S PARTICIPANTS
There are a few changes among the senior sides this year, as Bishops, St David's Marist, Windhoek High School and St Andrew's College make way for Noord-Kaap, Somerset College, St Stithians and Upington.
MATCHES TO WATCH
The first day sees SACS, the festival’s top ranked side, take on Hugenote from Wellington, while Rondebosch Boys' do battle with St John's College from Houghton. Day two’s main attractions see hosts Wynberg up against St Stithians and SACS meeting St John's College directly afterwards.
HE SAID IT
'The aim is to get as many players, parents and spectators to our school and to Cape Town. We pride ourselves on running the biggest rugby festival in the country – at least we think it is the biggest. It is also the only festival where schools can bring four or five teams from different age groups to the festival.' – Wynberg director of rugby Roland Rudd
FIXTURES
Saturday
Somerset College vs Noord-Kaap 2nd XV (08:00)
Bellville vs St Stithians (09:20)
SACS vs Hugenote (10:40)
Tygerberg vs Upington (12:00)
Stellenberg vs Walvis Bay (13:20)
Rondebosch vs St John's (14:40)
Wynberg vs Pearson (16:00)
Monday
Tygerberg vs Walvis Bay (08:00)
Stellenberg vs Pearson (09:20)
Wynberg vs St Stithians (10:40)
SACS vs St John's (12:00)
Jan van Riebeeck vs Noord-Kaap 2nd XV (13:20)
Bellville vs Hugenote (14:40)
Rondebosch vs Upington (16:00)
JEPPE BOYS' FESTIVAL
HISTORY
Jeppe is celebrating the school's 125th anniversary by hosting a once-off rugby festival over two days, featuring eight schools from across the country.
THIS YEAR'S PARTICIPANTS
The eight teams are DHS, Pretoria Boys', Parktown Boys', Westville Boys', KES, Bishops, Maritzburg College and hosts Jeppe Boys'.
MATCHES TO WATCH
On Saturday, Jeppe, currently ranked 16th in South Africa, take on Maritzburg College, who will be eager to make amends for their 57-12 defeat against Glenwood. The last fixture on Monday sees Pretoria Boys' play Bishops in a north-south clash.
HE SAID IT
'This festival is not only in celebration of our anniversary but it encompasses our relationship with the participating schools. We believe in playing hard but fair, and also teaching and developing our students. There may even be a possibility of the festival becoming an annual affair. However, we will see how things go this weekend. ' – Jeppe director of rugby Ryan Ravensroft
FIXTURES
Saturday
Pretoria Boys vs DHS (11:00)
Parktown Boys vs Westville Boys (12:20)
KES vs Bishops (13:40)
Jeppe Boys vs Maritzburg College (15:00)
Monday
Parktown Boys vs Maritzburg College (10:00)
Jeppe Boys vs DHS (11:20)
Pretoria Boys' vs Bishops (12:40)
KES vs Westville Boys (14:00)
Photo: Wildeklawer
