Paarl Interschools to headline this Saturday’s King Price Derby Series clashes
The Paarl Derby, part of the King Price Derby Series, kicks off at 16:00 this Saturday at the Faure Street Stadium, where more than 25 000 spectators will take their seats.
Paarl Gimnasium, ranked South Africa’s top school side in 2025 so far, will look to extend their unbeaten run to 18 matches. Their rivals, Paarl Boys’ High, beaten only once this season, aim to upset the hosts after last year’s 8-30 loss.
Historically, the derby has been fiercely contested, with eight of the last nine clashes decided by five points or fewer.
“The process in getting the team ready for Saturday’s clash has started at the beginning of the season. We try to keep our routine the same as the one we used throughout the season. Also, to keep the emotion in place during the week, as there will be enough of that on Saturday. The focus of the team will be to play for each other and fulfill their individual roles,” said Pieter Rossouw, head of rugby of Paarl Gimnasium.
Gim captain Markus Muller, compared to a young Danie Gerber, leads a potent backline supported by SA Schools’ eighthman Quintin Potgieter. Boishaai counters with powerhouse prop Jordan Jooste and elusive fullback Mark Grindlay. With talent across the park and intense local pride, the stage is set for another classic battle in one of South Africa’s most iconic schoolboy rugby rivalries.
“It is Interschools in Paarl. The town is even prettier this week than usual. Blue and Green all over the place, of course, a bit bluer,” said Sean Erasmus, head coach of Boishaai.
This year’s interschools clash will be the 106th between these two powerhouses. Gim has been on the winning side 52 times, Boishaai coming out on top 42 times with 11 encounters ending in a draw.
“The highlight for me is naturally the game on Saturday. But it is also the build-up throughout the week between the three schools. The involvement of the parents, old boys and the town which makes this Interschools a very special occasion,” said Rossouw.
This weekend will also host a special 100th clash between Jeppe High School for Boys’ and King Edward VII’s Red Army at Collard Field in Johannesburg.
Jeppe won the earlier clash in the season by 37-28 but the Red Army has been marching on in the latter part of the season as they recorded victories over Rondebosch Boys’ High (20-17), Noordheuwel (23-22), Helpmekaar (23-21) and Pretoria Boys’ High (24-23).
KES has won 63 times since the first interschools back in 1935. Six matches ended in a draw, while Jeppe bagged 30 victories.
Grey College of Bloemfontein will travel down to Gqeberha to face their namesake, Grey High School, in their annual encounter. The team from Bloemfontein will arrive in the Eastern Cape as favourites for this King Price Derby Series encounter, but it is never easy on Kolisi Field.
In Pretoria the Afrikaanse Hoër Seunskool of Pretoria will look to continue their dominance against Waterkloof in their King Price Derby Series clash. Klofies’ last success against Affies was back in 2017.
Klofies will also travel to Affies with their talisman and eighthman, Marco Kok, ruled out with injury. The clash between him and Stefan McDonald was to be one of the highlights.
Affies’ SA Schools halfback pairing of Zirk Meyer and Ruben Groenewald (captain) will be the dangermen for their side.
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