The 2025 Kearsney Easter Rugby Festival (KERF) will play host to a record 28 teams.
The 16th edition of the popular event includes 12 high school boys’ teams, 12 primary school teams, and, in a first, four high school girls’ teams.
On Tuesday, the lineup for the boys’ high school competition was revealed at the launch of KERF in Botha’s Hill, where The Sharks‘ coach, John Plumtree, was the guest of honour.
He said he plans to attend some matches. “I sit and enjoy the games,” he told SuperSport Schools Plus. “It’s not like I come up here looking to recruit a Shark. But if I notice something, I’ll ask for a name. You can’t help that. It’s a natural thing for a coach to do.
“School rugby in this country is unreal. It’s just so well supported.”
Plumtree said KERF provides an opportunity for players to enjoy the incredible experience and fun of playing in a major festival, as well as an opportunity for them to be noticed and to advance their rugby careers.
KwaZulu-Natal’s representatives – Durban High School (DHS), Westville Boys’ High, Glenwood, and the hosts, Kearsney College – have a familiar look to them. They’re KERF regulars.
After both produced outstanding seasons in 2024, most will look to DHS, who were unbeaten at KERF last year, and Westville to carry local hopes, but Glenwood could bear watching. They had an extremely young 1st XV in 2024 and will return with plenty of experience this year. Kearsney will, meanwhile, enjoy the services of the highly regarded Grant Bashford as their coach.
Gauteng’s reps are also familiar powerhouses: Dr EG Jansen and Hoërskool Monument, while Hoërskool Framesby will again fly the Eastern Cape’s flag. They’ll be joined by Dale College, who make a return to the festival. Renowned for their running rugby, Dale will be a popular addition to the make-up of the tournament.
There are two newcomers from the Western Cape: Milnerton High School and Hoërskool Durbanville. Last year, Milnerton was one of the most exciting teams in the country and played with a remarkable never-say-attitude that brought them, among others, wins at Bishops and Rondebosch Boys’ High. Against ‘Bosch, a team that went unbeaten at KERF, they trailed 3-33 before a stunning fightback brought them a jaw-dropping 34-33 win.
While 2024 was not a vintage year for Hoërskool Durbanville, their 2023 season was something to behold. It included a 26-25 win over Paarl Boys’ High. However, last year, Durbanville won the Cape Schools Sevens, which was part of the national High Schools Sevens Series, proudly sponsored by Toyota. That suggests there is pace and skill within Durbies‘ ranks.
Hoërskool Rustenburg, from the North West, completes the South African sides. They made their first appearance at KERF last year and were involved in one of the matches of the event against Worcester Gimnasium, going down 25-26. They were also trounced by a superb DHS team, so they will welcome an opportunity to take another crack at School on the opening day.
An exciting addition is the inclusion of Peterhouse, the brother school of Michaelhouse. Zimbabwean schools are renowned for playing an attractive running brand of rugby and they should enjoy strong crowd support.
The action happens over the Easter weekend, on Thursday, 17 April, Saturday, 19 April, and Monday, 21 April. Stott Field, the main rugby field at Kearsney, is one of the prettiest venues in the country, and the action will be streamed live on SuperSport Schools.
Commenting on the 28 teams, Kearsney headmaster Patrick Lees said he was delighted that a girls’ component had been added to KERF this year.
He noted that it is the first time that the festival will feature three divisions and highlighted its invaluable role in the development of the country’s school rugby culture and growth since the inaugural festival in 2008.
Kearsney has been a forerunner in the development of various sports at its festivals, with the Kearsney Soccer Tournament including primary schools and girls’ schools, and its iHlobo Cricket Festival including primary schools.
Lees acknowledged the immense contribution of the KERF sponsors, whose invaluable support has assisted the event to grow each year.
Kuben Chetty, the head of Standard Bank’s Commercial Banking in KwaZulu-Natal, said the bank was honoured to again partner with Kearsney and its long-running festival. “We believe that sports and education are pivotal in cultivating well-rounded individuals, fostering healthy competition, and encouraging teamwork for a prosperous future,” he said.
Halfway Ford Waterfall has also remained a major festival sponsor. Chilton Penery, COO of Halfway Group’s Auto Division, said they were privileged to again be associated with KERF, “as team sports are great platforms to mould our youth and provide a deeper purpose in life.”
The trailblazers for girls’ rugby at KERF are the u16 teams of Adams College, from Amanzimtoti, Mowat Park, from Montclair, Durban’s George Campbell School of Technology, and Richards Bay High School.
Eleven primary schools from KZN will be joined by the Harare Lions, a junior Zimbabwean club team. The KZN line-up features Chelsea Prep, Glenwood Prep, Hillcrest Primary, Highbury Prep, Kloof Senior Primary, Penzance Primary, Umhlali Prep, Westville Senior Primary, and Winston Park; as well as the uThukela team, from Bergville, and the KZN Ibutho Development side.
The Kearsney Easter Rugby Festival is renowned for its fun, family-friendly environment and there will, as usual, be plenty to keep everyone entertained. There will be a fun KidZone for the little ones, ample parking, numerous food outlets, and a refreshment tent, to ensure spectators can fully enjoy the weekend’s sporting entertainment.
BOYS’ HIGH SCHOOL FIXTURES
Thursday, 17 April
08:00 – Milnerton High School vs Peterhouse
09:20 – Hoërskool Durbanville vs Dale College
10:40 – Durban High School vs Hoërskool Rustenburg
13:00 – Kearsney College vs Hoërskool Dr EG Jansen
14:20 – Hoërskool Monument vs Glenwood High School
15:40 – Westville Boys’ High vs Hoërskool Framesby
Saturday, 19 April
08:00 – Hoërskool Durbanville vs Hoërskool Rustenburg
09:20 – Hoërskool Framesby vs Peterhouse
10:40 – Milnerton High School vs Glenwood High School
13:00 – Westville Boys’ High vs Hoërskool Dr EG Jansen
14:20 – Kearsney College vs Dale College
15:40 – Hoërskool Monument vs Durban High School
Monday, 21 April
08:00 – Hoërskool Monument vs Milnerton High School
09:20 – Glenwood High School vs Dale College
10:40 – Hoërskool Framesby vs Hoërskool Dr EG Jansen
12:50 – Closing Ceremony
13:00 – Durban High School vs Hoërskool Durbanville
14:20 – Westville Boys’ High vs Hoërskool Rustenburg
15:40 – Kearsney College vs Peterhouse
GIRLS’ U16 FIXTURES
Thursday, 17 April
12:00 – Mowat Park High vs Adams College
12:00 – George Campbell vs Richards Bay High School
Saturday, 19 April
12:00 – Adams College vs George Campbell
12:00 – Mowat Park High vs Richards Bay High School
Monday, 21 April
11:00 – Mowat Park High vs George Campbell
12:00 – Adams College vs Richards Bay High School
PRIMARY SCHOOL FIXTURES
Thursday, 17 April
08:00 – Highbury Prep vs Kloof Senior Primary
09:00 – Penzance Primary vs uThukela Team (Bergville)
10:00 – Winston Park Primary vs Westville Senior Primary
11:00 – Hillcrest Primary vs Chelsea Prep
13:00 – Umhlali Prep vs KZN Ibutho Development Team
14:00 – Glenwood Prep vs Harare Lions
Saturday, 19 April
08:00 – Kloof Senior Primary vs Winston Park Primary
09:00 – Chelsea Prep vs Harare Lions
10:00 – Westville Senior Primary vs Hillcrest Primary
11:00 – Glenwood Prep vs uThukela Team (Bergville)
13:00 – Highbury Prep vs KZN Ibutho Development Team
14:00 – Penzance Primary vs Umhlali Prep
Monday, 21 April
08:00 – Hillcrest Primary vs Winston Park Primary
09:00 – Kloof Senior Primary vs uThukela Team (Bergville)
10:00 – Glenwood Prep vs Westville Senior Prep
12:00 – Highburg Prep vs Umhlali Prep
13:00 – Penzance Primary vs Harare Lions
14:00 – Chelsea Prep vs KZN Ibutho Development Team
Despite showers of rain all over Gauteng on the weekend, the Gauteng Development League (GDL) Top Eight competition lit up the province with four mouthwatering contests in the first action of the 2025 season.
