It’s not just a four-day long Easter weekend with copious amounts of chocolate – there are FOUR Easter rugby school festivals to look forward to!
Easter festivals in Johannesburg and at Kearsney in KwaZulu-Natal should provide South Africa’s leading rugby schools – and a couple of dark horses – to make a statement.
KEARSNEY FESTIVAL
Durban High School (DHS) were the top side in KwaZulu-Natal last season, and have already won five matches on the trot this season.
Monument have blown hot and cold, but are coming off a 70-24 win against Jeppe.
The clash between the two sides on Saturday should be the best of the weekend.
Thursday, 17 April
Milnerton 34-18 Peterhouse (Zimbabwe)
Durbanville 66-22 Dale
DHS 41-7 Rustenburg
Kearsney 24-29 EG Jansen
Monument 26-26 Glenwood
Westville 31-0 Framesby
Saturday, 19 April
Rustenburg 26-22 Durbanville
Framesby 45-19 Peterhouse (Zimbabwe)
Glenwood 37-34 Milnerton
Westville 36-5 EG Jansen
Kearsney 34-13 Dale
DHS 32-17 Monument
Monday, 21 April
Monument vs Milnerton
Dale vs Glenwood
Framesby vs EG Jansen
DHS vs Durbanville
Rustenburg vs Westville
Kearsney vs Peterhouse (Zimbabwe)
KES FESTIVAL
The hosts will have plenty to prove, following their 102-0 defeat to Paarl Gym at the North-South tournament earlier this season.
That said, Rondebosch and Northwood will go into the games against KES as favourites.
Noordheuwel have held their own against some of the best in South Africa in recent months, losing to Paul Roos by seven points, Grey College by two and Garsfontein by six.
Saturday, 19 April
Northwood vs Pearson
Eldoraigne vs Hudson Park
Queen’s College vs Parktown
Affies vs Noordheuwel
Jeppe vs Selborne
KES vs Rondebosch
Monday, 21 April
Eldoraigne vs Pearson
Rondebosch vs Queen’s College
Affies vs Selborne
Parktown vs Hudson Park
Jeppe vs Noordheuwel
KES vs Northwood
ST JOHN’S FESTIVAL
SACS pushed Boland Landbou close last week, and will expect to pick up wins against St Davids and Voortrekker Bethlehem when they head to St Johns.
This year’s big teams in Houghton include Hilton, Pretoria Boys and Graeme College.
As the festival has evolved, so has the imperative of competition on all three playing days.
Although junior teams will compete on Easter Monday, the senior teams will not, St John’s having consulted widely to establish the appetite of back-to-back rugby.
Thursday, 17 April
Kingswood 41-21 Randburg
Graeme 21-10 Voortrekker Bethlehem
Maritzburg College 43-0 Golden Lions XV
SACS 28-3 St Davids
Nelspruit 34-31 Welkom Gym
Pretoria Boys’ 43-29 Diamantveld
St John’s 5-29 Hilton
Saturday, 19 April
Golden Lions XV 20-16 St Davids
Diamantveld 50-33 Welkom Gym
SACS 21-8 Voortrekker Bethlehem
Graeme 25-10 Pretoria Boys’
St John’s 33-24 Randburg
Hilton 33-16 Kingswood
Nelspruit 22-13 Maritzburg College
ST STITHIANS FESTIVAL
St Stithians will host the 41st edition of their festival.
The great gathering has taken on a life of its own since inception in 1984 and now includes several other sports, making it one of the largest school sport gatherings in South Africa.
If the players have as much energy as the organising committee, fans are in for a sumptuous treat.
Many Springboks have spoken of their experience at the Saints festival chiefly because it is always so enjoyable and unlike any other fixtures.
Two big Cape schools (Wynberg and Bishops) top the entries with Joburg team Helpmekaar always worth a side bet or two.
Thursday, 17 April
Hartpury College 2nd XV (England) 31-20 Rand Park
St Stithians 32-0 Clifton
St Andrew’s College 54-26 Northcliff
Michaelhouse 65-14 St John’s (Zimbabwe)
St Charles 38-22 Windhoek (Namibia)
Wynberg 19-10 Hartpury College (England)
Helpmekaar 38-12 Bishops
Saturday, 19 April
Mali Foundation 40-24 Hartpury College II (England)
Windhoek (Namibia) 32-10 Clifton
Northcliff 54-19 St Johns (Zimbabwe)
St Andrews 19-14 St Charles
Hartpury College (England) 19-14 Bishops
Helpmekaar 18-17 Wynberg
St Stithians 27-21 Michaelhouse
Are you a big Easter rugby festival fan?
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