In 2024 the hugely popular KES and St Stithians 1st XV Easter Rugby Festivals will make the change the two-matchdays format.
At KES matches will play on Saturday, 30 March 2024 and Monday, 01 April 2024.
At Saints they have opted for Thursday, 28 March 2024 and Saturday, 30 March 2024 in order for their boarding establishment to be ready for returning Saints students on the Monday.
This means that both will now be on par with NMI Toyota Noord-Suid and ABSA Wildeklawer which are 2-matchday festivals.
The likes of Kearsney and St John’s will continue on with the traditional three match-day formats.
I think its a good call. Many schools were opting to just play 2 instead of the 3 in any case as its a lot for the boys and families to manage. Many would return from this ‘holiday’ time and then play again that first weekend back. A school like DHS showed this year that too much touring can jeapordise chances back home. They lost 2 nailbiters to Michaelhouse and Hilton that on another day they could have won if they had had time to rest up in between perhaps. The privates, especially Hilton, never over-extend themselves.