Update: It has been difficult to keep track of all the changes made to the Kearsney Easter Rugby Festival Fixtures but hopefully the list below is the correct one.
Kearsney likes to keep their fixtures under wraps until the official launch but with the way SBR is progressing, the organisers perhaps need a rethink on the marketing strategy. Get the fixtures out early and try to build interest around the festival over a longer time is the way to go! Exposure is a big deal! The risk of KERF becoming a lower key affair increases each year, in the face of the premier events like rugby festival Noord-Suid and Wildeklawer showing ambition and a willingness to expand. In 2026, the closeness of Noord-Suid to Easter will be a threat of note. There is an outside chance that the likes of Durbanville, EG Jansen, Framesby, Monument and Rustenburg opt out of KERF in the interests of player welfare coupled with preferring the bigger stage and higher exposure that Noord-Suid guarantees them.
From November 2024
Western Cape schools Durbanville and Milnerton will be the new additions to the downsized Kearsney Easter Rugby Festival (KERF) of 2025, along with one other big surprise newbie.
Durbanville has been working extremely hard to launch their rugby programme into top tier status in their ultra-competitive Western Province. They have enjoyed their share of successes along the way including a memorable giant-killing of Paarl Boys’ High in 2023, however for the most part, it has been a slog. Fortunately they are blessed with grafters who seem to be committed to the cause. Durbies have been part of the high profile NMI Toyota Noord-Suid tournament since 2019, so they have been enjoying good exposure. KERF should offer them the opportunity to grow their brand, which already has a strong connection to KZN via the name Durban. Add to this, head coach Ivan Jooste was the Westville Boys’ High director of rugby until a couple of seasons ago. Durbies are quietly confident about the team they will put out in 2025. Signs are that the physicality up front is looking good and out wide there will be some bright young talent on offer.
Milnerton were a Cinderella story of 2024. Instructed and mentored by SA School “A” coach Bobby Martin, the boys punched several categories above their weight this last season and delivered come-from-behind knock out blows that will last in the memories of their old boys and supporters for life. They beat two Cape Town heavyweights Rondebosch and Bishops in high scoring thrillers. The wins were both build around never-say-die character driven performances. So from a dream-team like season of 2024, the question to be posed is can they show that same high level of consistency in 2025. They will remain underdogs but one thing is for sure, no one is going to take them lightly. The feeling on the ground from the home camp is:
“Yes it will be a challenge but we’ve got some talented guys left over so hopefully we can surprise a few again!”
When it comes to the festival’s line-up, many of the usual suspects return, continuing the tradition that has made KERF the most competitive of the Easter Rugby Festivals for well over a decade. Rustenburg will make their second consecutive appearance, while Dale College marks their return to the event.
Notably absent are 2024 participants Marlow, Nico Malan, Noord-Kaap, Pearson and Worcester Gim, each out for various reasons. The festival has also been streamlined for 2025, with the number of participating schools reduced from 14 to 12.
Fixture List:
| KEARSNEY EASTER R/F | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Day 1 : Thu 17-Apr-2025 | ||||||
| 08h00 | WP | Milnerton | vs | Peterhouse | ZIM | |
| 09h20 | BOR | Dale | vs | Durbanville | WP | |
| 10h40 | KZN | Durban HS | vs | Rustenburg | LEO | |
| 13h00 | VAL | EG Jansen | vs | Kearsney | KZN | |
| 14h20 | KZN | Glenwood | vs | Monument | LIO | |
| 15h40 | EP | Framesby | vs | Westville | KZN | |
| Day 2 : Sat 19-Apr-2025 | ||||||
| 08h00 | WP | Durbanville | vs | Rustenburg | LEO | |
| 09h20 | EP | Framesby | vs | Peterhouse | ZIM | |
| 10h40 | KZN | Glenwood | vs | Milnerton | WP | |
| 13h00 | VAL | EG Jansen | vs | Westville | KZN | |
| 14h20 | BOR | Dale | vs | Kearsney | KZN | |
| 15h40 | KZN | Durban HS | vs | Monument | LIO | |
| Day 3 : Mon 21-Apr-2025 | ||||||
| 08h00 | WP | Milnerton | vs | Monument | LIO | |
| 09h20 | BOR | Dale | vs | Glenwood | KZN | |
| 10h40 | EP | Framesby | vs | EG Jansen | VAL | |
| 13h00 | KZN | Durban HS | vs | Durbanville | WP | |
| 14h20 | LEO | Rustenburg | vs | Westville | KZN | |
| 15h40 | KZN | Kearsney | vs | Peterhouse | ZIM | |
The festival will also host a primary schools event and for the first time ever a girls’ school event.
Milnerton will have a tough old time living with Monnas
@Dixon’s (Comment #12)
No he is not, I had him as a form head, he destroyed many kids confidence & told them they will end up as nothing. Trust me, he’s not a good person & happy to tell him that to his face…
@Grasshopper (Comment #11)
Breaking my rule about engaging with you on this forum to say one thing, this kind of name calling is not necessary. Show some class man. Tony Pinheiro is a world class educator and Headmaster/Leader.
@ForeverHorseFly (Comment #10)
Pinhead still avoiding the banana skin only 2.7km’s away ;-)
@Kaya 85 (Comment #9)
Hopefully the 2025 can live up to the challenge and continue where the 2024 team left off.
@ForeverHorseFly (Comment #5)
Wow….DHS will be getting around in ’25.
@ForeverHorseFly (Comment #5)
Maybe focus on getting the oldest Durban derby back up & running again than chasing rankings fixtures.
@beet (Comment #4)
If traditional schools want to keep in touch with old boys they need to head overseas. More there than in Joburg or anywhere in SA.
DHS FIXTURES
@RuggaFreak (Comment #3)
This is amongst the big challenges for KERF. Quite a few coastal schools see the Jozi Fests as an opportunity to connect with their old boys communities. Travel costs is the other consideration as its often cheaper to get to Jozi than Botha’s Hill.
IMO Selborne was a huge loss for KERF. They were a founding member of KERF and attended every single one for a number of years until recently. Obviously Tommo’s relationship with Kev Taylor and probably Sammy Gunn helped this relationship to stay strong.
Queen’s also played a big part in helping KERF get off the ground and body checking wing S’bura Sithole was pretty much the poster boy for KERF for many years as he became a Sharks senior rugby success story.
However QC did not have a great time at KERF during their cameos in the 2010’s. They lost 9 out of their last 9 matches on the Stott, which must have helped make the move to Jozi an easy one.
I just spoke to an inland school official this past week about coming to KERF in the future. Although his school is working hard to improve their rugby, his feeling was that KERF was generally too difficult. Translated he was saying it was easier to get wins at one of the Jozi fests.
Johannesburg with all the Old Boys from the different schools coming out in numbers seems to be where it’s at for me. Our(QC) foundation old boys branch is in Joburg anyway so I really hope we never go back to Kearsney.
STEP BACK OR FORWARD FOR KERF?
For KERF itself I don’t think it’s a step in the right direction in regards to attracting spectators and potential sponsors.
With so many festivals on offer each festival needs to be very clear in what value the offer their Sponsors, participating schools and spectators.
SMALLER IS BETTER