Historic Overview – Paarl Boishaai vs Grey College

The Premier Interschools 2021 season gets underway with a cracker of a match on Saturday 8 May. Paarl Boys’ High welcomes one of their most fierce rivals, Grey College from Bloemfontein. The last decade has seen these two sides challenge each other for the number one spot in South Africa.

Paarl Boys’ High (1868) and Grey College (1855) are among the oldest schools in South Africa with both having a rich rugby history, heritage, and tradition. They first played each other in 1950 and did not have a regular fixture every year due to the distance between the schools. Grey and Paarl Boys’, also known as Boishaai, played each other 21 times between 1950 and 1995, and since then it became an annual fixture. In total, they have played 45 matches with Grey having won 34, Boishaai 9, and 2 draws.

It is however over the last ten years that the hosts have been much more competitive with their Bloemfontein counterparts, than in previous years, having recorded 4 of their 9 overall wins since 1950 during this time. There has also been one draw during this period. 

Scores Through The Years

Grey will be hoping to set the record straight following an early-season loss to Boishaai’s neighbors, Paarl Gim. The teams did not have much game time before the season kicked off due to the restrictions around the Covid pandemic, but the Bloemfontein outfit looked better with each match they played.

Grey College season so far:

Like most schoolboy rugby teams, Boishaai is a bit rusty following no game time during the 2020 season and are still finding their form in the 2021 season. They have yet to select the same starting 15 as injuries have hampered their backline but come Saturday the boys should be ready for the visitors from Bloemfontein. Just like Grey, they have only played 3 games so far in the holiday festivals and have recorded wins in all three encounters.

Paarl Boys High season so far:

Rugby at Grey College

Grey has served Bloemfontein, the Free State, South Africa and the world well over the past 150 years. Having been able to adjust and remain relevant in a changing environment, Grey has developed, grown, and excelled. The brand is known and revered throughout South Africa and even internationally with products of the school making a positive difference the world over. 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.

Grey has produced 46 Springbok rugby players. Since World War II it has produced more Springbok players than any other school in South Africa, their latest being centre Francois Venter.

List of Grey Springboks:

Rugby at Paarl Boys’ High School

Rugby is an integral part of the Boishaai way of life. It is important to win, but that is not the primary objective. 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.

Boishaai 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 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, 8 May from 13:55 on Channel 211.

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Hannes Nienaber

Hannes Nienaber covered schools' rugby in South Africa for Volksblad, Beeld, and Rapport for 11 years. He also created the biggest school rugby website in South Africa - School of Rugby - back in 2007. It eventually morphed into Supersport Schools Plus. He still occasionally milks cows.

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