Schoolboy Rugby SA Blog – May 2025: Rivalries, Upsets & Rankings Shake-Up
- House Rugga
- May 5
- 3 min read
The Wildeklawer weekend and its aftermath have dramatically shifted the schoolboy rugby landscape. From dominant showings by Paarl Gim to thrilling derby victories, here’s your all-in-one breakdown.
Gim Ends DHS Streak with Dominant 47-20 Win
Paarl Gimnasium beat Durban High School 47-20, bringing an end to DHS’s 10-game unbeaten run in 2025. DHS, nearly 23 games unbeaten since 2024, fell short again — echoing last year’s narrow 3-point loss to Paarl Boys at Wildeklawer. This result solidifies Gim’s elite status and signals DHS’s continued challenge to crack the top tier.
Grey, Paul Roos Bounce Back with Conviction
Grey College showed their pedigree with a strong 45-29 win over Garsfontein.
Paul Roos, recovering from an upset loss to Affies (by just 2 points), bounced back by hammering EG Jansen 46-17.
Oakdale continued to shine with a 42-27 win over a struggling Jeppe side.
Glenwood, Affies & Grey High Keep Momentum
Glenwood’s 9-8 win over Marlow was narrow but symbolic. Once in a rugby slump, Glenwood looks to be finding its feet again.
Affies hammered Boland 74-14 and remain at the top of the House Rankings.
Grey High edged Pretoria Boys 37-29 — closer than expected given recent wins over Hilton and a draw against Michaelhouse.
Other Key Results & Talking Points
Northwood beat Drostdy 19-12 and continue building a solid campaign.
Maritzburg College suffered a 38-31 upset to Diamantveld, continuing their rough patch.
Paarl Boys dismantled Monnas 85-0 — a stunning and confusing result for the once-consistent Monnas outfit.
Noordheuwel edged Outeniqua 35-33 with a last-minute penalty in one of the most dramatic finishes of the weekend.
Hilton vs Michaelhouse: Rivalry Lives On
The 209th edition of this iconic fixture didn’t disappoint:
Hilton edged Michaelhouse 25-20, making it their second consecutive win and narrowing the all-time tally to 98 wins for Hilton, 101 for House.
It was the first time since the 1960s the clash returned to Baileys, adding to the theatre.
In the age-group clashes, Michaelhouse’s U16A won big, but Hilton took the U15A and U14A contests — making it a day to remember for the Hilton faithful.
Westville: Still Undefeated and Gunning for KZN Dominance
Westville remains unbeaten alongside Paarl Gim and is arguably KZN’s top team right now. Their recent win over Northwood, powered by standouts like Zekhethelo Siyaya, sets up a mouthwatering future clash against DHS that may decide regional bragging rights. Westville takes on a struggling KES side this weekend as firm favourites.
Upcoming Fixtures to Watch
Grey College vs Paarl Boys – A top-3 decider and one of the year’s most anticipated clashes.
Paul Roos vs Paarl Gim – A colossal Cape showdown. Bookies have Gim by just 4 — could be the match of the year.
Rondebosch vs Stellenberg – After a narrow DHS loss, Bosch look to rebound.
Bishops vs SACS – A Cape derby full of flair.
Hilton vs Pretoria Boys – Hilton tests themselves outside KZN.
Michaelhouse vs Kearsney – House needs to snap their losing streak. Bookies have Kearsney by 4, but home-ground advantage at Meadows could flip the script.
St Andrew’s vs Graeme – EP pride on the line.
Northwood vs Jeppe – With Jeppe favourites by only 2, the KZN side could pull off a surprise.
Top 20 SA Schoolboy Rugby Rankings (May 2025)
Rank | School | P | W | D | L | PF–PA | Rating | Win % |
1 | Affies | 10 | 8 | 1 | 1 | +227 | 95.0 | 85% |
2 | Paarl Gim | 7 | 6 | 1 | 0 | +236 | 94.2 | 93% |
3 | Grey College | 9 | 8 | 0 | 1 | +194 | 93.5 | 89% |
4 | Paul Roos Gym | 7 | 6 | 0 | 1 | +106 | 93.0 | 86% |
5 | HJS Paarl BH | 7 | 6 | 0 | 1 | +225 | 89.9 | 86% |
6 | Oakdale | 8 | 5 | 1 | 2 | +126 | 88.8 | 69% |
7 | DHS | 11 | 10 | 0 | 1 | +207 | 86.8 | 91% |
8 | Garsfontein | 8 | 4 | 1 | 3 | +5 | 85.9 | 56% |
9 | Boland Landbou | 7 | 5 | 0 | 2 | +66 | 84.7 | 71% |
10 | Rondebosch | 7 | 5 | 0 | 2 | +98 | 84.1 | 71% |
11 | Westville | 8 | 8 | 0 | 0 | +138 | 83.2 | 100% |
12 | Noordheuwel | 8 | 3 | 0 | 5 | -34 | 82.5 | 38% |
13 | SACS | 7 | 6 | 0 | 1 | +125 | 81.7 | 86% |
14 | Jeppe | 10 | 4 | 0 | 6 | -74 | 81.6 | 40% |
15 | Hilton | 8 | 6 | 0 | 2 | +138 | 81.6 | 75% |
16 | Northwood | 10 | 7 | 0 | 3 | +67 | 81.3 | 70% |
17 | Outeniqua | 9 | 6 | 0 | 3 | +146 | 81.0 | 67% |
18 | Wynberg | 5 | 3 | 0 | 2 | +9 | 80.8 | 60% |
19 | KES | 8 | 3 | 0 | 5 | -133 | 80.1 | 38% |
20 | Menlopark | 7 | 6 | 1 | 0 | +154 | 80.0 | 93% |
This past weekend and the upcoming fixtures paint a dynamic picture of 2025 schoolboy rugby. With unbeaten streaks broken, rivalries reignited, and rankings on the line, it’s a season already brimming with drama.
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