The second edition of Premier Interschools will see Grey High School travel down to Stellenbosch for their annual derby with Paul Roos Gymnasium. The visitors have not tasted victory against their rivals since 2017 and will be eager to set the record straight at the Markotter fields. This is the same venue where they came back from a 20-point deficit in 2014 with a young Curwin Bosch at flyhalf to stage a remarkable comeback, winning  the derby 27-26. Paul Roos is currently re-building and has very strong juniors coming through the ranks. Playing at fortress Markotter will motivate them not to make the same mistakes they did in 2014. The two sides matched up very evenly over the last ten matches with Grey High School. They managed to win four games after a winning streak of three in a row from 2012 to 2014. They  last tasted victory in 2017. Paul Roos has the slight upper hand in matches won, but Grey can turn the tables at Markotter as they did previously at this iconic stadium.

Results last 10 Matches.

Grey High School 2023 Season. Grey High School has participated in three festivals with six games under the belt. Their first game was at the Outeniqua festival in George on March 18th where they faced new kids on the block, Stellenberg from Western Cape. In a hard fought match they just prevailed to beat the Jade Brigade 22-20, clinching the game right at the end. Grey also participated in the Graeme Festival where they came face to face with Hudson Park, claiming a comfortable  27-7 win. This was followed up by a draw at home against Rondebosch but they came unstuck during the Easter festival at St John and lost two out of their three games. The men from Grey first lost to Boland Landbou and then to Pretoria Boys High. They turned things around in their last match, beating a Lions XV invitational side. With only 50% victories in 2023 so far, they will be looking to up the percentage against Paul Roos this weekend. Results so far:

Paul Roos Gymnasium 2023 Season. While Grey High already has a few games under their belt, Paul Roos have only played three games thus far. They first played Secunda at the Outeniqua festival in early March and then competed in the Noord/Suid tournament in Pretoria where they clinched one and lost one game. Paul Roos has invested heavily in their lower structures since 2019 and the results should start showing. Results so Far:

Rugby at Grey High School

Grey has a proud rugby tradition and record which dates back to the 19th century.  Traditional schools they come up against on an annual basis include Dale College, Graeme College, Grey College, Queen’s College, Selborne College, St. Andrew’s College, Wynberg High and of late also Paul Roos Gymnasium.

The first rugby match was played on 16 September 1893 against Muir College of Uitenhage. During the years 1919 to 1923 Grey played four internationals against Dale, Gill, Kingswood and St Andrew’s. Money for the main field was donated by an Old Grey alumni, Arthur Phillip, in 1938 and thus the main field is “The Phillip Field”. Grey High School has produced a number of players who represented the Springboks through the years. Former scholars like Jack Hirsch, Fronie Froneman, Fred Smollan, Fred Turner, Bunny Reid, Peter Allen, George Smith, Giepie Wentzel (Master), Roy Dryburgh, Peter Allen, Mickey Gerber, Wilf Rosenberg, Iain Kirkpatrick, Sean Povey, Luke Watson and most recently Siya Kolisi ,JJ Engebrecht and Curwin Bosch have all gone on to wear the Green and Gold.

Well known television commentators and outstanding players like Gavin Cowley and Andrew Patterson also graced the Phillip field. Michael Catt, Rory Duncan and Luke Watson captained England, Free State and Western Province Currie Cup sides respectively in 2007. Special mention must be made of Springbok Captain Siya Kolisi who led the Boks to their third Rugby World Cup title in 2019 in Japan. Siya is a proud Grey High old boy and often goes back to his alma mater to educate and assist with their rugby program.

Rugby at Paul Roos

The words Paul Roos and rugby are synonymous as the great man was the originator of the now famous Springbok emblem and name for the South African national team. He is seen by many as the “father” of South African rugby and it is fitting that the school that carries his name is such a powerhouse in South African schools rugby. Paul Roos has to date produced the most South African players to represent their country on a rugby field with Juandre Kruger becoming their 50^th when he turned out for the Springboks against England at Kings Park on June 9^th 2012. Their latest Springbok is scrumhalf Herschel Jantjies who became Springbok no 913 in 2019 and the 54^th Paul Roos player to represent his country.

Willie le Roux, Schalk Britz, Steven Kitshoff, Damian Willemse and Herschel Jantjies were also part of the 2019 Springbok rugby squad that won the World Cup in Japan in 2019. The following players from Paul Roos represented South Africa on the rugby field.

Arthur Nicholas de Kock (1891), Jacob Stephanus (Japie) Louw (1891), James Alexander (Jim) McKendrick (1891), Robert (Bob) Shand, Paul Johannes de Waal (1896), Japie Krige (1896), Bob Loubser (1896), Pieter Albertus Ryno Otto (PO) Nel (1903), Paul Johannes Roos (1903), Koei Brink (1906), Henry John (Pinkie) Daneel (1906), Boy de Villiers (1906), Freddie Luyt (1910), Dick Luyt (1910), Koot Reynecke (1910), Gideon Daniël Roos (1910), Wakkie Krige (1912), John Douglas Luyt (1912), Tom van Vuuren (1912), Nic du Plessis (1921), Theuns Kruger (1921), Charlé Meyer (1921), Mannetjies Michau (1921), Phil Mostert (1921), Tokkie Scholtz (1921), Jackie Tindall(1921), Attie van Heerder (1921), PK Albertyn (1924), Nico Bosman (1924), Daunce Devine (1924), Kenny Starke (1924), George Murray Daneel (1928), Manus de Jongh (1928), AF du Toit (1928), PK Morkel (1928), Boet Prinsloo (1928), Ferdie Bergh (1931), George Lionell van Reenen (1937), Ballie Wahl (1949), Tjol Lategan (1949), Jannie Engelbrecht (1960), Gertjie Brynard (1965), Hempies du Toit (1980), Cabous van der Westhuizen (1994), Justin Swart (1996), Cobus Visagie (1999), Andries Bekker (2008), Schalk Brits (2008), Francois Hougaard (2009), Juandre Kruger (2012),Willie Le Roux (2013), Steven Kitshoff (2016), Damian Willemse (2018), Herschel Jantjies (2019). The netball and rugby derbies will be broadcast live on Saturday, 15 April at 09.30am and 13h55 on SuperSport Schools (channel 216)