It’s Jeppe versus KES for the 100th time
King Edward VII School (KES) visits Jeppe High School for Boys in Johannesburg on Saturday for a blockbuster King Price Derby Series clash in which the already high stakes have been turned up even higher, with their showdown being the 100th meeting between the schools’ 1st XVs.
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They first played in 1935 and the historic record favours KES, who built up a big advantage during the ’70s, ’80s, and ’90s. However, in recent years, it’s been more a case of tit-for-tat, with the last 10 matches being split evenly – five wins each.
Earlier this season, it was Jeppe who triumphed, winning 35-28 away from home. They’ll be boosted by the friendly confines of Collard Field on Saturday, but playing at home is not a guarantee of victory. Last season, KES won 38-28 at Jeppe, but Jeppe returned the favour, winning 23-13 at KES.
Both teams made spluttering starts to the 2025 season, but both have, undoubtedly, taken major steps forwards in the latter part of their campaigns.
Jeppe’s record sits at an even eight wins and eight defeats, but they’ve played one of the tougher schedules in the country, including facing Durban High School (DHS), Affies, Oakdale, Northwood, Noordheuwel, Grey College, Rondebosch, and Garsfontein. Those are all upper tier teams, and it was only against Northwood that Jeppe came away with a win.
KES has a record of seven wins and seven losses, also 50/50. They’ll be boosted by their most recent outing, against Pretoria Boys High, a team that had beaten the Red Army earlier in the year. In their second meeting, KES staged a late fightback to claim a come-from-behind 24-23 win, the kind of victory that builds belief and strengthens bonds.
KES features a Golden Lions‘ Craven Week duo in their loose trio, captain Sam Bruwer and 8th-man Chinedu Amadi, a powerful ball carrier who will ask lots of questions of Jeppe’s defenders around the fringes of the rucks and mauls.
Jeppe will, meanwhile, be very happy to welcome back two of their stars who were missing from the 10-24 loss to DHS last Saturday.
SA Schools A front-ranker André Poulton will bring his power game to bear, while in the midfield the dangerous Lindelani Nkambule, who ran out for the Golden Lions at the FNB Craven Week, adds his shifty moves and speed to Jeppe’s arsenal.
There’ll be an interesting battle within the war between Jeppe captain and scrumhalf Talent Sithole, who was also included in the Golden Lions’ side, and Regan McGurk, who represented the Golden Lions’ Academy team but was a member of the Craven Week side in 2024. He would like nothing more than to make a statement by bossing his battle with Sithole.
It won’t, though, be about the stars making plays. They may have their place, but it’s going to be about a 15-man or even a 23-man effort, plus the impact of the support, that will carry one of the rivals to a meaningful win.
As is so often the case with big matches, playing the game and not the occasion is going to be crucial. The team that is better able to focus on the task in front of them will have an advantage. It won’t be easy on such a momentous occasion, but cool heads and accurate execution will go a long way towards securing victory.
It’s going to be a cold day on the Highveld, but the action alongside and on the field is going to be hot.
Teams:
Jeppe High School for Boys vs King Edward VII School on Collard Field in Johannesburg at 14:00
Jeppe High School for Boys: 15 Dalitso Milanzi, 14 Ndimphiwe Mjiji, 13 Lindelani Nkambule, 12 Phano Letsie, 11 Lethabo Mashao, 10 Nehemia Holenbach, 9 Talent Sithole, 8 Mihle Dyakala, 7 Grady Ngui, 6 Kuhle Shitlangu, 5 Glodi Tshipamba, 4 Lagan Leisher, 3 Andre Poulton, 2 Ayanda Funeka, 1 Joshua Hamman.
King Edward VII School: 15 Indibabele Mboniswa, 14 Jarell Mbuyi, 13 Sky Segal, 12 Sam Smith, 11 Junior Shivuri, 10 Andrew Jackson, 9 Regan McGurk, 8 Chinedu Amadi, 7 Sam Bruwer (c), 6 Nkosen’hle Mafu, 5 Ashton Vreugdenburg, 4 Michael Bownes, 3 Kenneth Prins, 2 Tristan Randall, 1 Siya Nkomo.
