The fourth week of the 2022 Premier Interschools season gets underway this Saturday 14 May when Grey College host Paarl Boys High in Bloemfontein. This has been one of the toughest and most exciting rivalries in South African schoolboy rugby in the last decade and promises to live up to the expectation. Two of the country’s oldest schools – Paarl Boys High (1868) and Grey College (1855) – boast with a rich and proud heritage and this weekend’s encounter can be expected to be nothing less short of exciting. Both these schools have a significant and very rich rugby tradition with the very first match being played in 1950, and while it was not a regular fixture in the earlier years due to the geographical spacing and distance between the schools, this has been one of the toughest and most talked about matches in recent times. Since the very first match in the fifties, a total of 46 matches have been played with Grey College having won 35, and Paarl Boys High claiming only nine victories while two matches ended in a draw.

The 2020 fixture did not happen due to the Covid pandemic, but they did get to play each other in 2021, just before all rugby was shut down again. This weekend’s hosts beating the side from Paarl convincingly, 37-3 in this match. Over the last ten years the Paarl outfit have been much more competitive than the earlier years recording four of their nine wins during this period. The 2011 edition of this match ended in a 15-all stalemate.

Scores Through the Years

If any of the last few months of the 2022 schoolboy rugby season has taught the rugby-loving South African public is that never to write off any team based on previous performances. While a prediction is tough to make especially in an encounter steeped in history as the one between Grey College and Paarl Boys High, one thing is predictable – Premier Interschools never disappoints when it comes to excitement.

Rugby at Grey College

Grey College has served Bloemfontein, the Free State, South Africa, and the world well over the past 150 years. Grey has been able to adjust and remain relevant in an ever-changing environment. The brand is known and revered throughout South Africa, internationally even, and the products of the school make a positive difference wherever they are. Parallel medium education, tolerance, respect for others and loyalty to the school are not only traditions, but firm foundations in a global village. Grey is structured on these foundations, and it is constantly adapting to new developments. The wave of change washing over our country confirms the value of Grey’s traditions.

Grey has produced 46 Springbok rugby players. Since WWII it has produced more Springbok players than any other school in SA, their latest being centre Francois Venter.

List of Grey Springboks

Rugby at Paarl Boys’ High School

Rugby is an integral part of the Paarl Boys’ way of life. It is important to win, but that should not be the primary objective. A sportsman may never be abused to ensure the success of a team. The primary objective at Paarl Boys’ High must be one of enjoyment, for both player and coach. Whereas they agree with the legendary Vince Lombardi when he said: ‘’Winning isn’t everything; it’s the only thing’’ they hold winning to be more than just points on the board. Winning relates to the values, commitment, and the pursuit of the best of one’s abilities.

PBHS has produced 21 players that have represented South Africa since 1906. They have provided some of the legends and most famous Springbok rugby players ever to have played in the Green and Gold. Players like Oom “Boy” and Fanie Louw, Piet “Spiere” du Toit, Mannetjies Roux, Ryk van Schoor, Carel Du Plessis and Corné Krige.

Paarl Boys provided 8 SA Schools players in 2016 which is a new record for any school in one year.

Paarl Boys’ High Springboks.

1. Cocky Hahn (1910)
2. Dirkie de Villiers (1910)
3. Louis Louw (1912)
4. Theuns Kruger (1921)
5. Champion Myburgh (1924)
6. Jack Bester (1924)
7. Boy Louw (1928)
8. Manie Geere (1933)
9. Fanie Louw (1933)
10. Ben du Toit (1938)
11. Ryk van Schoor (1949)
12. Theuns Briers (1955)
13. Piet du Toit (1958)
14. Mannetjies Roux (1960)
15. Haas Schoeman (1963)
16. Carel du Plessis (1982)
17. Wium Basson (1997)
18. Corné Krige (1999)
19. Gürthro Steenkamp (2004)
20. Frans Malherbe (2013)
21. Thomas Joubert Du Toit (2018)

The game will be broadcast live on Saturday, 14 May from 13h55 on SuperSport Variety 3. Premier Interschools will also broadcast the Waterkloof vs Affies netball fixture Monday 16 May at 15:55 on SuperSport Variety 4.