Parktown Boys' High School have suspended all sporting activities against KES following the poaching of two of their schoolboy rugby players.

The relationship between the schools broke down after two of Parktown’s students had been enrolled at KES in 2016 without following the correct transfer procedures.

Details of the incident have been disclosed in a letter sent to Parktown parents and old boys:

Dear Parktown Parents and Old Boys

Below is a detailed breakdown of events that ultimately led to the decision to suspend all one on one sporting activities against King Edward VII School:

In September 2015 rumours began to surface that two boys from Parktown Boys’ High School had been approached by schools in Kwa-Zulu Natal and Gauteng, through an agent.

These two young men have been on full sports scholarships at Parktown since the start of grade 8. They had been developed through the school’s structures to the point where both of them represented the Lions Provincial side, were members of the Lions U19 7’s team and were invited to Cape Town as part of the national elite squad.

On 15th September 2015, Mr Murabito (Director of Sports), emailed the Sports Directors of all Gauteng Boys’ Schools and filled them in on the background of the boys and the possible approaches to schools by their agent. Mr Murabito also reminded them of the agreement which stands between the schools (Boys’ Schools’ Charter – which prohibits the approach of boys at schools that have signed the charter). All the schools acknowledged this, including King Edward.

When the SHARKS union wanted to place them in a KZN school, Mr Murabito contacted the LIONS, and the boys were subsequently offered school boy contracts to remain in Johannesburg.

In November 2015, the school hosted a meeting with one of the boys, the father, Mr Bradley (Headmaster), Timmy Goodwin (GLRU), Bafana Nhleko (GLRU and Parktown Rugby Director), Mr van Zyl (1st XV Coach) and Mr Murabito. At this meeting, there was a verbal commitment to remain at Parktown and both the father and his son said they wanted to stay at Parktown and were 100% committed to the school.

Up until 10th December (last day of term) both boys were involved in pre-season rugby training at Parktown.

On 12th December, Mr Murabito confirmed via text message (which is available) that the boys were returning to Parktown.

On 12th January 2016 (day before start of new term) it became known that both boys were enrolled at King Edward and had moved into the boarding house. Parktown Boys’ High were not informed of this, neither were proper transfer procedures followed. Mr Bradley contacted the headmaster of King Edward, who insisted that there was nothing wrong with the boys being at his school.

As a result of the above impasse, on 15th January 2016, Mr Bradley, in consultation with the school’s executive, took the decision to suspend all sporting activities against King Edward until further notice.

This issue is bigger than the two schools involved. We, as a school, believe that the time has come to make a stand against the continued procurement of players between the boys’ schools, either by direct approaches from schools, or through the use of agents.

Please do not post this on social media platforms. This communication is for informative purposes only.

Yours sincerely

Mr D Bradley

Headmaster