Everything you need to know about the 2025 Hibbert Shield
The annual Hibbert Shield Hockey Tournament, sponsored by Standard Bank, is considered to be the pinnacle of schoolboy hockey in South Africa.
The 2025 event, which is hosted by Grey High School, in Gqeberha, runs from Wednesday, 30 April, to Saturday, 3 May.
Many of the country’s leading teams will be in attendance, knowing that success at the Hibbert Shield will include them in the conversation about the best sides in the country.
All the action will be LIVE on the SuperSport Schools App and DSTV Channel 216.
For results and match reports, follow SuperSport Schools Plus Hockey.
With only a week to go before the tournament, SuperSport Schools Plus hockey writer Avuyile Sawula looks at everything you need to know about the event, taking a deep dive into the history of the tournament, the fixtures, venues, teams in action, and past winners.
HISTORY
The Hibbert Shield was established by Grey High School to give some of the country’s top teams an opportunity for game time and competitive play.
Named after the Hibbert family, it began in 2019 with just six teams: Michaelhouse, Selborne College, Grey High, Paul Roos Gimnasium, Bishops [Diocesan College] and Hoërskool Garsfontein.
The inaugural tournament was won by Paul Roos, who defeated Bishops 4-2 in the final.
Play was halted the following year due to the Covid-19 pandemic, and the tournament resumed in 2021.
The return of the event also came with a change to the lineup, with Pearson High School, Paul Roos, St Stithians College, Grey College, South African College High School (SACS), and Grey High competing for the title.
That year, Grey High claimed the title. Since then, in double-quick time, the tournament’s status has grown massively, with leading hockey-playing schools signing up to take part, and it has gone from strength to strength.
TEAMS IN ACTION
In 2024, only 12 teams were in action at the Hibbert Shield, but that number has increased to 16 sides for 2025. For hockey fans, it’s a must-watch. The event is stacked with teams that have already established themselves as among the best in the country this season.
The host province, the Eastern Cape, will be represented by Grey High, Pearson High, and East London’s Selborne College.
The Western Cape provides a strong list of challengers, including the defending champions, Paul Roos, who will be challenged by SACS, Paarl Gimnasium, Bishops, and newcomers, Parel Vallei High School.
KwaZulu-Natal will be represented by Westville Boys’ High, Clifton College, Maritzburg College, and Durban High School.
Gauteng, meanwhile, has three teams in action. Hoërskool Garsfontein, which falls under the Noordvaal region, made the semi-finals in 2024, and they return, along with St Stithians College and St Alban’s College, who will also be making their debut.
Grey College is the sole Free State representative.
NEW STRUCTURE
Unlike in previous years, where the teams that didn’t qualify for the playoffs were out of the running, this year’s edition will see the introduction of a bowl section.
This means the top eight teams will progress to the quarterfinals and battle it out for the Hibbert Shield while the bottom eight will pursue the Bowl.
VENUES FOR THE 2025 TOURNAMENT
Due to the tournament’s expansion from 12 to 16 teams, the Rectory AstroTurf, at Grey High, won’t be able to accommodate every match.
Other pool matches and knockout games will be played at the nearby Collegiate Girls’ High School AstroTurf.
PAST WINNERS
2019 – Paul Roos Gimnasium
2021 – Grey High School
2022 – South African College High School (SACS)
2023 – Paul Roos Gimnasium
2024 – Paul Roos Gimnasium
2024 FINAL STANDINGS
Paul Roos
SACS
Grey High
Hoërskool Garsfontein
Durban High School/Bishops Diocesan College (Joint fifth)
Westville Boys High/Paarl Gimnasium (Joint sixth)
Selborne College
Clifton College
St Stithians College
Pearson High
2025 FIXTURES
GROUPS
Pool A: SACS, St Alban’s College, Pearson High School, Grey College
Pool B: Paul Roos Gimnasium, Clifton College, Maritzburg College, Selborne College
Pool C: Grey High, Paarl Gimnasium, Westville Boys’ High, St Stithians College
Pool D: Durban High School, Bishops Diocesan College, Parel Vallei, Hoërskool Garsfontein
Wednesday, 30 April
@Grey High School
07:30 – SACS vs St Alban’s College
08:45 – Paul Roos vs Selborne College
10:15 – Grey High vs Paarl Gimnasium
11:30 – DHS vs Bishops
13:00 – Parell Vallei vs Garsfontein
14:15 – Westville vs St Stithians College
15:45 – SACS vs Pearson
17:00 – Paul Roos vs Clifton College
19:00 – Grey High vs St Stithians College
@Collegiate AstroTurf
09:00 – Grey College vs Pearson
10:15 – Maritzburg College vs Clifton College
18:15 – DHS vs Garsfontein
Thursday, 1 May 2025
@Grey High School
07:30 – Selborne College vs Clifton College
08:45 – SACS vs Grey College
10:15 – Paul Roos vs Maritzburg College
11:30 – Bishops vs Garsfontein
13:00 – DHS vs Parel Vallei
14:15 – Grey High vs Westville
15:45 – St Alban’s College vs Grey College
17:00 – Selborne College vs Maritzburg College
18:30 – Bishops vs Parel Vallei
@Collegiate AstroTurf
08:00 – Paarl Gimnasium vs Westville
09:45 – Pearson High vs St Alban’s College
14:00 – Paarl Gimnasium vs St Stithians College
Friday, 2 May 2025
@Grey High School
07:30 – 1st Pool A vs 2nd Pool D
08:45 – 1st Pool B vs 2nd Pool C
10:15 – 2nd Pool A vs 1st Pool D
11:30 – 2nd Pool B vs 1st Pool C
15:00 – Loser of quarterfinal 1
16:15 – Loser of quarterfinal 2
17:45 – Semifinal 1
19:00 – Semifinal 2
@Collegiate AstroTurf
07:30 – 3rd Pool A vs 4th Pool D
08:45 -3rd Pool B vs 4th Pool C
10:15 – 4th Pool A vs 3rd Pool D
11:30 – 4th Pool B vs 3rd Pool C
15:00 – Loser 3rd Pool A/4th Pool D vs Loser 3rd Pool B vs 4th Pool C
16:15 – Loser 4th Pool A vs 3rd Pool D vs Loser 4th Pool B vs 3rd Pool C
17:45 – Winner 3rd Pool A/4th Pool D vs Winner 3rd Pool B vs 4th Pool C
19:00 -Winner 4th Pool A vs 3rd Pool D vs Winner 4th Pool B vs 3rd Pool C
Saturday, 3 May
@Grey High School
07:30 – 13th Place vs 14th Place
08:45 – 11th Place vs 12th Place
11:30 – 5th Place vs 6th Place
13:00 – Bowl Final
14:15 – 3rd/4th Play-off match
15:45 – u14 Final
17:00 – u16 Final
19:00 – Final
@Collegiate AstroTurf
10:15 -15th Place vs 16th Place
