Kearsney Night Series set to take KZN water polo to the next level
The KwaZulu-Natal u19 boys’ age group has progressed rapidly over the past three years, and the province has asserted its status as one of the country’s water polo powerhouses.
In last year’s Inter-Provincial Tournament, the boys in black and white claimed a bronze medal. In 2024, they finished in second place, missing out to Central Gauteng A in the final after beating them in a pool stage match.
KZN isn’t far from winning an IPT title, and there is little gap between them, Gauteng, and Western Province.
To help improve the KZN game even more, though, Kearsney College, Durban High School (DHS), Hilton College, Maritzburg College, Westville Boys’ High, and Northwood, have launched a league of their own.
With a format echoing the SACS Nite Series, the weekly Kearsney Night Series will run from 20 January to 25 February, with the six teams battling it out for the title of inaugural champion.
It’s a water polo crusade that will bring high-level competition and benefit the region, said Kearsney head coach Nicholas Rodda.
“We were considering attending another tournament in the first term, but last year we played only five fixtures before heading to the KES Water Polo Tournament, which really put us at a disadvantage,” he told SuperSport Schools Plus.
“Some schools arrived having already played 15 or more games. With limited space in the established tournaments, like Vides and the SAC Shield, we decided to create our own series right here in KZN to give our teams, and others in the region, more regular, high-level competition.”
Coach Rodda added that the ability to play competitive matches weekly is vital for the development of the teams. “It’s crucial,” he reckoned. “Playing competitive games on a consistent, week-to-week basis allows teams to keep improving steadily and build momentum.
“It gives us more time to prepare properly for big events. While tournaments are great for intensity, the rising costs of travel and the amount of school time lost are becoming real challenges, so a local league format like this is a smart, sustainable way forward.”
The SACS Nite Series, which also features six teams, has been running in the Western Cape for many years, and Rodda believes it has hugely benefitted those schools – SACS, Bishops, Rondebosch, Reddam House Constantia, Paul Roos Gimnasium, and Wynberg Boys’ High.
“Cape Town schools (through the SACS Nite Series) have long had the advantage of [playing] far more competitive games, which keep them ahead,” he explained.
“KZN has needed something similar for a while to help us catch up, and this is a great first step toward closing that gap and raising the standard across the board.”
After winning the 2024 Saints Invitational Water Polo Tournament, Kearsney produced another strong season in 2025, and they’ll be aiming to build on the foundations already laid. Winning the inaugural event is one of their goals, but coach Rodda and his troops aren’t looking too far ahead.
“We’re hosting [the event] after a really solid season last year and facing strong local KZN teams while missing a couple, like Clifton and Michaelhouse, who couldn’t participate.
“Of course, we’d love to lift the trophy as hosts. But more importantly, this is about getting valuable game time under our belts, sharpening our squad, and building the best possible preparation for the bigger challenge at the KES Tournament in just six weeks.”
FIXTURES
Round 1
16:30 – Hilton College vs Maritzburg College
17:20 – Kearsney College vs Durban High School
18:10 – Northwood School vs Westville Boys’ High
