{"id":93928,"date":"2026-04-20T10:25:26","date_gmt":"2026-04-20T08:25:26","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/ssschoolsplus.co.za\/?p=93928"},"modified":"2026-04-20T10:25:26","modified_gmt":"2026-04-20T08:25:26","slug":"everything-you-need-to-know-about-the-2026-hibbert-shield","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/test.ssschoolsplus.co.za\/?p=93928","title":{"rendered":"Everything you need to know about the 2026 Hibbert Shield"},"content":{"rendered":"
\"Photo:
Photo: Grant Howard<\/strong><\/a><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

The annual Hibbert Shield Hockey Tournament<\/strong>, sponsored by Standard Bank,<\/strong> is considered the pinnacle of schoolboy hockey in South Africa.<\/p>\n

The 2026 event, hosted by Grey High School<\/strong> in Gqeberha, runs from 24 to 27 April at the iconic Rectory AstroTurf<\/strong>. Some matches will also be played at the nearby Collegiate Girls’ High<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

Many of the country’s leading teams will be in attendance, aware that success at the Hibbert Shield will include them in the conversation about the best side in the country.<\/p>\n

All the action will be LIVE<\/strong> on the SuperSport Schools App<\/a><\/strong> and DSTV Channel 216.<\/p>\n

For results, match reports, and all the information, follow SuperSport Schools Plus Hockey.<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n

With less than a week to go before the tournament, SuperSport Schools Plus hockey writer Avuyile Sawula<\/strong> shares everything you need to know about the event, taking a deep dive into the history of the tournament, the fixtures, venues, teams in action, and past winners.<\/p>\n

HISTORY<\/strong><\/h2>\n

Grey High School<\/strong> established the Hibbert Shield<\/strong> to give some of the country’s top teams an opportunity for game time and competitive play.<\/p>\n

Named after the Hibbert<\/strong> family, it started with only six teams in 2019: Michaelhouse<\/strong>, Selborne College<\/strong>, Grey High<\/strong>, Paul Roos Gimnasium<\/strong>, Bishops [Diocesan College]<\/strong>, and Ho\u00ebrskool Garsfontein<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

The inaugural tournament was won by Paul Roos, who defeated Bishops 4-2 in the final.<\/p>\n

The following year, the event was cancelled due to the Covid-19 pandemic. It resumed in 2021.<\/p>\n

When it returned, the tournament featured a different line-up, with Pearson High School<\/strong>, Paul Roos, St Stithians College<\/strong>, Grey College<\/strong>, South African College High School (SACS)<\/strong>, and Grey High competing for the title.<\/p>\n

The title that year went to Grey High. Since then, the tournament’s status has skyrocketed, with leading hockey-playing schools added as the event has gone from strength to strength.<\/p>\n

TEAMS IN ACTION<\/strong><\/h2>\n

In 2024, only 12 teams were in action at the Hibbert Shield, but that number increased to 16 sides for 2025 and 2026.<\/p>\n

For hockey fans, it’s a must-watch. The event is stacked with teams that have established themselves as among the best in the country this season.<\/p>\n

The host province, the Eastern Cape<\/strong>, will be represented by Grey High, Pearson High, and KuGompo City’s Selborne College.<\/p>\n

The Western Cape<\/strong> provides a strong list of challengers, including the defending champions<\/strong><\/a>, SACS. Joining them are their provincial rivals: Paul Roos, Paarl Gimnasium<\/strong>, Bishops, and Parel Vallei High<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

KwaZulu-Natal<\/strong>‘s contingent includes Westville Boys’ High<\/strong>, Clifton College<\/strong>, and Durban High School, <\/strong>with the latter the last remaining undefeated team in the 16-team field.<\/p>\n

Gauteng, meanwhile, has four teams in action. Ho\u00ebrskool Garsfontein, from the Noordvaal region, made the semi-finals in the last two editions. They’re joined by St Stithians College and St Alban’s College<\/strong>, who made their debut in 2025.<\/p>\n

Jeppe High School for Boys<\/strong> is a newcomer, and they’ll be itching to make their mark, while Grey College<\/strong> is the sole representative from the Free State.<\/p>\n

STRUCTURE<\/strong><\/h2>\n

Unlike the previous format, in which teams that didn’t qualify for the Shield playoffs were eliminated, this year’s Hibbert Shield will continue with the Bowl section, which was introduced last year.<\/p>\n

This means the top eight teams will progress to the quarterfinals and battle it out for the Hibbert Shield, while the bottom eight will contest the Bowl.<\/p>\n

VENUES\u00a0<\/strong><\/h2>\n

With the tournament expanding from 12 to 16 teams, the Rectory AstroTurf<\/strong>, at Grey High, is no longer the only venue for Hibbert Shield matches.<\/p>\n

The nearby Collegiate Girls’ High School<\/strong> AstroTurf will also host some games.<\/p>\n

PAST WINNERS<\/strong><\/h2>\n

2019 \u2013 Paul Roos Gimnasium
\n2021 – Grey High School
\n2022 \u2013 South African College High School (SACS)
\n2023 \u2013 Paul Roos Gimnasium
\n2024 – Paul Roos Gimnasium
\n2025 – South African College High School (SACS)<\/p>\n

2025 FINAL STANDINGS\u00a0<\/strong><\/h2>\n

SACS
\nPaarl Gimnasium
\nPaul Roos Gimnasium
\nGarsfontein
\nSt Stithians College
\nGrey College
\nClifton College
\nDHS
\nGrey High School
\nWestville Boys’ High
\nParel Vallei High School
\nSt Alban’s College
\nBishops
\nPearson High
\nMaritzburg College
\nSelborne College<\/p>\n

2026 FIXTURES<\/strong><\/h2>\n

GROUPS<\/strong><\/p>\n

Pool A:<\/strong> Parel Vallei, St Alban’s College, Durban High School, Grey High School
\nPool B:<\/strong> Paul Roos Gimnasium, Clifton College, St Stithians College, Selborne College
\nPool C:<\/strong> SACS, Westville Boys’ High, Garsfontein, Grey College
\nPool D:<\/strong> Jeppe High School for Boys, Paarl Gimnasium, Bishops, Pearson High<\/p>\n

Friday, 24 April\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n

@Grey High School\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n

07:30 – St Alban’s vs DHS
\n08:45 – Parel Vallei vs Grey High
\n10:15 – Paul Roos vs Clifton
\n11:30 – Selborne vs St Stithians College
\n13:00 – SACS vs Westville
\n14:15 – St Alban’s vs Parel Vallei
\n15:45 – Jeppe vs Bishops
\n17:00 – Paarl Gimnasium vs Pearson High
\n18:30 – DHS vs Grey High<\/p>\n

@Collegiate Girls\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n

08:45 – Jeppe vs Paarl Gim
\n10:15 – Bishops vs Pearson
\n11:30 – Garsfontein vs Grey College
\n15:45 – Clifton vs Selborne
\n17:00 – Paul Roos vs St Stithians College
\n18:30 – SACS vs Grey College<\/p>\n

Saturday, 25 April\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n

@Grey High School\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n

07:30 – Westville vs Garsfontein
\n08:45 – Paarl Gimnasium vs Bishops
\n10:15 – St Alban’s vs Grey High School
\n11:30 – DHS vs Parel Vallei
\n13:00 – Jeppe vs Pearson
\n14:15 – Clifton vs St Stithians College
\n15:45 – SACS vs Garsfontein
\n17:00 – Paul Roos Gimnasium vs Selborne
\n18:30 – Westville vs Grey College<\/p>\n

Playoff fixtures will be provided at the conclusion of the pool stages.\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

The annual Hibbert Shield Hockey Tournament, sponsored by Standard Bank, is considered the pinnacle of schoolboy hockey in South Africa. The 2026 event, hosted by Grey High School in Gqeberha, runs from 24 to 27 April at the iconic Rectory AstroTurf. Some matches will also be played at the nearby Collegiate Girls’ High. Many of […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":14,"featured_media":93965,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-93928","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-uncategorized"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/test.ssschoolsplus.co.za\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/93928","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/test.ssschoolsplus.co.za\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/test.ssschoolsplus.co.za\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/test.ssschoolsplus.co.za\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/14"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/test.ssschoolsplus.co.za\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=93928"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/test.ssschoolsplus.co.za\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/93928\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/test.ssschoolsplus.co.za\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/93965"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/test.ssschoolsplus.co.za\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=93928"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/test.ssschoolsplus.co.za\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=93928"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/test.ssschoolsplus.co.za\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=93928"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}