The third edition of Premier Interschools takes place in Port Elizabeth for the derby between Grey High School and Paul Roos Gimnasium on Saturday, 6th May 2017 at 14:00.
If one is looking for traditional schools running rugby, look no further than these two teams. Both are renowned for their love of running back at opposition and creating opportunities for their wingers to score. This interschool has produced some scintillating rugby the last few years none other as exciting as the 2014 version when Grey came back from being 21 points down to win the game in the dying seconds. The instigator of that comeback was a young Curwin Bosch, now plying his trade with the Sharks Super Rugby franchise.
Paul Roos has had the better of the results over the last two years with Grey dominating for three years before that.
Previous 5 Years Results (Year: Paul Roos – Grey High):
2012: 19 – 23
2013: 18 – 23
2014: 26 – 27
2015: 34 – 3
2016: 34 – 21
The school from Port Elizabeth is still unbeaten in 2017, having drawn their first match with Marlow Landbou and then running in comfortable winners against the rest of their opposition. The Grey High team once again has some exciting talent. Look out for hard running fullback Sihle Njezula, winger Uan Tait who is an excellent finisher and multi-talented sportsman LJ Du Preez at flyhalf. They have two very mobile locks in Laken Grey and Gerik Rautenbach who together with the rest of the pack form a very balanced set of forwards. Strong scrummaging props and roaming loose forwards.
Grey High Results to Date Date: Opposition – Result – For – Against:
2017/03/25: Marlow Landbou – Draw – 11 – 11
2017/04/13: Westville Boys’ High – Win – 27 – 8
2017/04/15: Maritzburg College – Win – 27 – 19
2017/04/17: Durban High School – Win – 50 – 17
2017/04/27: Jeppe High School for Boys – Win – 36 – 22
2017/04/29: Parktown Boys’ High – Win – 52 – 0
Paul Roos Gimnasium started in similar style and won their first four matches of the season on a trot. They then lost in the dying seconds to a very good Paarl Gimnasium side only to bounce back at Wildeklawer and clinch a tough match against Affies.
They then surprised all and sundry by losing to Waterkloof in their second match at Wildeklawer in Kimberley. Expect them to come back hard in the Grey match as they won’t accept two defeats in a row.
They did have a slightly tougher schedule so far than their opponents and that might just give them the edge in a close affair.
Players to watch out for in the Paul Roos team is fullback Colia Louis, captain and hard tackling centre Rufus Dercksen and flyhalf Marais Cloete, who brings a cool head to the game. They have a solid pack of forwards with lock Breyten Maritz setting the pace.
Paul Roos Results to Date: Date: Opposition – Result – For – Against:
2017/03/25: HTS Drostdy – Win – 32 – 19
2017/04/13: Nelspruit – Win – 44 – 6
2017/04/15: Helpmekaar – Win – 25 – 22
2017/04/17: Parktown Boys’ High – Win – 61 – 12
2017/04/22: Paarl Gimnasium – Lose – 19 – 20
2017/04/29: Affies – Win – 21 – 14
2017/05/01: Waterkloof – Lose – 25 – 38
Grey High Rugby History:
Grey High has a proud history in South African rugby producing 15 Springboks that represented their country at international level. It is to be noted that two of these players matriculated elsewhere, Ian Kirkpatrick at Kimberley Boys’ High and current Springbok centre Jan Serfontein, spend his formative years in Grey Primary and Grey High up to Grade 9 before matriculating at Grey College, Bloemfontein.
Grey has a proud rugby tradition and record which dates back to the 19th century.
Traditional schools they compete against, on an annual basis, are Dale College, Graeme College, Grey College, Queen’s College, Selborne College, St. Andrew’s College, Wynberg Boys’ High and of late Paul Roos Gimnasium.
The first rugby match was played on the 16 September 1893 against Muir College of Uitenhage. During the years 1919 to 1923 Grey competed in four interschools against Dale College, Gill College, Kingswood College and St Andrew’s College. Money for the main field was donated by an Old Grey, Arthur Phillip in 1938 and thus the main field is “The Phillip Field”.
Well known television commentators and outstanding players, like Gavin Cowley and Andrew Patterson also graced the Phillip field.
Special mention must be made of Michael Catt, Rory Duncan and Luke Watson who captained the England, Free State and Western Province Currie Cup sides respectively in 2007.
List of Grey High School Springboks: Jack Hirsch, Fred Smollan, Freddie Turner, George Smith, Bunny Reid, Roy Dryburgh, Ian Kirkpatrick (matriculated at Kimberley Boys’ High), Wilf Rosenberg, Peter Allen, Mickey Gerber, Shaun Povey, Luke Watson, JJ Engelbrecht, Siya Kolisi, Jan Serfontein (matriculated at Grey College), Siya Kolisi.
Paul Roos Rugby History:
The words Paul Roos and rugby are synonymous as the great man was the originator of the now famous Springbok emblem and name for the South African national team. He is seen by many as the “father” of South African rugby and it is fitting that the school that carries his name is such a powerhouse in South African schools rugby.
Paul Roos Gimnasium has to date produced the most South African players to represent their country on a rugby field with Juandré Kruger becoming their 50th player when he played against England at Kings Park on June 9th 2012. Their latest Springbok is fullback Willie Le Roux who got his test cap against Italy in June 2013.
The following players from Paul Roos represented South Africa on the rugby field: Arthur Nicholas de Kock (1891), Jacob Stephanus (Japie) Louw (1891), James Alexander (Jim) McKendrick (1891), Robert (Bob) Shand, Paul Johannes de Waal (1896), Japie Krige (1896), Bob Loubser (1896), Pieter Albertus Ryno Otto (PO) Nel (1903), Paul Johannes Roos (1903), Koei Brink (1906), Henry John (Pinkie) Daneel (1906), Boy de Villiers (1906), Freddie Luyt (1910), Dick Luyt (1910), Koot Reynecke (1910), Gideon Daniël Roos (1910), Wakkie Krige (1912), John Douglas Luyt (1912), Tom van Vuuren (1912), Nic du Plessis (1921), Theuns Kruger (1921), Charlé Meyer (1921), Mannetjies Michau (1921), Phil Mostert (1921), Tokkie Scholtz (1921), Jackie Tindall(1921), Attie van Heerder (1921), PK Albertyn (1924), Nico Bosman (1924), Daunce Devine (1924), Kenny Starke (1924), George Murray Daneel (1928), Manus de Jongh (1928), AF du Toit (1928), PK Morkel (1928), Boet Prinsloo (1928), Ferdie Bergh (1931), George Lionell van Reenen (1937), Ballie Wahl (1949), Tjol Lategan (1949), Jannie Engelbrecht (1960), Gertjie Brynard (1965), Hempies du Toit (1980), Cabous van der Westhuizen (1994), Justin Swart (1996), Cobus Visagie (1999), Andries Bekker (2008), Schalk Brits (2008), Francois Hougaard (2009), Juandre Kruger (2012),Willie Le Roux (2013)
The game will be broadcast live on Saturday 6 May on SuperSport channel SS7 at 14h00.
Alan Straton
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