The 12 participating schools at this year’s Kearsney Easter Rugby Festival were revealed at Wednesday’s launch in Durban.

Aside from the hosts, there’ll be two other KwaZulu-Natal schools, Glenwood and Durban High School; four Eastern Province representatives in Dale, Queen’s, Selborne and Framesby; and one team each from Gauteng (Pretoria Boys’), Mpumalanga (Middelburg), the Northern Cape (Noord-Kaap), Free State (Welkom Gim) and Western Cape (Drostdy).

The 11th edition of the prestigious event will take place at the school grounds at Botha’s Hill from 31 March to 2 April, meaning the closing day will overlap with the opening day of the World Schools Festival in Paarl.

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While there was believed to be no conflict of interest between the World Schools Festival and any of the traditional Easter festivals, Glenwood – the top-ranked school in KZN – have been confirmed as participants of the World Schools Festival while also committing to the Kearsney event.

‘We have another incredible line-up of talent participating at this year’s festival – and supporters will definitely not be disappointed. This is schoolboy rugby at its very best,’ said Kearsney festival organiser Mouton Bezuidenhout.

Head of the Sharks Academy Etienne Flynn said the festival played an important role in exposing quality of available young talent from around the country.

‘The Sharks Academy is proud to be associated with the Kearsney Easter Rugby Festival. The length of our involvement is testament to its on-going high standards and continued focus on the camaraderie and ethos of the game. Only at these festivals is the weekly grind of school derbies removed, and players can be allowed the freedom to play the game without that very obvious pressure.

‘We have had many players come through the festival and go onto play at the highest levels of the game. Once again, we will be offering three bursaries for 2019 which we hope will serve as motivation for these young men to play to the best of their abilities at the festival.’

Photo: Tracey van den Aardweg