Preview – St Stithian’s College Easter Festival 2017
The Easter Festival held by St Stithian’s College in Johannesburg is the oldest of all the rugby festivals over the Easter-weekend. Saints started their festival back in 1983 and no less than 33 international rugby players have taking part during the 34 years the festival has been running.
The first player to make his international debut was Brendan Cotterall who represented Zimbabwe at the Rugby World Cup in 1991. He played for Maritzburg College during 1985’s festival. Pieter Muller (Grey College, 1987), Gavin Johnson (Capricorn High, 1984), Lance Sherrell (St Stithian’s College, 1984), Ruben Kruger (Grey College, 1987), Russel Bennett (St Andrew’s College, 1990), Robbie Kempson (Queen’s College, 1990), Warren Brosnihan (Northlands Boys’ High, 1989), John Smit (Pretoria Boys’ High, 1994), Joe van Niekerk (King Edward VII, 1997), Bakkies Botha (HTS Middelburg, 1997), Hanyani Shimange (Rondebosch Boys’ High, 1995), Schalk Burger (Paarl Gimnasium, 2000), and Pierre Spies (Affies, 2003) are just a few of the Springboks who played at this Easter Festival over the years.
Other internationals like Michael Catt (England and Grey High School, 1988), Juan Grobler (USA and Kingswood College, 1992), Greg Somerville (New Zealand and Dale College, 1995), Steven Hall (France and Dale College, 1989/90), Andy Marinos (Wales and Northwood, 1990), Hal Luscombe (Wales and Bishops, 1998/99) and Brad Barritt (England and Kearsney College, 2004) also started making a name for themself on the rugby field during the festival.
The hosts will play Michaelhouse in the main match of this year’s Easter Festival on Saturday. Saints first match will be tomorrow against Graeme College and they will play Maritzburg College on Monday.
Grey High School of Port Elizabeth will play Westville Boys’ High of Durban in the main match of the first day. The clash between SACS and Michaelhouse on the opening day also promises to produces some fireworks.
St Andrews College of Grahamstown will only play in the first two days of the festival. They open up a great opportunity of Pretoria THS to show their worth on the final day. Pretoria THS will take on Graeme College on Monday which will be a very good test for them.
The fixtures:
Thursday, 13 April 2017
09:45 – St Andrew’s College vs. St David’s Marist
11:00 – St Benedict’s College vs. Maritzburg College
12:15 – St Alban’s College vs. Durban High School
13:30 – St Stithian’s College vs. Graeme College
14:45 – SACS vs. Michaelhouse
16:00 – Grey High School vs. Westville Boys’ High
Saturday, 15 April 2017
09:45 – St Alban’s College vs. Westville Boys’ High
11:00 – Graeme College vs. St David’s Marist
12:15 – SACS vs. Durban High School
13:30 – St Andrew’s College vs. St Benedict’s College
14:45 – Grey High School vs. Maritzburg College
16:30 – St Stithian’s College vs. Michaelhouse
Monday, 17 April 2017
08:45 – Graeme College vs. Pretoria THS
10:00 – Westville Boys’ High vs. St Benedict’s College
11:15 – Michaelhouse vs. St David’s Marist
12:30 – St Stithian’s College vs. Maritzburg College
13:45 – SACS vs. St Andrew’s College
15:00 – Grey High School vs. Durban High School
