While the Durbanville 1st XV may not have set the world alight in 2024, there are many positives happening behind the scenes, helping to forge a strong rugby culture at this 197-year-old Afrikaans-medium co-educational school. They can now field an impressive 19 teams:
Open A to G
U16 A to E
U15 A to D
U14 A to E
This is more than sufficient for qualification for Western Province Premier League status. The only challenge is that, with nine high schools already competing, the annual fixture list is rather congested.
In 2024, Durbanville who still classified as a Premier-B school in Western Province, faced six of the nine Premier League schools. Although they did win any of those U19A games, aside from the season opener against Paarl Boys’ High, they were fairly competitive against good opposition who participate in the strong domestic league. The three A-league schools missing from their schedule were the 2024 National Champions Paul Roos, Rondebosch (who claimed the first Southern Suburbs grand slam in ten years), and Bishops, who had a challenging year.
It has been mentioned before that Bishops, as a schoolboy rugby brand, is of immense value. The name is synonymous with countless Platinum Blue 1st XV jerseys, an enterprising style of rugby, and the production of numerous Springboks, among other great memories. This is not the kind of tradition and history anyone would want to relinquish lightly or without a fight. However, Bishops are now under increasing pressure to turn a corner in their rugby or perhaps find a more comfortable position within the high-quality Western Cape rugby landscape.
Rather than viewing Durbanville’s ambition and quest for a place among the elite as a threat, it could provide an opportunity for Bishops to tailor-make a solution that keeps them very much in the picture without overextending their resources.
For now all Durbanville can do is keep working hard and hope for some good news about promotion.
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