SACS rugby aims to level up in 2026
Turning back the clock to August 2025, the SACS 1st XV trailed Bishops 6-18 in a southern suburbs’ derby early in the second half. A rain-soaked Memorial A Field was covered in mud, but SACS had plenty of fight left, and they kept pressing until the final whistle.
In a remarkable finish, they scored two tries in the last minute of the game to grab a morale-boosting draw.
This year, their squad reveals no significant additions from outside. SACS is trusting in home-grown talent to deliver in 2026.
There has, however, been a change in the coaching department, Graeme Wepener, the SACS 1st XV manager, told SuperSport Schools Plus: “We have appointed a new Head Coach, Kofi Appiah. He was previously an assistant coach for the Rondebosch Boys’ High 1st XV and is currently an assistant coach of the UCT Young Guns.
“Our previous 1st XV coach, Nick Maurer, stays on as the Teacher in Charge and will coach defence, while Josh Strauss will again take over coaching the forwards, as he did in 2022/23.”
Wepener also touched on the make-up of the squad: “We were very matric-heavy in 2025. Out of the Grade 11 boys, tighthead prop Qiraan Hermans (Western Province Grant Khomo in 2024) was a regular starter last year. Lock Cameron Hirst also has a good number of caps. Prop/Lock RJ Cunningham finished the season strongly, while Rob Boyes (flyhalf), Dayyaan Conrad (centre – Western Province Grant Khomo 2024), Josh Gorgens (wing) and Stephan Kruger (lock) accumulated caps throughout the season.”
Optimism comes in the shape of last year’s u16 players, who should provide the SACS squad with a big boost. “Our incoming Grade 11s had a good u16A season, with six of them representing the WP Grant Khomo team, namely Nahum Koen (fullback), Luca Orgill and James Sale (both centres), Jake Dave (flyhalf), Jordan Forbes (scrumhalf) and Luca Liebenberg (loosehead prop). In addition, two boys made the WP Grant Khomo XV, in Deen Fortuin (tighthead prop) and Joshua Philander (lock). The six WP Grant Khomo starters should all stand a good chance of doing the same for the 2026 SACS 1st XV.”
South Africa’s oldest school also features a player whose father sports an international sporting pedigree; Wepener spoke highly of Luke McKenzie, who might slot into Mikey Skeeles’ role as an explosive outside centre: “Outside centre/wing Luke McKenzie was injured all of last season, but should be in the squad for the 2026 season. His dad, Neil, played cricket for the Proteas.”
Head Coach Kofi Appiah shared his ambitions for the 2026 season, outlining some cornerstones of the SACS approach: “We aim to play with respect, discipline, hard work and creativity, to develop a brand of rugby that becomes synonymous with SACS over the next few years.
“We want to inspire the next generation of SACS Rugby players by creating an atmosphere of enjoyment around our school and community.
“We aim to be more competitive against our southern suburbs ‘rivals’, as well as against more fancied schools from the Paarl and Stellenbosch areas. We are not chasing individual accolades. However, should we get any provincial representatives from our team, that will be a bonus.”
Coach Appiah also said playing in festivals and derby fixtures will help the team grow: “Our six southern suburbs derby weekends are always a highlight.
“Over Easter, we are attending the Pretoria Boys High 125 Festival, where we play the hosts in the main game, followed by Maritzburg College, on Easter Monday.
“We also play Selborne College and Kearsney College at the Grey High Festival in May. Those four fixtures against traditional boys’ schools will be amazing opportunities for the boys.”
With young blood being thrown into the mix, SACS could face growing pains while the players adapt to the new approach adopted by management. They won’t, however, be hamstrung by a lack of talent, which makes the SACS 1st XV a team with intriguing potential and one on which to keep an eye.
In 2026, will the 1st XV, when put to the test, be able to claw its way out of the mud? Like they did against Bishops in 2025?
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