Blog

South African schoolboy rugby is to be showcased like never before, with the 55 biggest schoolboy derbies set to feature in the spotlight of the King Price Derby Series, which starts this week.

Provantage, one of Africa’s largest media and marketing companies, and SuperSport Schools will be partnering for the groundbreaking series, with King Price as the title sponsor.

“To be part of something that can change and shape a young person’s life is a privilege, and we believe every young South African is a hero in waiting,” said Justinus van der Westhuyzen, the CEO of King Price Insurance.

“As a ‘very proudly young’ South African brand we wanted to find a project that combines the energy and optimism of our youth with rugby, and hence the King Price Derby Series was born.

“We’ve always believed in the potential of the little guy and some of the schools we’ll showcase are the proverbial little guys, who, for a day, will be turned into giants.”

All 50 derbies will be broadcast on the SuperSport Schools’ linear channel 216 on DStv, as well as on the SuperSport Schools App. Every Saturday, one of South Africa’s biggest schoolboy derbies will be featured on SABC Plus.

Nothing divides and unites a community quite like interschool clashes, including famous traditional rivalries between Paarl Gimnasium and Paarl Boys’ High, HTS Middelburg and Hoërskool Middelburg, Klein Nederburg and New Orleans, King Edward VII and Jeppe, and Hilton College against Michaelhouse, among many other noteworthy games.

The list of prominent schools participating in the King Price Schools Derby Series also includes Grey College, Bishops, SACS, Rondebosch Boys’ High, Boland Landbou, Maritzburg College, Queen’s College, Oakdale Landbou, Selborne College, Waterkloof, and Garsfontein.

“We are excited to give these top school derbies the legitimate platform that they deserve,” said Xhanti-Lomzi Nesi, Managing Director of Provantage Sports.

“Schools’ rugby has been the foundation for the Springboks’ success for a long time and has been pulling bigger crowds, as well as television audiences, than provincial matches for years now. The King Price Schools Rugby Derby Series looks to build on this success.”

Provantage has proved with their very successful management of the SDC Noordvaal Cup their ability to expand an already popular event, while also providing commercial value to the schools that participate in it and creating further opportunities for other stakeholders.

“We are delighted by the announcement of The King Price Derby Series in 2025, where SuperSport Schools will consolidate all major rugby derby matches on Channel 216 and the SuperSport Schools Channel on SABC Plus,” said Thando Bakumeni, General Manager of SuperSport Schools.

“This new series will bring together a diverse and inclusive series of between 52 and 55 live matches during the 18 weeks of the school derby rugby season, showcasing the vibrant culture and intense rivalry that South African school rugby has to offer.

“Our goal is to celebrate the unique character and passion of these community-centric events while significantly boosting their visibility and engagement nationwide.

“We believe that The King Price Rugby Derby Series will not only captivate our current audience but also attract new fans, further solidifying rugby’s place in the hearts of South Africans,” Bakumeni enthused.

Dedicated school rugby fans will have the opportunity to watch three King Price Schools Rugby Derbies live on DStv channel 216 from 12:30 on at least 14 Saturdays throughout the season. The second round of matches will kick off at 14:00, with the final live match of the day showcased from 15:30.

The Fixtures: 

15 March 2025 

Paarl Gimnasium vs Stellenberg
Grey College vs Oakdale Landbou
Durban High School vs Maritzburg College

21 March 2025 

Maritzburg College vs Northwood
Monument vs Grey College

22 March 2025 

King Edward VII vs Jeppe High School for Boys

12 April 2025 

Paarl Gimnasium vs Affies
Outeniqua vs Grey College
Oakdale Landbou vs Paarl Boys’ High
Paul Roos Gimnasium vs Grey High School

26 April 2025 

Grey College vs Paarl Gimnasium
Queen’s College vs Selborne College
Affies vs Garsfontein
Pretoria Boys’ High vs Maritzburg College

10 May 2025 

Paarl Boys’ High vs Grey College
Dale College vs Queen’s College
Grey High School vs Wynberg Boys’ High
Paul Roos Gimnasium vs Paarl Gimnasium

17 May 2025 

Grey College vs Affies
Selborne College vs Dale College
Boland Landbou vs Paul Roos Gimnasium

24 May 2025 

Paarl Boys’ High vs Paul Roos Gimnasium
Nico Malan vs Marlow Landbou
Wynberg Boys’ High vs Diocesan College

31 May 2025 

Framesby vs Pearson
Maritzburg College vs Kearsney College
Jeppe High School for Boys vs Affies
Pretoria Boys’ High vs Michaelhouse

7 June 2025 

Northwood vs Hilton College
Westville Boys’ High vs Kearsney College
Rondebosch Boys’ High vs Wynberg Boys’ High

14 June 2025 

Kearsney College vs St Stithians College
Kingswood College vs St Andrew’s College
Michaelhouse vs Westville Boys’ High

21 June 2025 

St Stithians College vs St John’s College
Hilton College vs Michaelhouse
SACS vs Wynberg Boys’ High
Rondebosch Boys’ High vs Diocesan College

26 July 2025 

Paarl Gimnasium vs Wynberg Boys’ High
Grey High School vs Framesby
Paarl Boys’ High vs SACS

2 August 2025 

Jeppe High School for Boys’ vs King Edward VII
Paarl Gimnasium vs Paarl Boys’ High
Affies vs Waterkloof
Grey High School vs Grey College

9 August 2025 

Affies vs Pretoria Boys’ High
Hoërskool Upington vs Duineveld
Oakdale Landbou vs Boland Landbou

16 August 2025 

Grey College vs Paul Roos Gimnasium
Selborne College vs Grey High School
Hoërskool Durbanville vs Stellenberg

23 August 2025 

Queen’s College vs Dale College
Charlie Hofmeyr vs Robertson

30 August 2025 

Wynberg Boys’ High vs SACS
Diocesan College vs Rondebosch Boys’ High

Saints Christian School, the Noordvaal Cup champions, begin their challenge at the Schools SA20 National Finals against Nkowankowa Hub, the team they beat in the final of the Noordvaal Cup.

There’s more at stake when the action gets underway on Thursday, but the Potchefstroom school will head into the game full of confidence.

Catch Saints Christian School and all the School SA20 National Finals action LIVE on SuperSport Schools

They’re a formidable outfit, as coach Claudio Lucas explained: “Our team plays as a club team in the North West senior women’s league. We won the T20 and 50-over titles with these school girls, which is exceptional.”

Headlining their challenge is a player to whom the “exceptional” tag, applies, captain Tshegofatso Monyela.

She began playing cricket in grade four. By the time she was 13, she made her debut for the North West Dragons ladies’ team. “She was playing with the likes of Tasmin Brits, Anneke Bosch, and Masabata Klaas, when the North West Dragons were still in the A-League, and they still had a good system running,” Lucas recalled.

Monyela’s cricket developed quickly in her younger years when she started out playing in boys’ teams for Saints Christian School, which included playing in the primary school’s first team for three years.

“She is very good technically. She also opened the batting for the North West u19 team that won the nationals last year,” Lucas said, a touch of pride in his voice.

“Her strength is she is very good through the V. She plays traditional cricket shots. Anything on her legs is going to go. She’s very strong on her drives – cover drive, straight drive, on drive. If you bowl it short, she’s good with pick-up shots, as well.

“She’s a well-rounded batter, and that’s why she has been able to score so freely.”

For the past two years, Monyela has been selected for the South African Schools team. That recognition has motivated Monyela and it has also created opportunities for her beyond cricket, Lucas explained.

“She’s working really hard because she wants to go to a good university, and to a province where they play in the A-Division. She is looking at going to Western Province or the Lions, and we have been in communication with them. They are interested in having her. Now, it is more about education. We are trying to look after that.”

While she captains Saints, Monyela is not a loud leader. She’s an introvert, Lucas said, but “when she does speak, everyone listens.

“She has a very calming presence about her. Everyone takes her seriously because she works so hard.

“Every single day, she is in the nets, either batting or bowling, or she’ll organise a fielding session, not just for herself but for the team. She puts in the work, so everybody respects her because of that.

“When she does have something to say, she will always make sense. She doesn’t speak for the sake of speaking, and she’s very firm with the ladies. She speaks once and they listen. We have a highly disciplined team. We emphasise discipline a lot.”

Tshego Monyela’s batting is her forte, and her captaincy astute, but her off-spin bowling should not be underestimated either, coach Lucas shared.

In the senior women’s league, her economy rate is around three-and-a-half runs per over, and she’s picked up six wickets in Saints’ last three matches. Monyela will likely come on as a first-change or second-change bowler, Lucas said, and she will bowl her full complement of four overs.

Monyela will have a big role to play for Saints, but she’s backed by a strongly disciplined unit that understands how to win, with many of the players having been tested in senior women’s cricket and by playing against boys, which was how the team warmed up on Tuesday, with an outing against a solid Saints’ u13 boys’ team.

Most would tab Steyn City School as the favourites, but Saints Christian School, with Tshego Monyela leading their challenge, will be eager to challenge Steyn City and the rest of their opposition for the national crown.

The champion of KwaZulu-Natal, Dr John L Dube High School, is excited about an opportunity to play for the national title at the Schools SA20 National Finals in Pretoria from Thursday.

“They’re very happy. They’re looking forward to it,” coach Mzwandile Sibiya told SuperSport Schools Plus on Tuesday.

Catch Dr John L Dube and the Schools SA20 finalists in action, LIVE on SuperSport Schools.

“They’re nervous but they want to be there. Most of them, about 80 percent, play for provincial teams. Only two or three girls haven’t played for provincial teams.”

Spearheading the Umlazi school’s challenge will be their captain, Enthle Mkhalipa. Sibiya has been her coach for pretty much her entire cricket career.

“I’ve been coaching her since she was 10 years old,” he shared. “She’s an expert batter. She always does well. She’s almost always there at the end to finish the game.”

Indeed, at the KZN regional final of the Schools SA20, Mkhalipa caught the eye with her solid technique and flowing drives in her side’s eight-wicket win over Bonginhlanhla, which clinched the title of provincial champions. And she was there at the end, unbeaten on 41 as Dr John L Dube chased down their opponent’s 79/8 to win.

“She played for the KZN u19 side last year,” Sibiya said. “The year before that, she played for the u16 side. She’s represented KZN since the age of 11.”

He also lauded Mkhalipa’s captaincy, explaining: “She was the captain of her club at the age of 13! She has been a captain for many years. She always leads by example.

“She doesn’t talk that much, but she always calms the team when there is a problem. She is always encouraging the bowlers and the fielders.”

Mkhalipa has a good understanding of cricket, he added, saying she has learnt a lot in her six-plus years in the game.

She’s the player that others in the experienced Dr John L Dube side look to, to set the example and to take the game to the opposition. And, as coach Mazwandile Sibiya said, they’re not cowed by the task that lies ahead. They’re excited and eager to attack the challenge, with their captain, Enthle Mkhalipa, leading the way.

St David’s Marist Inanda has several provincial and national team players. However, none of them is allowed to bring their representative kit to training for the school’s 1st XI.

When they turn up, everyone should be in St David’s gear. That practice is a reminder that they are part of a team that pulls together.

“I think is very important for us to understand that while we are incredibly proud of our provincial players, the rest are, in their own right, very decent cricketers who contribute massively to the success of the team,” Jeff Levin, the St David’s coach, explained.

From their very first Schools SA20 fixture, the boys from Rivonia Road have hunted as a pack in the field, chasing the ball in twos, backing each other up to cover throws, and communicating concisely when running between the wickets. They’ve carried that mindset throughout their campaign.

“We try and keep the unit as tight as possible. The boys know that we have a decent squad and that there are always those wanting a place within. So, every minute must be treasured,” Levin said.

A lot of credit for the collaborative culture in the St David’s team goes to their captain, Samrat Basu. He’s developed a close working relationship with his vice-captain, Kamogelo Phiri, and they feed off each other’s ideas. They’re also not shy to include some of the senior team members’ ideas in their decision-making. This has engendered a sense of ownership in the direction of results.

“They train hard and need to trust themselves to execute as that’s what got them into this group in the first place,” Levin said.

St David’s will kick off the final leg of the Schools SA20 tournament with a fixture against the Cricket South Africa Hub team on the D Field at Tuks at 14:00 on Wednesday.

They’ll carry their team-first mindset into that tie. Their primary focus will be on executing their plans as a unit.

Graeme College’s Schools SA20 finals team is replete with talented youngsters. They have a 15-year-old starlet, Corbin Tidbury, and the dependable duo of Andrew Muir and Enrique Strydom. However, the story of Graeme College’s cricket programme over the past two years would not be complete without mentioning Luphelo Mdyesha.

Mdyesha has been turning heads since he was 11. Back then, he played in Motherwell Cricket Club’s u12 team. That was a harbinger of things to come.

Mdyesha has been playing up the age groups since then. He made his debut for the Graeme College 1st XI while he was in Grade 7.

Mdyesha’s performances quickly caught the attention of the Eastern Province selectors. Two years ago, they showed their belief and trust in his abilities by appointing him the captain of the Eastern Province u16 team. Last year, in July, he was among the players invited to Durban for a Cricket South Africa u17 camp.

“Luphelo is a talented young man. He has a great defensive game and a wide array of attacking shots,” Odwa Xonxa, the Graeme College head coach, shared.

Xonxa said that Mdyesha has held his own since making his 1st XI debut, he is only now coming of age as a cricketer.

“His decision-making has improved by a long way. He now has better game management,” the coach explained.

Mdyesha has scored several centuries for Graeme College since his 1st XI debut. However, his finest century occurred earlier this year, when the teenager stroked a sensational 138 in a declaration match against Muir College, which underscored Xonxa’s assessment that Mdyesha has grown in his game.

Mdyesha isn’t just an outstanding batsman. He is also a phenomenal fielder and a tidy spinner. Xonxa lauded Mdyesha’s mastery of leg- and off-spin, which has consistently delivered important wickets for Graeme College. In the match against Muir, he snared 7/17 to engineer the opposition’s collapse.

“It was one of the best [all-round] performances in the school’s history,” Xonxa reckoned.

However, Mdyesha’s value is not limited to what he can do on the field. He is also a leader in the dressing room and provides his captain, Andrew Muir, with a good sounding board. His experience at provincial level, both as a captain and player, makes his insights invaluable.

Mdyesha is an X-factor player and can turn the game with bat, ball, or in the field. When you combine his skills with his teammates’ skills, you have a team that stands a shot at the Schools SA20 title.

As the birthplace of Vincent Barnes‘s cricketing career, his old club, Victoria Cricket Club, or Victoria Hub, will take great pride in their progression through the first two phases of the Schools SA20 competition, which has earned them a shot at national glory.

Follow Victoria Hub and all the action of the Schools SA20 National Finals LIVE on SuperSport Schools – (www.supersportschools.com)

Barnes, a legend known for his service to South African cricket, especially as a very successful coach, which included serving as the Proteas‘ bowling coach, is now the Tournament Director of the inaugural Schools SA20.

He will, no doubt, be excited to see the girls from his old club in action during the third and final phase of the national competition, which takes place in Pretoria from 12-15 March.

The club has served as a stepping stone for Proteas’ off-spinner, Dane Piedt, and fast bowler, Nandré Burger, and has also included the USA and former Knights‘ all-rounder, Shadley van Schalkwyk, in its ranks.

The girls from Cape Town made headlines when they won phase two, the Regional Playoffs, in Oudshoorn, in January. They convincingly thumped Bridgton Hub by 96 runs and then thundered through HTS Drostdy twice to claim the title.

The Western Cape side is well coached by Myles Williamson and will present their opponents with a strong all-round challenge.

Star opening batter, Nuhaa Benjamin has been in prolific form, piling on the runs since the start of the competition. Alongside her, fellow opener, Imaan van Schalkwyk, has done well, too, with the pair stamping their dominance on proceedings by providing a solid foundation up front.

In the bowling department, Zaurah Titus is aiming to wreak havoc on opposing batters in Pretoria. Her significant contributions with the ball have played a big part in Victoria Cricket Club’s successes.

She will certainly also call on Danelí Boshoff and Thaurah Dollie for assistance as they look to support Benjamin, Van Schalkwyk, and the rest of the batters in their quest to go all the way.

Diara Ramlakan, the Steyn City captain, was in an unforgiving mood. She smashed 24 boundaries on her way to the first century of the inaugural edition of the Schools SA20 competition.

Ramlakan’s 60-ball 118 also helped Steyn City gallop to the first 200-run plus total of the tournament.

Dominique Ferguson backed up that effort with a brilliant four-wicket haul as Steyn City restricted South Hub to 75/7 in 13.3 overs, which left Steyn City the winners by a massive 144-run margin.

It was a big win, one that got social media buzzing. The team basked in the glory of the accomplishment. They had earned it. However, they quickly put that encounter behind them when they went up against Northcliff High School.

“We believe that the key is to try to remain calm, taking things one ball at a time. We also emphasise getting the basics right… If we can do that, we should come out on top,” Rachel Langley, the Steyn City head coach, said.

That approach is particularly important for Langley’s charges who have heard their name being punted as one of the favourites to lift the title in the girls’ section.

“The team is very excited but also a little nervous,” Langley revealed. “There is some pressure. A few noted commentators said that SCS (Steyn City School) is the favourite to win the competition. We are confident that we can go all the way.

Foremost on the minds of Langley and her players is that they need to stick to their gameplans, play their best game, and don’t take their opposition for granted. Fortunately, the coach has a trio of experienced players to ensure matters are composed in the dressing room and on the field.

South Africa u19 stars Diara Ramlakan and Karabo Meso are members of the team and both recently returned from playing in the u19 World Cup. They also have Jenna-Lee Lubbe, who was a non-travelling reserve for the SA u19 Squad.

“Having these players in the team adds great value. Obviously, each player adds value and skill in their own way, but what an SA u19 player can add is through their experience – the ability to stay calm under pressure, to talk the team through tough moments, and the ability to think ahead of the game and play three steps ahead,” Langley shared.

The talented trio will also lead the way with the bat, but that doesn’t mean that they are the only players who can win matches for their side. Ferguson, Samia Essop, Sivaakani Naidoo, and Tyla-Jade Harpur have been sensational with the ball for Steyn City. According to Langley, each bowler has come to the party in one game or another.

She always reminds her charges to enjoy themselves before each match. And while the goal is to lift the national title of the inaugural Schools SA20 competition, the Steyn City coach will repeat that message before their encounter against Victoria High on Thursday afternoon and every match thereafter.

“The main message we tell our students, and one thing that we truly believe is important, is to have fun,” Langley said.

At the previous two editions of the CSA u19 Girls Week, Shelfa Mukhari, from Nkowankowa, a town just outside Tzaneen, in Limpopo, earned herself a place in the South African Schools team.

Follow Shelfa and all the Schools SA20 Nationals Finals action LIVE on SuperSport Schools – (www.supersportschools.com)

The talented pace bowler started her journey to winning national colours back in 2018 when she took up cricket as an 11-year-old.

“I have been fortunate enough to be part of Shelfa’s growth and development in her young cricket career. I’ve coached her for about seven years now and every year she gets better and better,” her coach, Blessing Mabunda said.

Muhkari’s achievements also saw her reach the final 22 of selection for the South Africa u19 Women’s squad.

“With all the experience she has gained from Cricket South Africa camps, she led our bowling attack expertly in the Schools SA20 Regional Finals in Benoni,” Mabunda said. “Although she didn’t take that many wickets, she was the one to remove the opposition’s key batters.”

In the semi-final against Shoshanguve Hub, her two overs with the new ball, which cost only five runs, played a pivotal part in her side advancing to the final. Then, in the final against Kwa-Themba Hub, she surrendered only eight runs from three overs.

Her ability to land the ball in the same spot continuously not only places heavy pressure on the opposition batters but also forces unwanted errors.

Mukhari has a simple goal for the tournament: Dominate the Schools SA20 playoffs and make a name for herself and her team. If she performs in the National Finals as she has in qualifying for the big stage, she’ll surely achieve that goal.

The Nkowankowa Hub’s challenge begins on Thursday morning with a showdown against Saints Christian School at 09:30.

Nuhaa Bejamin is following in the footsteps of some top players who have turned out for the Victoria Cricket Club and she’s aiming to win national acclaim for the team at the Schools SA20 National Finals in Pretoria.

The girls’ competition starts on Thursday.

Follow Nuhaa and all the Schools SA20 National Finals action on SuperSport Schools – (www.supersportschools.com)

Benjamin, who opens the batting for the Cape Town side, has made significant waves in their campaign.

In the semi-final and the final against HTS Drostdy, she top-scored to lead her side to the title of regional champions.

She came close to a half-century in both matches, scoring 42 off 35 balls in the semi-finals before bettering that score that same afternoon with a classy 47, the highest individual score of the final.

Benjamin also showed her class during the first phase of the Schools SA20, twice exceeding 50, including against the strong bowling lineup of Reddam House Constantia. In that match, she smashed eight fours in a contribution of 58 runs from only 52 deliveries.

“Her ability to rotate the strike, and then, to capitalise on the bad ball makes her extremely dangerous and effective for us at the top of the order,” Myles Williamson, Benjamin’s coach at Victoria Cricket Club, said.

Apart from her batting prowess, she’s also a handy right-arm medium-pace bowler. Her ability to contain run-scoring through the middle part of a T20 match makes her extremely effective. It also allows Victoria’s other bowlers more freedom to hunt for wickets, which has proved to be a winning recipe in the past.

Benjamin is highly motivated to make her mark at the national final in Pretoria and to help her team become the inaugural winner of the Schools SA20 title. It will be a tough challenge, but there can be only one inaugural winner, and that’s history that Benjamin is keen to help her team make.

The team that thinks Bishops is a one-man show will do so at their own peril during the Schools SA20’s Final Showdown in Pretoria.

The national tournament will conclude this week from 12 to 15 March at the University of Pretoria.

Catch all the action live on SuperSport Schools (www.supersportschools.com).

Schools could be excused for thinking that Diocesan College‘s effort will only rely on the devastating batting skills of their opening batsman, Adnaan Lagadien. There is no question about the fact that Lagadien knows how to wield a willow.

If Lagadien fails to launch one of his devastating knocks. The next player who will walk to the crease will be Bishops’ captain, James Robb-Quinlan. He has the ability to calm the nerves of his teammates as well as coaches while constructing his innings. He also has the ability to multiply the damage Lagadien has done with the willow if need be.

Further down the batting order, Bishops also have Waco Bassick in their back-pocket, who is more than capable with the bat in hand. He will also play a major role for the side from Cape Town with his bowling. Michael Kruiskamp is another stalwart in Bishops’ bowling attack.

All eyes will however be on Lagadien who made his debut for the South African u19-side against England earlier this year. He also recently made his List A debut for the SA Emerging side. Lagadien is an aggressive opening batsman and if he gets going could take any match away from the opposition. He boasts a best score in time-cricket of 218 and also scored a century for the SA u19 Emerging side against Zimbabwe last year.

The biggest question will be how quickly Bishops will be able to adjust to the conditions and pitches in Pretoria. If Lagadien comes to like the batting-friendly conditions, the team from Cape Town could move from dark-horses to title-contenders.

Bishops will play their opening match against Pearson of Gqeberha on the second day of the tournament. They will face the CSA Hub Invitational in their second clash on Thursday, while completing their pool matches against St David’s Marist on Friday.

SQUAD

James Robb-Quinlan, Mogamat Arendse, Waco Bassick, Luke de Klerk, Thaafier Japtha, Michael Kruiskamp, Adnaan Lagadien, Cameron MacBeth, Litha Mbiko, Julian Pilkington, Sam Stevely-Alexander, Kyle Stirk, Alex Vintcent.