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Grey High to Host Exciting Rugby and Hockey Festivals

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Grey High are gearing up for another exciting sporting extravaganza when they host their annual rugby festival and the Hibbert Shield hockey tournament in Gqeberha from May 1 to 4. This celebration of schools sport at a host of venues will see a total of 14 first teams taking part in the rugby tournament, while 12 schools will contest the highly competitive Hibbert Shield competition.

In addition, age-group and lower tier open division teams will be in action on the Thursday and Saturday for the rugby, while the Hibbert Shield will be played from Wednesday to Saturday.

Grey High director of sport Neil Bielby said they were thrilled to be hosting these competitions which have been part of the South African schools sports calendar for so many years. “We are looking forward to hosting more than 2000 schoolboys, coaches and administrators to these festivals and are confident that there will be some highly entertaining action over that period,” he said.

“These festivals have been the platform from which many players have emerged to go on to higher honours, with Springboks such as World Cup rugby winners Siya Kolisi (Grey High) and Jesse Kriel (Maritzburg College) previously being part of the festival.

“The Hibbert Shield hockey tournament is also one our most prestigious events and has produced some outstanding action in recent years.

“With schools from around the country keen to show their potential, this should be another quality competition over the four days.”

Grey High, themselves, will be tested by their opposition over the two days of rugby action, with matches against St John’s College from Johannesburg and Makhanda rivals Graeme College. The hosts have generally risen to the occasion at their home festival and they will be priming themselves for further top-class performances in front of their own supporters.

In their annual fixture with Graeme last year, the Makhanda team registered their first win over the Gqeberha side since 1974 and that will add spice to what should be an exciting final showdown to the rugby on the Saturday afternoon.

The Graemians have a tough draw because they come up against Jeppe in their opening game, mindful of the fact that Johannesburg powerhouse secured their first ever win over Grey College recently.

Jeppe face a second Makhanda team when they take on the hard-running St Andrew’s College team on the Saturday in what should be one of the highlights of the day.

Meanwhile, on the Rectory Astro, the hockey action will be quick and fierce as Paul Roos Gymnasium defend the title they won in spectacular fashion against SACS last year with two goals in the last three minutes.

SACS were the defending champions and they will be keen to get back on to the winners’ podium, while local teams such as hosts Grey, Selborne College from East London and Pearson will be determined to prove themselves at this high level.

The first team rugby fixtures are:

Thursday, May 2

  • Kolisi Field: 09.10: Hudson Park v Brandwag; 10.25: Westville v Durbanville; 11.45: St Andrew’s College v Parktown; 12.55: Queen’s College v St Stithians; 14.05: Graeme v Jeppe; 15.25: Grey High v St John’s
  • Pollock Oval: 12.55: Ithembelihle v St Charles College; 14.05: Mali Foundation XV v Muir

Saturday, May 4

  • Kolisi Field: 09.10: Hudson Park v St Charles College; 10.25: St Stithians v Brandwag; 11.45: St Andrew’s College v Jeppe; 12.55: Queen’s v Durbanville; 14.05: Dale v Westville; 15.25: Grey High v Graeme
  • Pollock Oval: 10.25: Ithembelihle v Parktown; 14.05: Muir v St John’s

The teams competing in the U19 Hibbert Shield hockey tournament are: Bishops, Clifton, Durban High School, Garsfontein, Grey High, Paarl Gym, Paul Roos Gym, Pearson, SACS, Selborne, St Stithians, Westville.

Tanner Lightfoot - Grey v Hilton
Grey High’s Tanner Lightfoot looks for a way through the Hilton College defence during their clash in the Bishops 175th Rugby Festival in Cape Town in March. Grey will host their annual rugby and hockey festivals from May 2 to 5. Picture: Supplied
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