KZN often struggles to schedule all domestic interschool matches, mainly due to the different holiday calendars of state and independent schools. In 2024, this led to significant challenges because there weren’t enough Saturdays available.
The good news is that 2025 looks much more manageable. A key indicator is the Hilton and Michaelhouse schedules, which typically miss a local interschool fixture due to a lack of Saturdays. However, in 2025, both private schools will compete against eight out of nine other KZN schools in the League.
2025 is set to produce the best attendance of the Grey High Rugby Festival in Gqeberha by KZN schools since 2014.
Northwood may also be in line for an ABSA Wildeklawer debut in Kimberley.
Here’s a look at the W-I-P KZN fixture list:
| DATE | HC | MHS | MC | DHS | WV | NW | KC** | GW** | CC** | DATE |
| 08-Mar | HMK | BVHS | 08-Mar | |||||||
| 15-Mar | WV | NW | DHS | MC | HC | MHS | SCC | 15-Mar | ||
| 21-Mar | 21-Mar | |||||||||
| 22-Mar | KC | DHS | NW | MHS | GW | MC | HC | WV | 22-Mar | |
| 23-Mar | 23-Mar | |||||||||
| 29-Mar | GREY1 | GREY1 | GREY1 | GREY1 | GREY1 | 29-Mar | ||||
| 31-Mar | GREY2 | GREY2 | GREY2 | GREY2 | GREY2 | 31-Mar | ||||
| 12-Apr | GW | NW | WV | MC | 12-Apr | |||||
| 17-Apr | EASTER1 | EASTER1 | EASTER1 | EASTER1 | EASTER1 | EASTER1 | EASTER1 | EASTER1 | EASTER1 | 17-Apr |
| 19-Apr | EASTER2 | EASTER2 | EASTER2 | EASTER2 | EASTER2 | EASTER2 | EASTER2 | EASTER2 | EASTER2 | 19-Apr |
| 21-Apr | EASTER3 | EASTER3 | EASTER3 | EASTER3 | 21-Apr | |||||
| 26-Apr | SCC | CC | PBHS | NW | JEPPE | DHS | GW | KC | MHS | 26-Apr |
| 01-May | WK FEST1 | WK FEST1 | WK FEST1 | 01-May | ||||||
| 03-May | MHS | HC | WK FEST2 | WK FEST2 | WK FEST2 | NW* | 03-May | |||
| 10-May | PBHS | KC | SCC | KES | JEPPE | MHS | 10-May | |||
| 17-May | CC | GW | WV | KC | MC | SCC | DHS | HC | 17-May | |
| 24-May | WV | DHS | 24-May | |||||||
| 31-May | DHS | PBHS | KC | HC | GW | MC | WV | 31-May | ||
| 07-Jun | NW | MC | MHS | KC | HC | WV | SCC | 07-Jun | ||
| 14-Jun | MC | WV | HC | MHS | 14-Jun | |||||
| 21-Jun | MHS | HC | 21-Jun | |||||||
| 26-Jul | AHS | JEPPE | GW | NW | 26-Jul | |||||
| 02-Aug | PBHS | NW | DHS | 02-Aug | ||||||
| 09-Aug | GW | KES | MC | 09-Aug | ||||||
| DATE | HC | MHS | MC | DHS | WV | NW | KC** | GW** | CC** | DATE |
* No 1st XV game. Northwood at Wildeklawer
** Fixture list not received
“17-May Sharks Rugby Day
@beet (Comment #12)
Yes he seems a really good player. Good point…wonder how they will juggle that.
@Skywalker (Comment #11)
I must say after watching a bit of Grant Khomo Week, the u16 scrummy of Northwood looks liked really good. It will be interesting to see how the Knights accommodate him and Mun-Gavin in 2025
@beet (Comment #8)
Will be interesting to see how NW go next year after such a good 2024. The bulk of the 1st team will matriculate and our u16A’s this year were actually quite weak and inconsistent. So that isnt ideal for next year. Also we now have a target on our back, and teams like Westville, Hilton, MBC and others have a score to settle. Will be interesting.
@beet (Comment #8)
I’m quietly confident Glenwood can be top 5 in KZN again plus come back into Top 50, maybe Top 30….let’s see…..the Falcon must rise….
Condolences to the Michaelhouse Community, young Garth Finnemore and parents passing in an horrific car accident coming home from a Sevens tourno. Thoughts and prayers with all involved.
@Van wyk (Comment #7)
Yeah I think you may be right. Using that 75:25 analysis of the u16s for 2023/2024, its DHS (9), Westville (10) and Hilton (11) alongside each other. Maritzburg College (14), Northwood (19) and Michaelhouse (22) not far behind them. Then you have Glenwood who will probably field the most experienced 1st XV capped team.
Kearsney is expected to find the going a bit tough. This is obvious before the 8 KZN schools’ boosters that have arrived and are still to join before the start of 2025 are added to the mix. Sometimes frowned upon, but u19 returners can also reshape fortunes.
Next year I honestly expect kzn to be a war zone but to be truthful I think DHS and westville will be competing for the top spot in the province. Hilton as well might be in the mix. Those 3 had 3 great u16A teams this year and mainly last year
Glenwood vs DHS is a priority, we don’t care if we get pumped. Adults need to put things aside for the kids and let this game go ahead. Glenwood will be back, the Falcon is arising from the ashes…..
@beet (Comment #4)
without knowing the full fixture list – I’m guessing Jeppe (home and away), PBHS (home and away), Noord Suid, KES Festival, Affies, St Johns, Norries, DHS, Westville, Parktown, St Benedicts – that’s already 15 games. Not sure if Saints will be back on the fixture list either !
@Roger (Comment #3)
Yeah I’m happy for KES that they could fill the gap left by Maritzburg College.
It would be nice if the Lions region schools could have a complete interaction of the new Big 5. KES plays Nories again in 2025 to go with the big Jeppe derbies but no Monnas and probably no Helpies either.
Seems KES have swapped College for DHS. Wonderful to see DHS back on the KES fixture list again. This used to be an annual fixture for these two schools played over the old Ascension day long weekend. It was stopped in 2014/15 I think after DHS were on the wrong side of a few big scores. I stand to be corrected but outside of Jeppe, St Johns, Parktown and Pretoria Boys High – I think DHS is KES’s oldest rival.
@ForeverHorseFly (Comment #1)
Seems crazy…the biggest losers here are by far the boys, who I’m sure would love to play the traditional derby. I genuinely feel for them. 7 June both schools don’t have fixtures, someone make it happen…
Still no DHS vs Glenwood looking at the list, that’s a shame.