My Youth Rugby

Independent Prep Schools Rugby Festival 2025 : Day 1 Results

St Andrew's 5 vs The Ridge 55
Kingswood 32 vs St Stithians 47
Graeme 19 vs Waterkloof House 19

Bishops Rugby, Building Towards a Bright Future

Bishops Rugby stands at a crossroads in its proud and illustrious journey. While recent seasons have brought their share of challenges, there’s a growing sense that something important is being rebuilt, not just for the present, but for the years to come.

For decades, Bishops has been a beacon of running rugby in South Africa. The Piley Rees field has seen some of the country’s finest schoolboy talents flourish, many of whom went on to don the green and gold. With that legacy comes expectation, expectation that’s been hard to meet in recent times, as the scoreboard hasn’t always reflected the effort and intent shown by the boys in blue.

There’s no denying that victories have been hard-earned this season. A newly introduced playing system aimed at strengthening Bishops’ identity has yet to find full traction, but it represents a step in the right direction, a commitment to evolution rather than stagnation. The style remains expansive and courageous, and while ex*****on hasn’t always matched ambition, the foundation is being laid.

It’s important to remember that Bishops competes in arguably the most competitive schoolboy rugby environment in the country. The Southern Suburbs derbies are intense, but it is the showdowns with the Winelands giants, some of whom resemble fully-fledged academies, that stretch every team to their limit. Within this tough arena, Bishops continues to fight, often punching above its weight.

Coaching at Bishops draws deeply from the club rugby tradition, particularly UCT, whose DNA matches the school’s commitment to flair and creativity. Still, the challenges are real, a small group of dedicated coaches shoulders much of the load, with limited involvement from full-time teaching staff. With the game evolving rapidly, fueled by data, analytics, and high-performance infrastructure, Bishops recognises the need to strengthen its systems. Recruitment, conditioning, and planning are already high on the agenda for 2025.

Rugby is, above all, a physical game, and to compete safely and confidently, players need access to the right facilities, coaching, and conditioning resources. Bishops is investing in these areas, knowing that development off the field is just as crucial as performance on it.

Equally important, however, is that rugby remains fun. Tours, festivals, and time spent together off the field help build strong team culture and lifelong friendships. These experiences are where values like camaraderie, resilience, and school pride are forged, and Bishops remains committed to creating more of these moments for its players.

In true Bishops tradition, players still run out without numbers on their jerseys, a small but powerful symbol of the school’s ethos, humility, unity, and team above self.

To support this vision, a special rugby development fund has been created. Spearheaded by Old Boys, parents and well known members of the school community working alongside the HPRC, ODU, and BRSC, the Bishops Rugby Development Fund (BRDF) was established to channel resources directly into the game’s future at the school.

It’s a tangible sign that the broader Bishops community still believes in the power and promise of its rugby tradition.

The fund operates within the school’s banking system and provides donors with Section 18A tax certificates, ensuring transparency and impact.

Importantly, the Bishops School Executive has expressed its support for the HPRC and the direction it is taking. This alignment between leadership and those on the ground reflects a shared vision for the future of rugby at Bishops.

There are many views on why recent years have been tough. Some cite COVID-19’s disruption to momentum and development. Others feel rugby may have lost some institutional priority. But most agree on one thing, Bishops Rugby will rise again.

The energy is there. The support is growing. And the belief, both on and off the field, remains unshaken.

As the saying goes, “Tough times never last, but tough people do.” With renewed structure, clear intent, and a deep respect for its heritage, Bishops Rugby is not just holding on, it’s preparing to climb.

The next chapter is already being written, and it promises to hopefully be something special.

Markotter A field:
The Paul Roos Rugby Festival is all about more than just results — it's about opportunity, growth and the love of the game.

This festival gives lesser-known schools the chance to step into the spotlight, testing themselves against some of the biggest names in South African school rugby. With many lower sides from powerhouse schools up against first teams from smaller schools, it’s a real test of depth, skill, and heart.

But above all, it's about having fun, making friends, and playing great rugby in one of the most beautiful rugby settings in the country — Stellenbosch!

Monday 28th:

8:00 Paarl Boys 5ths 22 vs Curro Windhoek 2nds 0.

9:15 Paarl Boys 4ths 64 vs Jan Van Riebeek 1sts 22.

10:30 Stellenberg 3rds vs Drostdy 3rds

11:45 Daniel Pienaar 1sts vs Brackenfell 1st

13:00 Stellenberg 4ths vs Drostdy 4ths
14:15 Fish Hoek 1sts vs WAP 1sts

15:30 Tygerberg 1sts vs Curro Windhoek 1sts

16:45 Stellenbosch HS 1sts vs Durbanville 3rds

18:00 Paul Roos 4ths vs Tygerberg 2nds

19:15 Durbanville 2nds vs Paul Roos 3rds

In keeping with tradition, an independent panel of rugby selectors has chosen the Festival Team. Well done to the following boys on their brilliant performances over :
1. Eli Pedro (Durbanville)
2. Okuhle Mbanjwa (DHS)
3. Jo-seph Udo-Idung (DHS)
4. Vimbiso Kasvosve (DHS)
5. Lwandile Mlaba (Westville)
6. Briint Davids (Milnerton)
7. Sambesiwe Ndamase (Glenwood)
8. Nhlanhla Ndlovu (Kearsney)
9. Mondre van Heerden (Framesby)
10. Chadwin Sellidon (Milnerton)
11. Ruan Genip (Monument)
12. Zingce Simka (DHS)
13. Andrew Maringa (Peterhouse)
14. Zenkosi Mthiyane (DHS)
15. Zekethelo Siyaya (Westville Boys)

Best Forward Player: Briint Davids (Milnerton High)
Best Backline Player: Zekethelo Siyaya (Westville Boys' High School)

Congrats SA Women's Rugby 🥳
Spain never saw you coming. From start to finish, the Springboks Women showed heart, hustle, and pure Mzansi power ✊ We don’t just play, we dominate! 🇿🇦🏉

The Springbok Women will take on Canada in curtain-raisers when the Springboks host Italy at Loftus Versfeld and Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium on 5 and 12 July..

Last day in Stellenbosch

The Hermanus first team rugby boys gave it their all at the 2025 Hoër Landbouskool Oakdale Rugby Week!

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Hermanus 18 - Sentraal 20

Oranje begins home season vs Top Pretoria schools

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