Historic Overview – Paarl Gimnasium vs Paarl Boys’ High

This coming Saturday Premier Interschools hosts one of the biggest, if not the biggest, derby matches in schoolboy rugby.Paarl Boys’ High versus Paarl Gimnasium. The Galpille against the Bloedworse, South vs North.

This is the time of year when the town of Paarl is divided into two camps for a whole week. A Rivalry that has existed for more than 100 years culminates in the main rugby match between the two schools at the Faure Street Stadium at 15h55 on the Saturday.

The first match was played in 1915 when masters, schoolboys and old boys all played together. This was the format up to 1927 after which it was decided that the Interschools matches should only comprise of schoolboys. The current format as we know today started officially in 1929.

The Interschools was only interrupted for one year in 1928 when for some reason lost in the midst of time, the derby did not take place.

The intensity of this derby is reflected in the average winning margin in over 100 games of only 5 points. There are no easily won Interschools games. Each point gained is precious and defence is usually rock solid. There have been 11 drawn matches and three of them ended in a 0-0 draw, the last one in 1986. This shows the commitment and pressure that can build in these games.

During the week there will be functions and re-union get togethers with old friends and foes reminiscing about the days gone by. The first battle on the rugby field is fired on the Wednesday evening as the two Old Boy teams lock horns in what can only be described as a friendly but fierce game.

Thursday afternoon sees the “Goffels” and “Hommels” (G and H teams) play their own unique brand of rugby before Friday morning when it kicks into the business end of the weekend. This is the time when the two schools have their Big Brags in the school hall.

Here the Rugby and Hockey warriors that will represent their respective teams on the Saturday are introduced and the first teams get capped for Interschools.

Friday afternoon it is off to the rugby fields of the host schools to watch all the rugby games The two big matches on the Friday afternoon is the u/14A match and the “main” match of the day is the rugby game between the school’s third teams, known among the locals as the “Chiefs” vs “Chippies”.

There are only 4 rugby matches played on the Saturday at Faure Street Stadium. The games usually start around 12h00 with the u15A match, followed by the u16A, the Seccies and then the main match commencing at 16h00.

History – Paarl Boys’ High vs Paarl Gimnasium 

Paarl Boys’ High’s 2019 Season:

The 2019 team started a bit tentatively and at first looked like they are struggling to find their rhythm. In a 20 minute a side match at Newlands they lost 5-0 to Paul Roos and then had a draw against Helmekaar at the North vs South tournament. They managed to come back from behind and clinch a last minute win against Monnas at the same tournament before they seem to start hitting their straps at Wildeklawer tournament.

Here they had good wins against Glenwood and Affies and kept building and playing better. Against Grey College they were in front at halftime, but a sudden collapse in concentration together with a Grey resurgence in the second half took the game away from them. They bounced back against Paul Roos the next week and since then they have been steadily getting to top form for their greatest test to date.

The players were also rewarded for their good form and No 8 Gideon van Wyk, Flyhalf Kian Meadon and centre Tyler Bocks all got SA Schools colours while prop Rynhardt Rijnburger, centre Quan Horn and fullback Jacques Rossouw all got chosen for the SA Schools A team.

Results to date:

Paarl Gimnasium’s 2019 Season:

Paarl Gimnasium is looking ominous this year and have been racking up the points against their opponents. Their only hiccup came against a strong Grey College at Wildeklawer in May, but before that and since that game, they have been wiping the floor with all and sundry, except Outeniqua who gave them a run for their money.

As a unit they have been playing very well and even a couple of injuries did not deter their flow.

Scrumhalf Dylan (Bobby) Alexander has been awarded his SA Schools colours while livewire flanker Pierich Siebert and lock Marco van Rhyn was picked for the SA Schools A team.

Results to Date: 

Rugby at Paarl Gimnasium

Paarl Gim is without a doubt one of the Big Five rugby schools in South Africa. They have to date produced 24 Springboks of which 22 have been capped in tests for South Africa, the latest being Louis Schreuder.

Rugby started at the school in 1902 and in the early years no strict age groups were defined and the school operated as a rugby club, the staff frequently turned out in the colours of the school. The headmaster back then, FC Wahl also captained the school’s 1st XV.

Springboks from Paarl Gimnasium: 

Japie le Roux (1906), Pietie le Roux (1906), Steve Joubert (1906), Pierre de Villiers (1928), JC van der Westhuizen (1928), Jan Pickard (1953), Hugo van Zyl (1958), Wynand Mans (1965), Schalk Burger sr. (1984), Kobus Burger (1989), Kobus Wiese (1993), Balie Swart (1993), Mornay Visser (1995), Pieter Rossouw (1997), De Wet Barry (2000), Louis Koen (2000), Chris Rossouw (2000), Marius Joubert (2001), Jean de Villiers (2002), Schalk Burger jr. (2003), Ashley Johnson (2011), Lourens Adriaanse (2013), Handré Pollard (2014), Louis Schreuder (2017).

Rugby at Paarl Boys’ High:

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 of which 19 have been capped for tests. 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. Their latest contribution is prop Thomas du Toit, captain of the 2013 1st XV.

Springboks from Paarl Boys’ High: 

Dirkie de Villiers (1906), Cocky Hahn (1910), Louis Louw, Champion Myburgh, Jack Bester (1924), Boy Louw (1928), Fanie Louw (1933), Manie Geere (1933), Johnny Bester, Ben du Toit (1938), Ryk van Schoor, Theuns Briers (1955), Piet du Toit (1958), Mannetjies Roux (1960), Haas Schoeman (1963), Carel du Plessis (1982), Wium Basson, Corné Krige (1999), Gurthro Steenkamp (2004), Frans Malherbe (2013), Thomas du Toit (2018).

Paarl Boys’ High Springboks

Legendary “Oom” Boy Louw and Carel du Plessis also coached the Springboks. Corné Krige is still the only SA Schools captain who went on to captain the Springboks as well.

The game will be broadcast live on Saturday 3 August on SuperSport Ten from 15h55

• About
• Latest Posts

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.

Latest posts by Hannes Nienaber (see all)

• Wynberg and Affies bag resounding victories on Day 2 of Peninsula Festival - 2025-01-09
• Seymore leads Paul Roos from the front at Peninsula Festival - 2025-01-08
• Khan and Roth gets SACS off to a good start at Peninsula Festival - 2025-01-08