International teams spice up Kearsney Easter Rugby Festival
Widely regarded as one of the country’s most entertaining and successful school rugby events, the Kearsney Easter Rugby Festival (KERF) returns this year with an impressive field of 28 participating teams, including international visitors from Europe and neighbouring Zimbabwe.
Now in its 17th year, the prestigious festival promises another thrilling showcase of top-level schoolboy rugby, while offering local spectators a unique glimpse into the school rugby styles of Ireland and Italy, which adds an exciting international dimension to the Easter weekend spectacle.
Touring teams from the Catholic University School (Dublin, Ireland), Verona Rugby (Northern Italy) and Peterhouse (Zimbabwe) will be joined by four strong local KwaZulu-Natal schools in the senior boys’ division – Durban High School (DHS), Westville Boys’ High, both top 10 teams in South Africa last year, Glenwood High, and the hosts, Kearsney College, who are a dark horse team that could be one to watch in 2026.
Included in the lineup are two tough Gauteng teams – Hoërskool Dr EG Jansen (Boksburg) and newcomers, Helpmekaar College (Braamfontein); as well as Hoërskool Rustenburg (North West); the Eastern Cape’s always-exciting Hoërskool Framesby (Gqeberha) and Milnerton High School (Cape Town).
The three playing days over Easter weekend are Thursday, 2 April, Saturday, 4 April, and Monday, 6 April.
Confirming the participating teams, Kearsney headmaster Patrick Lees said the success of the festival, which last year included three divisions for the first time, highlighted its invaluable role in the development of the country’s school rugby culture and growth since Kearsney’s inaugural festival in 2008.
He acknowledged the immense contribution of festival sponsors, whose invaluable support has enabled the event to grow each year.
Headline sponsor Standard Bank South Africa said their sponsorship of the festival highlighted their desire to support youth development.
“We recognise the powerful role that sport and education play in building character, confidence and unity. Through platforms like this festival, we are not only nurturing athletes, we are shaping responsible, resilient and inspired leaders for tomorrow,” said Tshiamo Molanda, Head of the Youth and Mass Market at Standard Bank’s personal and private banking division.
Carrie-Ann van Heerden, the Dealer Principal at first-tier sponsor, Halfway Ford Waterfall, said they were looking forward to another unforgettable KERF weekend, where families, friends and rugby enthusiasts can celebrate the game.
“There is nothing quite like the electric atmosphere at the festival – the roar of the crowd, the crunch of hard tackles, and the pride that rugby ignites in all of us,” she said.
Coenraad de Villiers, the High Performance Manager at The Sharks Academy, said he was impressed by the consistently high standard of rugby on display at KERF, adding that many of the players would go on to contribute meaningfully to the growth and success of rugby in the country.
Building on the success of an initiative at last year’s festival, four u16 girls’ teams will play during lunchtime slots. They are Mowat Park High, from Montclair, Grosvenor Girls’ High, from The Bluff, Inanda’s Ohlange High School, and Ogwini Comprehensive Technical High School, from Umlazi. The latter two teams boast five and six provincial rugby players, respectively.
Twelve primary school teams will also enjoy the excitement of playing festival rugby in front of large crowds.
Joining the touring Peterhouse u13 team, from Zimbabwe, will be local teams from Ashton Ballito, Atholl Heights Primary, Chelsea Prep, Highbury Prep, Hillcrest Primary, Kloof Senior Primary, Northlands Primary, Umhlali Prep, Westville Senior Primary, and Winston Park, as well as the KZN Ibutho Development side.
Teams travel with families and supporters to enjoy KERF’s spectacle of running rugby in a family-friendly festival atmosphere on Kearsney’s beautiful campus. Adding to the ambience, there will be a fun KidZone for the little ones, ample parking, as well as numerous food outlets and a refreshment tent to ensure spectators can fully enjoy the weekend’s sporting entertainment.
For those unable to attend the festival, games will be live-streamed on the SuperSport Schools app. Additional festival information, results, match reports, and action photographs will be available on www.kearsney.com during the festival.
To avoid the queues, tickets can be purchased online now, at Quicket.co.za
FIXTURES: STOTT FIELD
Day one, Thursday, 2 April
08:00 – Helpmekaar Kollege vs Glenwood High
09:20 – Framesby vs Peterhouse
10:40 – Westville Boys’ High vs Catholic University School (Ireland)
13:00 – Kearsney College vs Hoērskool Rustenburg
14:20 – Milnerton vs Dr EG Jansen
15:40 – Durban High School vs Verona Rugby (Italy)
Day two, Saturday, 4 April
08:00 – Peterhouse vs Milnerton
09:20 – Durban High School vs Hoērskool Rustenburg
10:40 – Verona Rugby (Italy) vs Dr EG Jansen
13:00 – Glenwood High vs Framesby
14:20 – Kearsney vs Catholic University School (Ireland)
15:40 – Westville Boys’ High vs Helpmekaar Kollege
Day three, Monday, 6 April
08:00 – Helpmekaar Kollege vs Framesby
09:20 – Glenwood High vs Dr EG Jansen
10:40 – Peterhouse vs Dr EG Jansen
12:50 – Closing ceremony
13:00 – Westville Boys’ High vs Milnerton
14:20 – Durban High School vs Catholic University School (Ireland)
15:40 – Kearsney vs Verona Rugby (Italy)
FIXTURES – GIRLS’ U16
Thursday, 2 April
12:00 – Ogwini Comprehensive Technical vs Grosvenor Girls, Stott
12:00 – Ohlange High vs Mowat Park High, Roberts
Saturday, 4 April
12:00 – Ogwini Comprehensive Technical vs Ohlage High, Stott
12:00 – Grosvenor Girls vs Mowat Park High, Roberts
Monday, 6 April
12:00 – Ogwini Comprehensive Technical vs Mowat Park High, Stott
12:00 – Grosvenor Girls vs Ohlange High, Roberts
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