SACS and hosts Paul Roos are among the 10 South African schools that will take part in next year’s World Schools Festival in Stellenbosch.

The festival, which has moved from Paarl Boys’ High to Paul Roos, will again pit 10 of South Africa’s top rugby schools against teams from overseas.

The hosts and SACS are the two new sides in the tournament, with Affies, Boland Landbou, Glenwood, Hilton College, Grey College, Monument and Paarl Gim all retained. Seven of the South African schools featured in the 2018 Rugby365.com top 20 rankings.

Boishaai – whose former coach Sean Erasmus came up with the idea along with former Springbok coach Heyneke Meyer – make way along with Outeniqua and Oakdale.

A South African Invitational XV, made up entirely of schoolboys, has also been added to the roster, something Nico Serfontein, head of SA Rugby’s Elite Player Development programme, says was a no-brainer.

‘When Jon [Phelps, Carinat Sports Marketing founder] approached us to take part, we jumped at the opportunity,’ Serfontein said. ‘A few of our players don’t come from traditional rugby schools, so this is a perfect opportunity to see them in action against powerful foreign schools they won’t ordinarily face.’

Paul Roos director of sport Stephan Jordaan says they cannot wait to host the tournament next year.

‘The format of the South African schools playing against international schools is very exciting. I’ve been at the school for 11 years, and I can’t remember ever hosting a New Zealand team, but now we have the opportunity to see just how strong the South African schools are as they play against sides from all over the world.’

This year’s tournament was largely one-sided, with the South African schools winning 18 of the 20 matches played against the overseas teams.