Selborne defends “The Fortress” against Grey High in King Price Derby Series
Another chapter in nearly a century of schools’ rugby rivalry will unfold when Grey High steps onto Selborne College‘s “Fortress” in their King Price Derby Series showdown in East London, on Saturday.
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The annual derby, typical of many such events in South African schools’ sport, is set to culminate in a gripping finish when the 1st XVs square up to try to take one final positive from the 2025 season.
Since 1926, Grey High and Selborne have been going at it, and seldom does a match go past without a titanic struggle for supremacy.
Inevitably, there are the occasional fixtures where one of the sides has blown the other away, but an indication of how closely they are matched is reflected in their nine encounters since 2014, which have resulted in five wins for Grey and four victories for Selborne. In six of those matches, the winning margin was by six points or less.
Besides renewing old rivalries, it is also an opportunity for the winning side to take something from the season. Both have less than perfect records in 2025. However, whatever has happened before will be swept away in the glow of victory.
Grey High also has the incentive of scoring a rare win at the Fortress, a venue where they have not conquered Selborne since their outstanding season in 2014 when they won 20-18. That was also the year when they last beat Grey College.
The visitors will be well prepared for the match, having secured recent victories over Framesby and Muir, while going down to Grey College.
Now, they’ll be looking for a massive team effort to set up their dangerous backs by creating some space for their devastating runners, including fullback Meyer Prinsloo and wing Noah Mbizi.
Selborne, meanwhile, will be smarting after conceding close losses to Border rivals, Queen’s College and Dale College, in recent matches.
With their powerful prop Robert John-Osunkwo leading the way up front, they will want to set a platform to launch attacks deep into enemy territory.
If they can achieve that, then wing Iviwe Kabale looms a real threat to the visitors. He showed what he could do last week against Dale with two stunning tries and Grey know they will have to keep him and his backline colleagues under pressure throughout.
In Komani, Queen’s will be aiming to bounce back after a rare defeat against Graeme College last weekend. They host Cambridge. The visitors will know a huge challenge awaits them on the Rec Ground.
Buoyed by their win over Selborne last Saturday, Dale will be aiming to build on that when they tackle the tough Hudson Park outfit at The Graveyard, in Qonce.
But while there are positives to be taken, their coaches will remind them that this weekend will be a fresh start, and they will need to have their feet flat on the ground against one of the most competitive units in the Eastern Cape.
At Ooskus Gymnasium, the home side will also be tested when they entertain Stirling in a morning clash, starting at 11.20.
Selborne vs Grey since 2104
2014: Selborne 18-20 Grey
2015: Grey 18-22 Selborne
2016: Selborne 27-21 Grey
2017: Grey 59-22 Selborne
2018: Selborne 36-21 Grey
2019: Grey 23-17 Selborne
2020: Covid-19|
2021: Covid-19
2022: Grey 32-26 Selborne
2023: Selborne 12-10 Grey
2024: Grey 48-27 Selborne
Teams:
Selborne College vs Grey High School at 15:30 in East London
Selborne College: 15 Bungqina Nuku, 14 Samora Bushet, 13 Njongo Mbanga, 12 Aaron James, 11 Iviwe Kabale, 10 Samuel Jacobsen, 9 Aaron Senekal, 8 Uviwe Jikwana, 7 Dominic Stegmann, 6 Travis Enslin, 5 Luca Liebenberg, 4 Mbono Gqoboko, 3 Zothanda Mrara, 2 Liam Hansen, 1 Robert John-Osunkwo
Grey High: 15 Meyer Prinsloo, 14 Noah Mbizi, 13 Bradley Myburgh, 12 Ciaran Killian, 11 Michael Oosthuizen, 10 Ray-Dylan Wilkinson 9 Matthew Doster, 8 Sibonelo Stuurman, 7 Jean Nel, 6 Cody Wilmot, 5 Osvaldas Diedonis, 4 Riley Higgs, 3 Ross Atkinson, 2 Evan Mucka, 1 Silindezihle Ntshokoma.
Dale College vs Hudson Park High at 13:30 in Qonce
Dale College: 15 Inga Mafanga, 14 Yamkele Molose, 13 Phikolomzi Mtyalela, 12 Nxande Ngcaba, 11 Mahle Mehlomane, 10 Soso Dyani, 9 Onikwa Boniwe, 8 Kamva Sithole (captain), 7 Liyabona Mayikana, 6 Linamandla Peter, 5 Kungawo Jaca, 4 Ebenezer Sarpong, 3 Sanele Bistoli, 2 Lakhanya Mbewu, 1 Phawu Ludwaba.
Hudson Park: Hudson Park: 15 Mahle Zinto, 14 Bahlumile Mavuso, 13 Ukhona Kama, 12 Lunathi Dolo, 11 Masibulele Kwakwini, 10 Likho Gidi, 9 Landile Gidi, 8 Sibabalwe Mtshini, 7 Likhanye Mandila, 6 Phindokuhle Mdlalana, 5 Hlumelo Gobile, 4 Tenda Saunyama, 3 Tyrique Peters, 2 Kwakokuhle Pasha, 1 Manyano Mpundu.
Queen’s College vs Cambridge High at 14:30 in Komani
Queen’s College: 15 Mveli Mqolo, 14 Ayathanda Mtyando, 16 Thina Fenako, 12 Lithemba Maxegwana, 11 Joshua Jordaan, 10 Inganathi Mnunu, 9 Ayola Somhlahlo, 8 Acwenga Saul, 7 Sambesiwe Vetman, 6 Jeffrey Niland (captain), 5 Kaunda Billie, 4 Zeacke Mata, 3 Ahlume Gqetywa, 2 Bulumko Manqina, 1 Amyoli Ngxongwana.
Cambridge: to be confirmed.
Ooskus Gymnasium vs Stirling High at 11:20 in East London
Ooskus Gym: 15 Chivago Petrus, 14 Xavier Smith, 13 Stefan de Jager, 12 Kwagga Liebenberg, Sabian Rieck, 11 Josh du Plessis, 10 Jaun Nel, 9 Ethan Jansen, 8 Roussouw Nel, 7 Tiaan Frazer, 6 Cole van der Merwe, 5 De Wet Thiart, 4 Eben Viljoen, 3 Leon Muller, 2 Bruwer Smit 1 Zander Brink.
Stirling: to be confirmed.
