Affies have concluded their week of rugby trials and put up crazy numbers for boys keen to play rugby in 2024.
The season starts with a potentially tricky road trip to Kimberley to face Diamantveld.
The number of rugby teams below is OFF THE CHARTS!!!
u14A – u14K = 11 teams
u15A – u15H = 8 teams
u16A – u16G = 7 teams
Open: 1st XV to 14th XV = 14 teams
TOTAL = 40 teams = 600 rugby boys!
MARITZBURG COLLEGE also posted healthy numbers:
u14A – u14G = 7 teams
u15A – u15G = 7 teams
u16A – u16G = 7 teams
Open: 1st XV to 13th XV = 13 teams
TOTAL = 34 teams = 510 rugby boys!
and 17 hockey teams as well
@Roger (Comment #17)
I went through all of Affies latest photos, not one brother……
@4×4 (Comment #20)
It’s exactly the same at the other 50 plus great SA government & private schools, nothing unique about that. Maritzburg College, DHS, SACS, Wynberg, Paarl, Grey Bloem, Paul Roos, KES, Jeppe, PBHS, Selbourne, Grey PE etc would all say the same. Glenwood call themselves a brotherhood since 1910, most of those other schools have been the same for longer. Maritzburg College for over 160 years. The Kings School in Canterbury, Kent has been doing it since 597, 1,427 years of it….perspective is key
@Asterix (Comment #10)
It’s a frequent misconception that Affies is solely focused on rugby, but this perspective overlooks the rich, comprehensive lifestyle and camaraderie fostered by the school. The essence of Affies extends beyond sports; it’s about nurturing a spirit of brotherhood, discipline, and excellence that permeates every aspect of the school experience.
Many parents I’ve spoken to consider Affies their top choice not just for its renowned rugby program but for the unique environment it offers. They appreciate the school’s commitment to building strong, personal relationships between students, coaches, and the broader school community. This relationship ensures that hardworking students have the opportunity to excel and potentially secure a position in the 1st team, highlighting the school’s dedication to recognizing and rewarding effort and dedication since Grade 8.
This approach is particularly reassuring for parents, who value the assurance that their children won’t be sidelined in critical years like Grade 11 in favor of newly recruited talent. Instead, Affies emphasizes continuous development and fair opportunity for all its students, ensuring that those who are committed and work hard see their efforts acknowledged.
@Roger (Comment #17)
There is 3 Brothers. The dedication of the parents in teaching the 3 Brothers Afrikaans to ensure admission to a top state school is not only commendable but also a powerful reminder of the crucial role parents play in their children’s educational journey.
It highlights an important point: education begins at home. Parents’ proactive involvement, especially in language acquisition, can open doors to opportunities that might otherwise be inaccessible.
@Roger (Comment #17)
Eish!!!!!
@Grasshopper (Comment #7) I saw a photo of the Affies 2024 grade 8 intake in their school hall – it was on X (Twitter) but has probably been taken down because it caused a bit of a sh#t storm – 347 boys and nary a brother in sight
@OudAffie (Comment #15)
Thanks for the detailed stats, I know when it comes to
Affies stats there is none better than you, even when Djou was giving you a hard time when he did his research last year.
The information I had as per below was from parents from last year, where the boys were in the G teams and lower, maybe it was as per your explanation that they swap them around and was that the reason for them indicating they only played 2 to 3 games. I also now looked at Affies facebook where the results are normally shown, but maybe they just didn’t load all the results for the lower teams.
Looking forward to a good rugby season, I watched some of the Affies trials last week at the junior levels, and have to say that was some of the most physical junior schoolboy rugby I have ever seen. The boys really gave everything to be selected.
AFFIES GAMETIME PER TEAM
1: 15 games
2: 12 games
3: 11 games
4: 12 games
5: 11 games
6: 9 games
7: 10 games
8: 10 games
9: 10 games
10: 7 games
11-14: 2 games
16A: 15 games
16B: 12 games
16C: 13 games
16D: 13 games
16E: 10 games
16F: 7 games
16G: 1 game
15A: 15 games
15B: 12 games
15C: 13 games
15D: 12 games
15E: 8 games
15F: 8 games
15G: 2 games
14A: 15 games
14B: 12 games
14C: 13 games
14D: 12 games
14E: 11 games
14F: 10 games
14G: 4 games
NOW, as far as I know, Affies rugby structure is that coaches have two teams, same coaches for A and B, Same coaches for C and D and usually about 6 coaches or more for E, F and G and the rest if more teams come to be, ie H,I,J,K
I know that the E,F,G and even more lower teams regularly rotate players as to give everyone gametime. Meaning E team playing 2 games in a week then 2 wholly different teams will be selected. Boys moving between A/B and C/D and E/F/G/H squads rather than moving up 1 team at a time when there are injuries or when someone plays themselves up.
AND AGAIN, this year and last year may be the first times that Affie rugby teams will have lower teams that G, and G was a stretch. But with more boys wanting to play, all of a sudden 2 to 3 teams are extra. I am sure Affies will manage gametime very well.
Also take not the at least 70% of the lowers teams seasons consists of gametime againts higher teams, the boys will by no means feel that their time are being wasted.
As jou seun by Affies wil rugby speel, sal hy geleentheid kry.
Net my twee sent
I wonder how much of an impact winning the RWC has on schoolboy rugby player numbers.
I see Garsies are also posting good numbers due to trial attendance figures. They can field a 1st XV to 5th XV.
@Asterix (Comment #12)
Of Klub 600 Borgskap spelers teen Nie-Borgskap spelers.
Dit sal klipharde wedstryde wees…
@Rainier (Comment #11)
Dink affies moet maar n interne liga begin, soos die ou carlton beker van Tukkies in die 80’s en 90’s waar al die koshuise en daily’s teen mekaar gepeel het. Affies moet maar dat die voog klasse teen mekaar speel elke week:wink:
Looking at the amount of very exited young boys at Loftus this past Saturday AHS might have 20 /14 teams in a few years time.
@4×4 (Comment #8)
Although I have to agree with almost everything you say, and have the utmost respect for the school, one thing that is in my opinion a small concern, from a RUGBY POINT is the amount of talent that might potentially get lost. Just to make it clear from the start I don’t believe it is Affies fault, I am just pointing some facts from a schoolboy rugby point.
As an example Affies o/14’s, there is a potential of 11 teams for this year. If you use last year as an example the teams from nr 7 to 11 (G-K), normally only play around 1 to 3 games over the season against other schools. The I (9) team of last year had one game for the season, They played against another schools A team and Affies “I” won 31-0 .
You might argue that if you are not in the top 4 teams (the top 4 play mostly all the games) they are not good enough. This year there were around 200 grade 8’s, out of the 350 boys, that played trials, there were more than 25 nr 9’s and more than 15 nr 10’s, on wing and fullback there were more than 30 players that I am aware off. (This is just some examples of the positions). According to my information more than half of these players were starting in the specific positions last year for the respective primary schools 1st teams. Affies get students from more than 60 different schools. I would go as far to say that I believe a lot of the players in the G,H and even I teams will be good enough to be in a “A or B” team of many other schools. Only the top 4 or lets say top 6 will get proper game time this year. (this weekend, o/14 only top 6 teams are going, 90 boys out of the 200).
It is not the fault of Affies that so many boys that can play rugby is hopeful that they can go to Affies and get selected, it is actually a huge compliment for the school, and it is not Affies fault that the other schools don’t have the same amount of players to have opposition games. One thing however is for certain, a lot of potential good players are lost at o/14 due to size or skills or other reasons, the school do try to have the lower teams play against each other at practise but we all know it is not same.
With all that said I am not aware of one boy that will go to another school after not getting selected in a top team at Affies, I do however know of a couple that has indicated that they might have to focus on other sports going forward. One thing is for sure that when Affies plays at home especially against Grey, each and every one of those boys will be sitting next to the field and supporting the Affies 1st team, they will always be loyal to Affies and the institution.
@4×4 (Comment #8)
That wasn’t the aim, it was an observation. ALL decent schools should look after all teams, in fact I’ve always said over the past 15 years or so on this blog, put the best coaches at the lowest levels to get the basics right. Also, play the same style of rugby across the teams so players slot in easily above if there are injuries. It very important to have depth and Affies certainly does. My observation was that the lower teams would battle to find fixtures and that because the demographic is rugby mad it’s easier to get those numbers. Schools in KZN as an example, have basketball, soccer and hockey to compete with rugby. Generally the Asian population is large and doesn’t play rugby.
@Grasshopper<span It's disheartening that a conversation about schoolboy rugby gets sidetracked by political demographics, which seems unrelated to the initial discussion about the participation of 40 teams. Notably, Affies, an Afrikaans school, contrasts with the preference among people of color for English-medium schools. Despite this, Afrikaans schools like Affies consistently rank among the top academic institutions in the country. Beyond their sporting prowess, Affies demonstrates a commitment to inclusivity, ensuring all teams, not just the elite, have opportunities to compete, as seen with the upcoming games in Kimberley. Putting Affies down will not let your light shine brighter. Laat daar Lig wees.
@4×4 (Comment #5)
That’s the same philosophy for all the traditional boys schools, nothing new there. It’s probably down to the demographic of intake, rugby crazy kids. I would also bet the demographics of the school do not represent the demographics of the country. It is a great achievement but what will happen is Affies teams will need to play Affies teams to get game time. Maritzburg College could probably do 30 teams at a push, Westville 25 and Glenwood/Northwood 22/23. In Joburg maybe Jeppe and KES could do 25 teams, the other 15 will need to look around for staggers against smaller schools…
Perfect and well thought through response. I believe that schools who follow this route such as Affies and Grey College truly set the educational and ethical standards.
For the third consecutive year, the Grey College 1st team can boast that all the current 1st team players have been at Grey since their grade 8 year.
@Grasshopper (Comment #4)The establishment of 40 teams at Affies reflects a significant commitment from both the teaching staff and the students. It’s a testament to the school’s dedication to nurturing talent and providing ample opportunities for every boy interested in rugby to participate, grow, and excel. This approach fosters a culture of inclusivity and ensures that each student feels valued and supported in their athletic pursuits.
Affies’ philosophy of developing talent from within—focusing on boys who join in Grade 8 and see them through to matriculation—emphasizes the importance of long-term personal and athletic development over short-term gains. This approach not only promotes loyalty and a deep sense of belonging among the students but also strengthens the school’s rugby program organically, without relying on ‘shopping’ for talent externally. It celebrates the journey of growth and learning, underscoring the value of hard work, perseverance, and dedication.
In a sporting landscape where many schools might ‘shop’ for talent to quickly bolster their teams and secure wins, Affies’ commitment to building and nurturing their own talent stands out as a commendable alternative. It not only showcases a commitment to ethical sportsmanship and development but also challenges the prevailing trend of prioritizing immediate success over the development of students’.
Ridiculous, who are the 14th’s going to play, other schools 7th and 8ths? Just nuts. Pooling of talent in a few schools is not good for the game…
Immense respect for both these schools who are able to field so many teams! I have personally never heard of a school pushing past 11th XV, so 14 teams is unreal! Looking forward to a good schoolboy rugby season.
@kantako (Comment #1)
That is true.
A while back I was wondering how Garsfontein get it right with only one main rugby field and a sort of green patch alongside it. Word is they also made use of their hockey astro to train rugby teams.
But 40 teams. Fields, staff, support services, fixture setting, logistics. That is hectic and hard work.
This is unbelievable. Well done to everyone involved. Just imagine the logistics around training each afternoon, transport, fields, and on match days, referees etc etc