I don’t know the Makathanda/EC set up well enough! For me the below is a bigger story about how High School rugby has gone down a rabbit hole. There is no return for any Schools which aim to be a tier 1 rugby school. The issue is self created by expecting parents, coaches improving their own CV and the pressure of weekly published rankings.
Anyhow. I do think a big part of the KC ‘lure’ could be what looks like promises of opportunities to studying in the UK after school and a link/partnership with Gloucester- Google it!
We forget that so many boys stand with empty hands and nothing after matric. Thats a broader issues that needs adressed.
Many tier 1 rugby schools aren’t guilty of ‘poaching’ but just about most is guilty of wearing young boys thin via thein rugby program as a marketing tool followed by ‘destination zero’ after High school!
A boy privilege enough to be selected for Craven Week can easily end up playing in excess of 20 to even +23 games. That’s crazy!!
@Wyvern (Comment #22)
What an ignorant comment my guy, so typical of a “private school” mentality. The kid is already thriving academically at Greame already which means the environment there is working for him. The school needs more kids like him, so why give him a bursary and lure him away? What makes you think he is better off now? According to who and what ? What a silly disgusting comment. Elitist mentality.
@Buthelezi2 (Comment #67)
Such a good comment! Well done. These are great schools in SA. Dont undermine them. Dont underestimate them. I wonder how the normal kids at private schools might cope one day if their boss comes from Dale? The message we are sending about private schools is scary in some of these comments.
@Wyvern (Comment #22)
YOH! How people havent jumped down your throat more for this comment is amazing. I am trying to figure out if it is more ignorant or more arrogant!? I just check with a mate in Makhanda.That kid was top of his grade with straight A symbols across the board. How is he going to improve now at KC? Oh, and he is a good rugby player Im told.
Are you sugegsting education is better at private schools in SA?
@Buthelezi2 (Comment #67)
And schoolboy rugby will be poorer if schools like these are constantly raided. If done for the right reasons, there will not be an outcry.
@Playa (Comment #61)
Absolutely agree with you. What’s more is that schools like Dale, Hudson, Graeme etc. have proven time and again that they’re capable of nuturing and producing outstanding players. Just look at players like Fassi, Hlekani, Mahashe, Finca etc.
These schools have the resources.
There should be absolutely no problem with giving a scholarship to a disadvantaged kid to attend a top school. The problem lies when schools, very secretly, snatch a kid from a well established school where he is well looked after and in an environment to thrive. Unfortunately it often comes down to more than just a scholarship, with kids often being offered the newest iPhones along with other financial incentives to lure them in. The kids well-being is not at all the priority but rather the 1st XV rugby results, which we as South Africans have an unhealthy obsession with. Sad that this line has been crossed and sickening that some people will go out of their way to defend these practices.
@Playa (Comment #61)
Definitely a tricky and unfortunate set of circumstances and you are right in saying the parents did owe Dale Primary an explanation at as to what is happening conidering the boy was on scholarship there as well.
But ultimately primary schooling comes to an end and choosing a high school comes into play, so kids being “targets” will almost always occur at the primary school level. Yes the boy could almost certainly have stayed a year more at Dale Junior but that is being weighed against an opportunity to guarantee your high school early and unfortunately with that, the player has to move closer to the high school in the grade 7 year. I’m assuming with this, the high school plays an active role in the boys development at that primary school as well as helping them adjust. The high school in this instance is invested in the boy and invested early and they gain nothing at that point beyond the player moving to their school a year later. Now my question is, a boy from a disadvantaged background being given this kind of opportunity, is it in their best interest to turn it down? Most high schools would be happy to wait a year and come to the boy end of primary and make whatever offers they would normally make but one chose to identify the potential early and make an investment early.
@Kantman (Comment #62)
A lot of recruitment processes have long shifted form putting scholar welfare above everything else. Now its just the schools and egos first, second, third and last.Just sad.
@ForeverHorseFly (Comment #58)
A boy, let’s call him Sipho, comes from a disadvantaged upbringing, but has been spotted as a talented rugby player, and so it goes…
2023
Dale Junior awards him a rugby scholarship, and he subsequently joins the school
2024
He is a star under 12 player both for Dale and Border.In the same year, Mr ‘DHS Coach’,a former Dale Junior staff member approaches Sipho (and his parents) with a DHS bursary offer.However, the Sipho will only be in grade 7 in 2025.So Mr DHS Coach structures a deal where Sipho will join a Durban primary school in his grade 7 year then move to DHS in 2026 for grade 8, and DHS will cover all costs for his move to eThekwini, including his grade 7 school fees at the identified primary school.
Jan 2025
Schools re-open, and Sipho is not in class.Dale Junior contact his parents and only then does the school get notified of these events.
My 2 cents:
1.Getting kids in primary school is visionary from DHS – kudos for that initiative, but why target kids already on a scholarships at ‘premier’ rugby playing schools?
2.If they cant resist the boy’s talent, wouldn’t it have been fair to at least notify Dale as well so they can have an opportunity to counter if need be or if the situation allows? Afterall, Dale Junior had been funding the kid.
3. I do not know why the parents didnt disclose this to Dale, as the responsibility lies with them ultimately, and so the question raises eyebrows as to the nature of discussions between DHS and the parents…I’d rather not speculate though.
@BlouLou (Comment #59)
Ek dink Affies betaal hulle werwers heeltemal te min. Om die dink jaar in en haar uit speel hulle met kallers wat hulleself gewerf het in Graad 8, en speel daai Bulle tot in Graad 12. Hulle vermoë om in ‘n glasbal te kan kyk en presies te weet wie in Graad 8 gewerf moet word en sal ontwikkel tot in die Witbulle span is werklik ongelooflik!
Reading through all the post, just a few comments from my side:
• there will always be those in favor and those against “bursaries”. It is an perenial toppic on this blog and everyone has practically their own differing opinion
•Grizzly manages to take a specific post about Eastern Cape school and turns it into a “We at Garsies” discussion. Typical…. (@Grizzly (Comment #57)…. ek trek net jou been. Ontspan LOL
•All school gets annoyed if the players they invested in for 4 years suddenly “decides out of their own will” (want hulle almal wil mos uit hulle eie Garsies toe gaan) to move to another school.
•my opinion, if you buy a player in grade 8 you have blood on your hands. Just a much as when you buy in grade 12. I really don’t mind either way. That is now the norm. BUT… don’t talk about you developement program and strong rugby traditions if you have more than 11 players in your 1st team regularly that only joined your school in grade 11. You are not a factory of rugby players, you are a consumer of rugby players.
• If you tell me the player moves for amongst other reasons, academics, you are insulting my intellect and you are a liar. Its for rugby and only that. Grow up!!
• The top 4 schools (Grey, Affies , Paarl Gym and Paul Roos) all have various bursary programs. It might not be via the school directly but the player don’t pay their own school fees or all of it. Someone associated with the school does. (Another lie some would like us to believe.)
• Look after your own players. Otherwise someone else will.
•Schools have sometimes limited options at their disposal the counter act aggressive buying of their top talents. Cancelling fixtures are one of them. The offending school should then also “deal with it” if no one in their district wants to compete with them.
@Tang (Comment #50)
Agreed & Got You!
I’ll make it a mission to attend on March 15 at Jeppe. I’ll be sure to check them out, and if I am early enough hopefully the new u14s as well. I know a rugby scholarship boy when I see one on the field lol, but anyway I will get official comments from those closer to the situation.. I will let you know.
Not at all was I suggesting that you’d attempt to take from Jeppe or anyone. If Boys High did that, you yourself would go and stop it from happening lol. In life, we pay tax, the sun will rise, and Tang doesn’t support rugby scholarships, those are the 3 guarantees of life
There is a recent video by 94.7, it is up on YouTube (947 Joburg) – they are speaking about this case, and what I alluded to is being brought to light. It is a perfect opportunity for us here all to see the perspective of outsiders looking in to this. The world outside of us don’t see or understand how this is an issue, it is an issue so abstract to them, it’s borderline humourous, and I can understand to an extent. You’d really struggle to explain to an outsider why this is wrong. So forget about the governement or anything like that. The solution needs to come from the very community who feels strong and cares, which is the schoolboy rugby community and potentially SA Rugby.
@ForeverHorseFly (Comment #14)
I hear you – agreed, and admittedly, I do admire what DHS are doing to a large extent. I presume you know the case I was referring to, and the details thereof.It’s the circumstances and the “how” that left a bad taste, and to be fair the fault is not entirely on DHS.
@Grizzly (Comment #46)
Daarom my kommentaar…die Bul is daar vir rugby, punt! En ja, hy gaan goeie akademiese onderrig ook kry. En ek gee jou gelyk, die skool wat die mees deursigtigste is mbt hulle werwing vernaam in Graad 10 opwaarts is Garsies.
Ek vermoed dat oor so 4 jaar sal Garsies minder werf na Graad 10, want hulle onderouderdom spanne is sterk en kompeterend.
Sien baie uit na die Pretoria Cup die jaar vernaam doe bragging rights tussen al die spanne!!! Hoop ons kan koie een drink die jaar by Klub 600
@Tang (Comment #49)So is PBH, more than an excellent institution. To answer your first question… You know the answer. If the second part is a question, no one is at fault. It’s just a real life situation. If I can spin a little, why would a happy learner leave? I stated that Garsies will rather find out why the learner left than to run to social media. That this happened here?Did anyone ask the boys and parents if so why they left?
@wanza_15 (Comment #38)
Hi Wanza, Boys High offer bursaries through various mechanisms. The purpose of these bursaries is to give boys an opportunity to attend a school such as boys high. It would be very similar to the Theo Jackson fund. Boys High don’t use the bursary scheme to boost sports results. It could be that the u14 team from 2024 had several boys on bursaries who are good rugby players. I don’t speak for PBHS but I’m not aware of the approach changing and using bursaries to boost sports results. I think you can imagine the frustration this can cause in the greater PBHS community. Many old boys and parents would like to see a more aggresive, rugby focused approach. Time will tell what happens. One thing I doubt you will see from Boys High is the deliberate recruitment of a talented rugby player from another school. Imagine what this would do to traditional rivalries? Boys High have been playing rugby against Jeppe for well over 70 years. Recruiting a talented rugby player from Jeppe should not be tolerated.
@Grizzly (Comment #16)
It’s a simple test – what is the purpose of the bursary? Garsies have produced excellent matric results and it’s a fabulous school. I was curious about your point. It sounded like you were saying the school who loses the player is at fault. The school who acquires the play is not at fault.
All prominent rugby schools, with the possible exception of Pretoria Boys High, have bursaries for talented rugby players.
And while the issue of recruiting Gr 10 players is contentious it is much easier for the traditional schools, with their 8 underage teams per group, to be critical of it.
Nobody has clean hands and I believe the die has been cast.
@4×4 (Comment #40)
LOL, niemand het gese Garsies wil van n talentvolle rugby speler n prof maak nie. Ek claim dat as n seun nie van een van drie skole kom nie, hy waarskynlik akademies beter af sal wees by Garsies gegrond op n geskiedenis in uitslae.Wat my altyd verbaas is sekere skole en ondersteuners se entitlement dat slegs hulle beurse mag gee en verder as hulle dit so gee dit die enigste etiese manier is. Garsfontein werf by GK week.So ook hordes ander skole. So die leerder gaan 2 jaar daar wees.Amper die helfte van sy skool loopaan. Dis al baie gevra hier deur baie bloggers. Wys net een situasie uit met feite waar Garsies oneties of nie transparent was na n een en n half dekades van beurse uit deel. Hierdie is die derde jaar wat die Bere by gr 7 spelers werf.Dit gaan hulle egter nie stop om by GK te werf nie.
@Buthelezi2 (Comment #43)
Very good point you’ve made, KC isn’t a “rugby school” by any means other than tradition. And I’m not sure it’s trying to be one either.
My view is that most of the pressure in trying to strengthen the 1st team has a lot to do with the rivalry with SAC. The rivalry between the schools is too great, and Kday is too big an event for OKs (incl for SAC), for KC to get big scores put past them every year.
But the costs for gr8 to gr12 are ridiculous (for all privates).
@Kaya 85 (Comment #42)
I agree to an extent. If the child is already on a bursary/scholarship and then leaves, I think the school has a case for the parents (not the other school, albeit at times indirectly) to pay back some/all of the costs. This type of arrangement happens frequently in corporate hirings etc. I would be interested to know if this type of clause is worded in some way into the parent-school contract, and if not why not?
For full fee paying parents I don’t believe the losing school should be compensated in any way.
@wanza_15 (Comment #41)
Agreed. Unfortunately it’s much easier for Kingswood to buy an established player in grade 11 where he can immediately contribute to a talented first team, rather than paying +- R1mil in scholarship fees from gr 8-10 where he will play in their junior teams who lose practically every game of the season, including to so called “B-league” schools. Many people are under the illusion that Kingswood are a rugby school, when in reality it is only the first team who are competitive which is only due to their unethical practices.
Not impressed by what’s happening at Kingswood. They are taking players who have been developed by other schools’ carefully built systems and rugby cultures acquired over many years or generations even. Talented as those players may be individually, they owe a lot to the schools they are leaving, and as such Graeme or whoever would be justified in sending Kingswood a bill with minimum R20 k per year the child had spent in their rugby system. So e.g. a boy who started playing rugby in Gr 3 at Graeme Junior School, and got “recruited” at the end of Gr 9 by Kingswood would have had at least 7 years invested in him by the Graeme system…therefore with over R200 k of rugby skill/culture/learning/ IP invested. Graeme who now ‘lose’ that investment, would be within their rights to claim damages back from Kingswood – who think their deep pockets can buy them a rugby team.
I agree with many of the comments on here already
It is a question of ethics at the end of it all, there are no hard laws to stop any of this from happening, the Department of Education certainly won’t, they don’t see it is intricate as we do, they don’t really care that Kingswood may be “better” than say Graeme and it is due to player poaching, there isn’t a world where that is a REAL problem for the Governemnt the way it is for us here on SBR and the Boy School communities at large, in fact, if you go to government with this, they may even encourage it lol, “If a school want to offer a boy subsidised education, why on earth would we get in the way of that”.
The issue is that nothing governs or regulates schoolboy rugby, there is no official body, the success of a Saturday fixture depends largely on the commitment and planning done between the 2 schools in question, and schools furthermore decide whatever they want to do that is in their best interest. There needs to exist somewhat of a gentleman’s agreement between us and then a commitment between schools to follow it.
I am not against recruitment (may not shock you lol), but not at the expense of another school the way Kingswood are allegedly doing it. Besides the ethics, it is undermining and I can’t imagine how dejecting it must be for Graeme. I think the 2 conditions to allow for recruitment must be that the child is underprivileged (with the most weight), and it happens pre u14. This way (as mentioned by Kantman) we are resting assured that you have the child’s best interest at heart and that rugby comes “second”. I think at a high level this is the way it should be. There are small exceptions, ie, we got Sbu Nkosi in grade 10, we got Hacjivah Dayimani in grade 10, recently this Risima Khosa kid I believe came in grade 9, but all from underprivileged surroundings, so I guess really, if you can prove with relative certainty that you are massively bettering the life of the child in question, you should have the green light, or yellow light at worst.
@Grizzly (Comment #24)
Dit is ironies dat skole in Suid-Afrika rugbybeurse aanbied onder die voorwendsel dat dit die kind akademies bevoordeel, maar dan nie dieselfde beurse tot universiteitsvlak uitbrei nie.
As die beweerde filantropiese doel regtig die akademiese vooruitgang van die kind was, sou dit logies wees om hierdie ondersteuning tot hoër onderwys te verleng.
Die feit dat dit nie gebeur nie, dui daarop dat die werklike motief eerder sportprestasie en skoolreputasie is as ware akademiese welwillendheid.
@Rainier (Comment #35)
Dan moet hulle rugby programme kop.en skouers bo die ander skole uitstaan, as hulle seuns op Graad 8 werf en glad nie aanvullings in Graad 11 tw doen nie…wat sê dit dan van ‘n skool se rugby program. Ek is ten gunste van werwing op Graad 8 vlak, dan kies jy jou kallers en jy boer met hulle.
@Tang, I think I or someone else did allude to this towards the end of last season and I don’t recall your respose, maybe I lost it in the swarm of messages, but my understanding is that last year’s Boys High U14s had bought players? And that Pretoria Boys have started recruiting for grade 8? I understand this group were better than most if not all the u14s that have come through over the past 10 or so years?
@Rainier (Comment #35)
I stand to be corrected, but surely the top rugby boys at these schools aren’t paying their own fees, it might not be the school paying directly out of its own budget but maybe old boy benefactors or sponsors maybe? In as much as these schools will naturally draw in the top players because of their pedigree and history, I don’t think their parents would forgo a bursary opportunity at other top schools, even if they could afford the fees. If we are to say these schools have the best players(not the whole team but maybe 6 best players) in the country, they are actually paying for the pleasure of attending these schools while players slightly below their level get to attend other top schools for free?
@beet (Comment #34)
To be fair, when you are one of those schools you dont need to do much to convince any player to come to you. YOu are already a magnet for talent and you are instead turning great players/boys away. They get the pick of some of the very best simply by virtue of their brand and rugby legacy.
@Kantman (Comment #32)
And interesting about 2024,the Top 4 schools Paul Roos, Grey College, Paarl Gim and Affies all fielded 1st XVs made up predominantly of boys who had been at the respective schools since Grade 8. These schools recruit well for grade-8 but there is also a lot of good hard work that goes into developing their players over the five-year period.
“Kingswood College is aware of the letter circulated by Graeme College and is concerned by its contents. Our relationship with Graeme College has always been important to us and to the greater Makhanda community. Kingswood College’s scholarship and bursary opportunities adhere to a fair, transparent process, and are centred around the individual learner, and the opportunities that we can provide to them in consultation with their guardian/s. This year we have had over 600 applicants from around the country and the world for our scholarships and bursaries and we will look at each candidate through an equal lens. The narrative that Graeme, or any other school, is being targeted is simply untrue.We will continue to attempt to engage with Graeme College as we believe that the cancellation of fixtures and cultural events is not in the best interest of the children of Makhanda.”
Morning Beet
Given the letter doing the rounds about these two schools. Would be interesting to have a team list published of last year Kingswood first xv and what schools they started grade 8 in
1 Kingswood
2 Graeme
3 Selborne
Etc etc
No names of boys as it would be unfair
And by the way I support Graeme
I believe xxx is plundering schools to get a first rate team.
And by the way Kingswood have done this for years but in the past it was their bridging class(post matric)
Good morning, Beet. I hope you are well and, like everyone, looking forward to the school rugby season.
I saw on your blog that there has once again been an issue in the Eastern Cape, where one school has lured a talented sportsman away from another. While we cannot keep our heads buried in the sand, this sort of “gamesmanship” at schoolboy level just goes to show how important schoolboy sport is to Old Boys, parents, and the school itself.
Over the last few years, there have been some awful tragedies involving schoolboys—either while taking part in school sport or travelling to and from venues. Unfortunately, our schools’ sports results will never bring these boys back, yet we continue to put schoolboy sport at the pinnacle of everything.
Having been involved in school sport for a few decades—and don’t get me wrong, I am as competitive as anyone—I would far rather have the lives of these young gentlemen back than give up a season of brilliant results.
After all, it’s just schoolboy sport.
Right, off my soapbox.
I hope these Eastern Cape schools can sort their mess out because, in the long run, it’s our boys who lose out.
@OUD ANKER (Comment #25)
Dan verskil ons oor die een. Ek sien dit as n vergunning en uit hul pad gaan om nie die, let wel, vol klas te ontwrig nie maar nog steeds hom akomondeer. Ek het nie die feite nie maar die geskiedenis blyk aan Garsfontein se kant rakende die oorwig van waarsynlikheid gaan hy nie akademies benadeel word nie maar die teenoor gestelde. DJOU sal die feite he en as hy Wil dit vir ons post.
@Grizzly (Comment #24)
Jy is heeltemal reg, nie die seun of sy ouers is gedwing nie maar daar is verseker nie ‘n moerse vergunning aan hom gemaak wat betref sy 8e vak nie, daai was ‘n kwessie van “take it or leave it, as jy dit nie na-uurs kan bybring nie is dit jou probleem”. My vraag staan nogsteeds, het Garsfontein eerstens en mees belangrik as opvoedkundige instansie in belang van die seun se akademiese toekoms opgetree deur hom in graad 11 te recruit en ‘n beurs aan te bied, want gaan rugby regtig sy beroeps toekoms wees….nie onmoontlik nie, maar hoogs onwaarskynlik? of was die beurs vir selfsugtige rugby program redes?
@OUD ANKER (Comment #19)
Toe my seun in Garsies was, was hy en ek male sonder tel genader informeel deur ander skole(hulle stuur eers die runners voor officials deur die skool self) So ook ander beurs ouers, vriende van my en kennisse. Nooit gehardloop na Dir van sport, rugby of krieket toe nie. Ons het geweet wat die antwoord sou wees, besluit self. Dan waar die Bere leerders af gestaan het en daar was goeie spelers, het hulle nie drieg briewe gaan publiseer op social media nie. Hulle weet dis par vir die cource… Dink bv aan Abner.Ek weet die skool sal in niemand se pad staan as hy wil aan beweeg nie. Hierdie is feite soos die Jaques Kallis beurs by Pta BH. Wat die seun aan betref wat jy noem. Ek sal dit eerder sien as n moerse vergunning wat die skool doen om hom te akomodeer. Iemand gaan oor tyd werk.So na dit so aan hom verduidelik is het hy en sy ouers besluit om dit te aanvaar, hys defnetief nie gedwing nie.
Hilton were targeted by 11 JHB schools back in 2017 for the same issue. Unf money means these schools/teams can attract and ‘steal’ the best players easier then other schools potentially can. The challange is that it is not dissimilar to what happens at professional level. How many of our Sharks players have been bought from teams like the Lions of late? Money talks. We dont complain as Sharks supporters, knowing we are weakening their team at the same time. Its tricky and there is no clear answer.
1. You can’t force parents to keep a child in 1 school vs another
2. When is the ‘fair’ time for a player to be committed to a school? DHS getting clever and going a level lower to stay out of the drama more, but whats next? At what point can a school claim a player?
@OUD ANKER (Comment #21)
I tend to agree with you there.
For the case above I don’t know the background and details, and if the said boy is a standout sportsmen at all given that it says “TYPICALLY high achievers in academics AND sport”. What I do know is that GCs academics haven’t been up to their high standard in the last 10 or so years and this is (by GCs own admission) a pull factor on KCs part. Also,this is probably a local family and I’m sure they would’ve considered everything and that’s in the best interest for their boy.
I’m not saying how KC has gone about this is correct or not (although we are yet to hear their side), but I would imagine the boy is better off BOTH academically and on the sports field now than previously.
@Wyvern (Comment #20)
It is a good question, BUT the scenario you are sketching will be the exception, where a boy with such rugby talent that a school with a superior academic programme will only recruit him in grade 11. The boy in your scenario would have been identified long before his grade 11 year. I would say 99% of this grade 11 recruiting has no noble-care-for-the-boy reason from the school’s perspective.
@OUD ANKER (Comment #19)
What’s your view if the pupil gets brought in in gr11, and the academic environment is significantly improved and so too their results by gr12?
@Grizzly (Comment #16)
Yes, you are correct that Garsfontein has had a 100% matric pass rate for many years despite rugby bursaries, kudos for that, HOWEVER I have a massive problem recruiting a boy in grade 11, this particular boy had a certain package of school subjects at his previous school, then joining Garsfontein one of this subjects he had taken before, the classes are full at Garsfontein for 2025 and he can only take this subject as an 8th subject after school hours and he now needs to take a brand new 7th subject that he has never taken before in his previous school. What do you think this does to this boy’s academic future for the selfish sake of the school’s rugby programme? Yes, he will still pass matric, but most probably with a much lower average than if he stayed at his previous school….this is one of my gripes with Garsfontein and others recruiting as late as grade 11….and this by the way is not a fictive example, it just happened now in the beginning of 2025!
@Grizzly (Comment #15)
I don’t respect schools who’s rugby success is based on unethical tactics rather than a strong rugby culture and traditional school values. If the shoe fits…
@Tang (Comment #4)
No learner that ever received a bursury from Garsies has failed matric.Thats for the past 12 years and that’s a lot of bursaries and learners. So to awnswer your question what if it’s both benificial for the school and the learner. Not with standing what a lot of players achieved afther school in rugby.
@Buthelezi2 (Comment #9)
En jys pleinweg dom om die person te speel pleks van die bal. Jy het n ding vir enige iets Garsfontein maar weier eenvoudig om te se wie jy ondersteun sodat jou dom comments in perpektief geplaas kan word. Soos comment 11 aan Grasie, wie dink jy is jy??
@Playa (Comment #13)
Considering primary school is exactly where high schools should be recruiting kids from, I fail to see how this rises to the same level as the Graeme/Kingswood issue. That they are willing to potentially cover 6 years of fees, shouldn’t matter, no player is being poached from any competing high school and everything is based off the potential of the 12/13 year old which differs from what is perceived as a finished product when recruiting at high school level, especially post U16.
If Kingswood followed this tact instead, maybe they wouldn’t be in this position with Graeme/Selborne and Hudson. I’m not saying its perfect, but at least you not running foul of any high school rival
@Grasshopper (Comment #10)
DHS have changed tact now…they get them in primary school, by placing kids at a Durban junior school, presumably covering their fees there, in order to get their full services in their Grade 8 year once they graduate from grade 7 at that chosen junior school.All done unscrupulously..Sad sad sad
For once it’s not a KZN thing, thank goodness. KZN has already lost it’s oldest Durban derby due to mudslinging. It’s obviously still prevalent in KZN though, DHS have scooped a few from Glenwood. It all seems part and parcel of the schoolboy game now. Happy that Graeme is taking a stance here. In a private school vs Gov school tussle on a player, only one side wins. The Gov schools should create their own leagues…..apples vs apples in terms of funding and support, although the best Old Boy backing then wins eg DHS…
HUGE congratulations to Graeme, Selborne, Hudson and Cambridge for taking a stand against this unethical behaviour which we have bizarrely become accustomed to and accepted as normal
@RuggaFreak (Comment #6)
Seems no response from KC as of yet but it would be interesting to know their side of the story.
The challenge with offering bursaries to kids from rural schools, is two fold. Firstly, from an academic point of view the gap is just too big in the majority of instances. Secondly, don’t underestimate the socio-economic gap and the impact this has on a child’s psyche. I’m not saying it’s impossible, but in the reality and context of SA it’s a big challenge.
Great stuff by Graeme, I hope Kingswood is also banned from the Graeme Rugby day, no one likes them anymore. My thing is this, why not use recruitment to totally change a boys life? Why not aim your recruitment at disadvantaged rural schools instead of poaching from rivals which will lead to a bitter rivalry? Why poach a kid from Selborne, Hudson, Graeme etc where they are well looked after and have the resources and facilities for them to thrive? Kingswood now doesn’t play majority of the EC top schools and play schools like Woodridge, Mary Waters etc as their derbies and will still have the audacity to call themselves the best. Welldone, Graeme.
@Grizzly (Comment #3)
I’m not sure how to interperet your statement (not literally I can understand the Afrikaans). Are you saying Garsies would find themselves responsible for losing the player? So the fault lies with the school who has lost the player not with the school who has gained the player.
It all depends on perspective. I think we will all agree that bursaries are a good thing. However, we all seem to disagree on the application of bursaries. Are bursaries for education or for the glorification of the school?
Good to see some schools are willing to take a stance against this malevolent behaviour. Any bursary or acquisition of a child to improve sporting results and the image of a school should be banned by the Minister of Education.
LIFE AFTER HIGH SCHOOL.
Anyhow. I do think a big part of the KC ‘lure’ could be what looks like promises of opportunities to studying in the UK after school and a link/partnership with Gloucester- Google it!
We forget that so many boys stand with empty hands and nothing after matric. Thats a broader issues that needs adressed.
Many tier 1 rugby schools aren’t guilty of ‘poaching’ but just about most is guilty of wearing young boys thin via thein rugby program as a marketing tool followed by ‘destination zero’ after High school!
A boy privilege enough to be selected for Craven Week can easily end up playing in excess of 20 to even +23 games. That’s crazy!!
@Wyvern (Comment #22)
What an ignorant comment my guy, so typical of a “private school” mentality. The kid is already thriving academically at Greame already which means the environment there is working for him. The school needs more kids like him, so why give him a bursary and lure him away? What makes you think he is better off now? According to who and what ? What a silly disgusting comment. Elitist mentality.
SAD STATE
Such a good comment! Well done. These are great schools in SA. Dont undermine them. Dont underestimate them. I wonder how the normal kids at private schools might cope one day if their boss comes from Dale? The message we are sending about private schools is scary in some of these comments.
@Wyvern (Comment #22)
YOH! How people havent jumped down your throat more for this comment is amazing. I am trying to figure out if it is more ignorant or more arrogant!? I just check with a mate in Makhanda.That kid was top of his grade with straight A symbols across the board. How is he going to improve now at KC? Oh, and he is a good rugby player Im told.
Are you sugegsting education is better at private schools in SA?
@Buthelezi2 (Comment #67)
And schoolboy rugby will be poorer if schools like these are constantly raided. If done for the right reasons, there will not be an outcry.
@Playa (Comment #61)
Absolutely agree with you. What’s more is that schools like Dale, Hudson, Graeme etc. have proven time and again that they’re capable of nuturing and producing outstanding players. Just look at players like Fassi, Hlekani, Mahashe, Finca etc.
These schools have the resources.
There should be absolutely no problem with giving a scholarship to a disadvantaged kid to attend a top school. The problem lies when schools, very secretly, snatch a kid from a well established school where he is well looked after and in an environment to thrive. Unfortunately it often comes down to more than just a scholarship, with kids often being offered the newest iPhones along with other financial incentives to lure them in. The kids well-being is not at all the priority but rather the 1st XV rugby results, which we as South Africans have an unhealthy obsession with. Sad that this line has been crossed and sickening that some people will go out of their way to defend these practices.
@Playa (Comment #61)
Definitely a tricky and unfortunate set of circumstances and you are right in saying the parents did owe Dale Primary an explanation at as to what is happening conidering the boy was on scholarship there as well.
But ultimately primary schooling comes to an end and choosing a high school comes into play, so kids being “targets” will almost always occur at the primary school level. Yes the boy could almost certainly have stayed a year more at Dale Junior but that is being weighed against an opportunity to guarantee your high school early and unfortunately with that, the player has to move closer to the high school in the grade 7 year. I’m assuming with this, the high school plays an active role in the boys development at that primary school as well as helping them adjust. The high school in this instance is invested in the boy and invested early and they gain nothing at that point beyond the player moving to their school a year later. Now my question is, a boy from a disadvantaged background being given this kind of opportunity, is it in their best interest to turn it down? Most high schools would be happy to wait a year and come to the boy end of primary and make whatever offers they would normally make but one chose to identify the potential early and make an investment early.
@Kantman (Comment #62)
A lot of recruitment processes have long shifted form putting scholar welfare above everything else. Now its just the schools and egos first, second, third and last.Just sad.
@BlouLou (Comment #59)
Ek wil amper met jou saamstem, maar op plekke het jy my verloor
@Playa (Comment #61)
Tragic, and kids bear the brunt ultimately
@ForeverHorseFly (Comment #58)
A boy, let’s call him Sipho, comes from a disadvantaged upbringing, but has been spotted as a talented rugby player, and so it goes…
2023
Dale Junior awards him a rugby scholarship, and he subsequently joins the school
2024
He is a star under 12 player both for Dale and Border.In the same year, Mr ‘DHS Coach’,a former Dale Junior staff member approaches Sipho (and his parents) with a DHS bursary offer.However, the Sipho will only be in grade 7 in 2025.So Mr DHS Coach structures a deal where Sipho will join a Durban primary school in his grade 7 year then move to DHS in 2026 for grade 8, and DHS will cover all costs for his move to eThekwini, including his grade 7 school fees at the identified primary school.
Jan 2025
Schools re-open, and Sipho is not in class.Dale Junior contact his parents and only then does the school get notified of these events.
My 2 cents:
1.Getting kids in primary school is visionary from DHS – kudos for that initiative, but why target kids already on a scholarships at ‘premier’ rugby playing schools?
2.If they cant resist the boy’s talent, wouldn’t it have been fair to at least notify Dale as well so they can have an opportunity to counter if need be or if the situation allows? Afterall, Dale Junior had been funding the kid.
3. I do not know why the parents didnt disclose this to Dale, as the responsibility lies with them ultimately, and so the question raises eyebrows as to the nature of discussions between DHS and the parents…I’d rather not speculate though.
@BlouLou (Comment #59)
Ek dink Affies betaal hulle werwers heeltemal te min. Om die dink jaar in en haar uit speel hulle met kallers wat hulleself gewerf het in Graad 8, en speel daai Bulle tot in Graad 12. Hulle vermoë om in ‘n glasbal te kan kyk en presies te weet wie in Graad 8 gewerf moet word en sal ontwikkel tot in die Witbulle span is werklik ongelooflik!
Hi all. Long time no see.
Reading through all the post, just a few comments from my side:
• there will always be those in favor and those against “bursaries”. It is an perenial toppic on this blog and everyone has practically their own differing opinion
•Grizzly manages to take a specific post about Eastern Cape school and turns it into a “We at Garsies” discussion. Typical…. (@Grizzly (Comment #57)…. ek trek net jou been. Ontspan LOL
•All school gets annoyed if the players they invested in for 4 years suddenly “decides out of their own will” (want hulle almal wil mos uit hulle eie Garsies toe gaan) to move to another school.
•my opinion, if you buy a player in grade 8 you have blood on your hands. Just a much as when you buy in grade 12. I really don’t mind either way. That is now the norm. BUT… don’t talk about you developement program and strong rugby traditions if you have more than 11 players in your 1st team regularly that only joined your school in grade 11. You are not a factory of rugby players, you are a consumer of rugby players.
• If you tell me the player moves for amongst other reasons, academics, you are insulting my intellect and you are a liar. Its for rugby and only that. Grow up!!
• The top 4 schools (Grey, Affies , Paarl Gym and Paul Roos) all have various bursary programs. It might not be via the school directly but the player don’t pay their own school fees or all of it. Someone associated with the school does. (Another lie some would like us to believe.)
• Look after your own players. Otherwise someone else will.
•Schools have sometimes limited options at their disposal the counter act aggressive buying of their top talents. Cancelling fixtures are one of them. The offending school should then also “deal with it” if no one in their district wants to compete with them.
Have a lovely School Boy Rugby Season 2025!!
@Playa (Comment #54)
Unfortunately I don’t know the specific case you are referring too. Not sure if you willing to share the details?
@4×4 (Comment #53)
Dankie vir die gelyk gee. Ja by club 600 en dan een of twee donker plekke. Absolute Menlo moet net saam kom.
@Tang (Comment #50)
Agreed & Got You!
I’ll make it a mission to attend on March 15 at Jeppe. I’ll be sure to check them out, and if I am early enough hopefully the new u14s as well. I know a rugby scholarship boy when I see one on the field lol, but anyway I will get official comments from those closer to the situation.. I will let you know.
Not at all was I suggesting that you’d attempt to take from Jeppe or anyone. If Boys High did that, you yourself would go and stop it from happening lol. In life, we pay tax, the sun will rise, and Tang doesn’t support rugby scholarships, those are the 3 guarantees of life
There is a recent video by 94.7, it is up on YouTube (947 Joburg) – they are speaking about this case, and what I alluded to is being brought to light. It is a perfect opportunity for us here all to see the perspective of outsiders looking in to this. The world outside of us don’t see or understand how this is an issue, it is an issue so abstract to them, it’s borderline humourous, and I can understand to an extent. You’d really struggle to explain to an outsider why this is wrong. So forget about the governement or anything like that. The solution needs to come from the very community who feels strong and cares, which is the schoolboy rugby community and potentially SA Rugby.
@ForeverHorseFly (Comment #14)
I hear you – agreed, and admittedly, I do admire what DHS are doing to a large extent. I presume you know the case I was referring to, and the details thereof.It’s the circumstances and the “how” that left a bad taste, and to be fair the fault is not entirely on DHS.
@Grizzly (Comment #46)
Daarom my kommentaar…die Bul is daar vir rugby, punt! En ja, hy gaan goeie akademiese onderrig ook kry. En ek gee jou gelyk, die skool wat die mees deursigtigste is mbt hulle werwing vernaam in Graad 10 opwaarts is Garsies.
Ek vermoed dat oor so 4 jaar sal Garsies minder werf na Graad 10, want hulle onderouderdom spanne is sterk en kompeterend.
Sien baie uit na die Pretoria Cup die jaar vernaam doe bragging rights tussen al die spanne!!! Hoop ons kan koie een drink die jaar by Klub 600
@Grizzly (Comment #51)
Ok – I get your point now. It’s not a straightforward right or wrong. Many factors are at play.
@Tang (Comment #49)So is PBH, more than an excellent institution. To answer your first question… You know the answer. If the second part is a question, no one is at fault. It’s just a real life situation. If I can spin a little, why would a happy learner leave? I stated that Garsies will rather find out why the learner left than to run to social media. That this happened here?Did anyone ask the boys and parents if so why they left?
@wanza_15 (Comment #38)
Hi Wanza, Boys High offer bursaries through various mechanisms. The purpose of these bursaries is to give boys an opportunity to attend a school such as boys high. It would be very similar to the Theo Jackson fund. Boys High don’t use the bursary scheme to boost sports results. It could be that the u14 team from 2024 had several boys on bursaries who are good rugby players. I don’t speak for PBHS but I’m not aware of the approach changing and using bursaries to boost sports results. I think you can imagine the frustration this can cause in the greater PBHS community. Many old boys and parents would like to see a more aggresive, rugby focused approach. Time will tell what happens. One thing I doubt you will see from Boys High is the deliberate recruitment of a talented rugby player from another school. Imagine what this would do to traditional rivalries? Boys High have been playing rugby against Jeppe for well over 70 years. Recruiting a talented rugby player from Jeppe should not be tolerated.
THANKS FOR YOUR REPLY
It’s a simple test – what is the purpose of the bursary? Garsies have produced excellent matric results and it’s a fabulous school. I was curious about your point. It sounded like you were saying the school who loses the player is at fault. The school who acquires the play is not at fault.
@4×4 (Comment #39)
Hulle rugby programme staan nie kop en skouers uit nie, hulle het net baie meer troepe op die slagveld.
@ForeverHorseFly (Comment #37)
My comment was tongue in cheek.
All prominent rugby schools, with the possible exception of Pretoria Boys High, have bursaries for talented rugby players.
And while the issue of recruiting Gr 10 players is contentious it is much easier for the traditional schools, with their 8 underage teams per group, to be critical of it.
Nobody has clean hands and I believe the die has been cast.
@4×4 (Comment #40)
LOL, niemand het gese Garsies wil van n talentvolle rugby speler n prof maak nie. Ek claim dat as n seun nie van een van drie skole kom nie, hy waarskynlik akademies beter af sal wees by Garsies gegrond op n geskiedenis in uitslae.Wat my altyd verbaas is sekere skole en ondersteuners se entitlement dat slegs hulle beurse mag gee en verder as hulle dit so gee dit die enigste etiese manier is. Garsfontein werf by GK week.So ook hordes ander skole. So die leerder gaan 2 jaar daar wees.Amper die helfte van sy skool loopaan. Dis al baie gevra hier deur baie bloggers. Wys net een situasie uit met feite waar Garsies oneties of nie transparent was na n een en n half dekades van beurse uit deel. Hierdie is die derde jaar wat die Bere by gr 7 spelers werf.Dit gaan hulle egter nie stop om by GK te werf nie.
@Buthelezi2 (Comment #43)
Very good point you’ve made, KC isn’t a “rugby school” by any means other than tradition. And I’m not sure it’s trying to be one either.
My view is that most of the pressure in trying to strengthen the 1st team has a lot to do with the rivalry with SAC. The rivalry between the schools is too great, and Kday is too big an event for OKs (incl for SAC), for KC to get big scores put past them every year.
But the costs for gr8 to gr12 are ridiculous (for all privates).
@Kaya 85 (Comment #42)
I agree to an extent. If the child is already on a bursary/scholarship and then leaves, I think the school has a case for the parents (not the other school, albeit at times indirectly) to pay back some/all of the costs. This type of arrangement happens frequently in corporate hirings etc. I would be interested to know if this type of clause is worded in some way into the parent-school contract, and if not why not?
For full fee paying parents I don’t believe the losing school should be compensated in any way.
@wanza_15 (Comment #41)
Agreed. Unfortunately it’s much easier for Kingswood to buy an established player in grade 11 where he can immediately contribute to a talented first team, rather than paying +- R1mil in scholarship fees from gr 8-10 where he will play in their junior teams who lose practically every game of the season, including to so called “B-league” schools. Many people are under the illusion that Kingswood are a rugby school, when in reality it is only the first team who are competitive which is only due to their unethical practices.
Not impressed by what’s happening at Kingswood. They are taking players who have been developed by other schools’ carefully built systems and rugby cultures acquired over many years or generations even. Talented as those players may be individually, they owe a lot to the schools they are leaving, and as such Graeme or whoever would be justified in sending Kingswood a bill with minimum R20 k per year the child had spent in their rugby system. So e.g. a boy who started playing rugby in Gr 3 at Graeme Junior School, and got “recruited” at the end of Gr 9 by Kingswood would have had at least 7 years invested in him by the Graeme system…therefore with over R200 k of rugby skill/culture/learning/ IP invested. Graeme who now ‘lose’ that investment, would be within their rights to claim damages back from Kingswood – who think their deep pockets can buy them a rugby team.
I agree with many of the comments on here already
It is a question of ethics at the end of it all, there are no hard laws to stop any of this from happening, the Department of Education certainly won’t, they don’t see it is intricate as we do, they don’t really care that Kingswood may be “better” than say Graeme and it is due to player poaching, there isn’t a world where that is a REAL problem for the Governemnt the way it is for us here on SBR and the Boy School communities at large, in fact, if you go to government with this, they may even encourage it lol, “If a school want to offer a boy subsidised education, why on earth would we get in the way of that”.
The issue is that nothing governs or regulates schoolboy rugby, there is no official body, the success of a Saturday fixture depends largely on the commitment and planning done between the 2 schools in question, and schools furthermore decide whatever they want to do that is in their best interest. There needs to exist somewhat of a gentleman’s agreement between us and then a commitment between schools to follow it.
I am not against recruitment (may not shock you lol), but not at the expense of another school the way Kingswood are allegedly doing it. Besides the ethics, it is undermining and I can’t imagine how dejecting it must be for Graeme. I think the 2 conditions to allow for recruitment must be that the child is underprivileged (with the most weight), and it happens pre u14. This way (as mentioned by Kantman) we are resting assured that you have the child’s best interest at heart and that rugby comes “second”. I think at a high level this is the way it should be. There are small exceptions, ie, we got Sbu Nkosi in grade 10, we got Hacjivah Dayimani in grade 10, recently this Risima Khosa kid I believe came in grade 9, but all from underprivileged surroundings, so I guess really, if you can prove with relative certainty that you are massively bettering the life of the child in question, you should have the green light, or yellow light at worst.
Dit is ironies dat skole in Suid-Afrika rugbybeurse aanbied onder die voorwendsel dat dit die kind akademies bevoordeel, maar dan nie dieselfde beurse tot universiteitsvlak uitbrei nie.
As die beweerde filantropiese doel regtig die akademiese vooruitgang van die kind was, sou dit logies wees om hierdie ondersteuning tot hoër onderwys te verleng.
Die feit dat dit nie gebeur nie, dui daarop dat die werklike motief eerder sportprestasie en skoolreputasie is as ware akademiese welwillendheid.
@Rainier (Comment #35)
Dan moet hulle rugby programme kop.en skouers bo die ander skole uitstaan, as hulle seuns op Graad 8 werf en glad nie aanvullings in Graad 11 tw doen nie…wat sê dit dan van ‘n skool se rugby program. Ek is ten gunste van werwing op Graad 8 vlak, dan kies jy jou kallers en jy boer met hulle.
@Tang, I think I or someone else did allude to this towards the end of last season and I don’t recall your respose, maybe I lost it in the swarm of messages, but my understanding is that last year’s Boys High U14s had bought players? And that Pretoria Boys have started recruiting for grade 8? I understand this group were better than most if not all the u14s that have come through over the past 10 or so years?
@Rainier (Comment #35)
I stand to be corrected, but surely the top rugby boys at these schools aren’t paying their own fees, it might not be the school paying directly out of its own budget but maybe old boy benefactors or sponsors maybe? In as much as these schools will naturally draw in the top players because of their pedigree and history, I don’t think their parents would forgo a bursary opportunity at other top schools, even if they could afford the fees. If we are to say these schools have the best players(not the whole team but maybe 6 best players) in the country, they are actually paying for the pleasure of attending these schools while players slightly below their level get to attend other top schools for free?
@beet (Comment #34)
To be fair, when you are one of those schools you dont need to do much to convince any player to come to you. YOu are already a magnet for talent and you are instead turning great players/boys away. They get the pick of some of the very best simply by virtue of their brand and rugby legacy.
@beet (Comment #34)
And amazingly NONE of them offer any bursaries.
@Kantman (Comment #32)
And interesting about 2024,the Top 4 schools Paul Roos, Grey College, Paarl Gim and Affies all fielded 1st XVs made up predominantly of boys who had been at the respective schools since Grade 8. These schools recruit well for grade-8 but there is also a lot of good hard work that goes into developing their players over the five-year period.
“Kingswood College is aware of the letter circulated by Graeme College and is concerned by its contents. Our relationship with Graeme College has always been important to us and to the greater Makhanda community. Kingswood College’s scholarship and bursary opportunities adhere to a fair, transparent process, and are centred around the individual learner, and the opportunities that we can provide to them in consultation with their guardian/s. This year we have had over 600 applicants from around the country and the world for our scholarships and bursaries and we will look at each candidate through an equal lens. The narrative that Graeme, or any other school, is being targeted is simply untrue.We will continue to attempt to engage with Graeme College as we believe that the cancellation of fixtures and cultural events is not in the best interest of the children of Makhanda.”
If you recruit at grade 8, you care about the development of the player.
If you recruit at grade 11, you care about the results of the school 1st XV.
Morning Beet
Given the letter doing the rounds about these two schools. Would be interesting to have a team list published of last year Kingswood first xv and what schools they started grade 8 in
1 Kingswood
2 Graeme
3 Selborne
Etc etc
No names of boys as it would be unfair
And by the way I support Graeme
I believe xxx is plundering schools to get a first rate team.
And by the way Kingswood have done this for years but in the past it was their bridging class(post matric)
Good morning, Beet. I hope you are well and, like everyone, looking forward to the school rugby season.
I saw on your blog that there has once again been an issue in the Eastern Cape, where one school has lured a talented sportsman away from another. While we cannot keep our heads buried in the sand, this sort of “gamesmanship” at schoolboy level just goes to show how important schoolboy sport is to Old Boys, parents, and the school itself.
Over the last few years, there have been some awful tragedies involving schoolboys—either while taking part in school sport or travelling to and from venues. Unfortunately, our schools’ sports results will never bring these boys back, yet we continue to put schoolboy sport at the pinnacle of everything.
Having been involved in school sport for a few decades—and don’t get me wrong, I am as competitive as anyone—I would far rather have the lives of these young gentlemen back than give up a season of brilliant results.
After all, it’s just schoolboy sport.
Right, off my soapbox.
I hope these Eastern Cape schools can sort their mess out because, in the long run, it’s our boys who lose out.
Cheers.
@RuggaFreak (Comment #6)
💯
@Farmer (Comment #27)
💯
DONT STEAL
@OUD ANKER (Comment #25)
Dan verskil ons oor die een. Ek sien dit as n vergunning en uit hul pad gaan om nie die, let wel, vol klas te ontwrig nie maar nog steeds hom akomondeer. Ek het nie die feite nie maar die geskiedenis blyk aan Garsfontein se kant rakende die oorwig van waarsynlikheid gaan hy nie akademies benadeel word nie maar die teenoor gestelde. DJOU sal die feite he en as hy Wil dit vir ons post.
@Grizzly (Comment #24)
Jy is heeltemal reg, nie die seun of sy ouers is gedwing nie maar daar is verseker nie ‘n moerse vergunning aan hom gemaak wat betref sy 8e vak nie, daai was ‘n kwessie van “take it or leave it, as jy dit nie na-uurs kan bybring nie is dit jou probleem”. My vraag staan nogsteeds, het Garsfontein eerstens en mees belangrik as opvoedkundige instansie in belang van die seun se akademiese toekoms opgetree deur hom in graad 11 te recruit en ‘n beurs aan te bied, want gaan rugby regtig sy beroeps toekoms wees….nie onmoontlik nie, maar hoogs onwaarskynlik? of was die beurs vir selfsugtige rugby program redes?
@OUD ANKER (Comment #19)
Toe my seun in Garsies was, was hy en ek male sonder tel genader informeel deur ander skole(hulle stuur eers die runners voor officials deur die skool self) So ook ander beurs ouers, vriende van my en kennisse. Nooit gehardloop na Dir van sport, rugby of krieket toe nie. Ons het geweet wat die antwoord sou wees, besluit self. Dan waar die Bere leerders af gestaan het en daar was goeie spelers, het hulle nie drieg briewe gaan publiseer op social media nie. Hulle weet dis par vir die cource… Dink bv aan Abner.Ek weet die skool sal in niemand se pad staan as hy wil aan beweeg nie. Hierdie is feite soos die Jaques Kallis beurs by Pta BH. Wat die seun aan betref wat jy noem. Ek sal dit eerder sien as n moerse vergunning wat die skool doen om hom te akomodeer. Iemand gaan oor tyd werk.So na dit so aan hom verduidelik is het hy en sy ouers besluit om dit te aanvaar, hys defnetief nie gedwing nie.
Hilton were targeted by 11 JHB schools back in 2017 for the same issue. Unf money means these schools/teams can attract and ‘steal’ the best players easier then other schools potentially can. The challange is that it is not dissimilar to what happens at professional level. How many of our Sharks players have been bought from teams like the Lions of late? Money talks. We dont complain as Sharks supporters, knowing we are weakening their team at the same time. Its tricky and there is no clear answer.
1. You can’t force parents to keep a child in 1 school vs another
2. When is the ‘fair’ time for a player to be committed to a school? DHS getting clever and going a level lower to stay out of the drama more, but whats next? At what point can a school claim a player?
@OUD ANKER (Comment #21)
I tend to agree with you there.
For the case above I don’t know the background and details, and if the said boy is a standout sportsmen at all given that it says “TYPICALLY high achievers in academics AND sport”. What I do know is that GCs academics haven’t been up to their high standard in the last 10 or so years and this is (by GCs own admission) a pull factor on KCs part. Also,this is probably a local family and I’m sure they would’ve considered everything and that’s in the best interest for their boy.
I’m not saying how KC has gone about this is correct or not (although we are yet to hear their side), but I would imagine the boy is better off BOTH academically and on the sports field now than previously.
@Wyvern (Comment #20)
It is a good question, BUT the scenario you are sketching will be the exception, where a boy with such rugby talent that a school with a superior academic programme will only recruit him in grade 11. The boy in your scenario would have been identified long before his grade 11 year. I would say 99% of this grade 11 recruiting has no noble-care-for-the-boy reason from the school’s perspective.
@OUD ANKER (Comment #19)
What’s your view if the pupil gets brought in in gr11, and the academic environment is significantly improved and so too their results by gr12?
@Grizzly (Comment #16)
Yes, you are correct that Garsfontein has had a 100% matric pass rate for many years despite rugby bursaries, kudos for that, HOWEVER I have a massive problem recruiting a boy in grade 11, this particular boy had a certain package of school subjects at his previous school, then joining Garsfontein one of this subjects he had taken before, the classes are full at Garsfontein for 2025 and he can only take this subject as an 8th subject after school hours and he now needs to take a brand new 7th subject that he has never taken before in his previous school. What do you think this does to this boy’s academic future for the selfish sake of the school’s rugby programme? Yes, he will still pass matric, but most probably with a much lower average than if he stayed at his previous school….this is one of my gripes with Garsfontein and others recruiting as late as grade 11….and this by the way is not a fictive example, it just happened now in the beginning of 2025!
@ForeverHorseFly (Comment #14)
Good comments! I agree with you 100%
@Grizzly (Comment #15)
I don’t respect schools who’s rugby success is based on unethical tactics rather than a strong rugby culture and traditional school values. If the shoe fits…
@Tang (Comment #4)
No learner that ever received a bursury from Garsies has failed matric.Thats for the past 12 years and that’s a lot of bursaries and learners. So to awnswer your question what if it’s both benificial for the school and the learner. Not with standing what a lot of players achieved afther school in rugby.
@Buthelezi2 (Comment #9)
En jys pleinweg dom om die person te speel pleks van die bal. Jy het n ding vir enige iets Garsfontein maar weier eenvoudig om te se wie jy ondersteun sodat jou dom comments in perpektief geplaas kan word. Soos comment 11 aan Grasie, wie dink jy is jy??
@Playa (Comment #13)
Considering primary school is exactly where high schools should be recruiting kids from, I fail to see how this rises to the same level as the Graeme/Kingswood issue. That they are willing to potentially cover 6 years of fees, shouldn’t matter, no player is being poached from any competing high school and everything is based off the potential of the 12/13 year old which differs from what is perceived as a finished product when recruiting at high school level, especially post U16.
If Kingswood followed this tact instead, maybe they wouldn’t be in this position with Graeme/Selborne and Hudson. I’m not saying its perfect, but at least you not running foul of any high school rival
@Grasshopper (Comment #10)
DHS have changed tact now…they get them in primary school, by placing kids at a Durban junior school, presumably covering their fees there, in order to get their full services in their Grade 8 year once they graduate from grade 7 at that chosen junior school.All done unscrupulously..Sad sad sad
ANOTHER ONE BITES THE DUST
@Grasshopper (Comment #10)
Glenwood is just as bad as Kingswood, rather don’t comment on this topic.
For once it’s not a KZN thing, thank goodness. KZN has already lost it’s oldest Durban derby due to mudslinging. It’s obviously still prevalent in KZN though, DHS have scooped a few from Glenwood. It all seems part and parcel of the schoolboy game now. Happy that Graeme is taking a stance here. In a private school vs Gov school tussle on a player, only one side wins. The Gov schools should create their own leagues…..apples vs apples in terms of funding and support, although the best Old Boy backing then wins eg DHS…
@Grizzly (Comment #3)
Jy is nie baie slim nie
HUGE congratulations to Graeme, Selborne, Hudson and Cambridge for taking a stand against this unethical behaviour which we have bizarrely become accustomed to and accepted as normal
@RuggaFreak (Comment #6)
Seems no response from KC as of yet but it would be interesting to know their side of the story.
The challenge with offering bursaries to kids from rural schools, is two fold. Firstly, from an academic point of view the gap is just too big in the majority of instances. Secondly, don’t underestimate the socio-economic gap and the impact this has on a child’s psyche. I’m not saying it’s impossible, but in the reality and context of SA it’s a big challenge.
BEAUTIFUL WORK GRAEME
@Grizzly (Comment #3)
die gapswanabees-julle sal geen opposisie in die Boland he nie
@Grizzly (Comment #3)
I’m not sure how to interperet your statement (not literally I can understand the Afrikaans). Are you saying Garsies would find themselves responsible for losing the player? So the fault lies with the school who has lost the player not with the school who has gained the player.
It all depends on perspective. I think we will all agree that bursaries are a good thing. However, we all seem to disagree on the application of bursaries. Are bursaries for education or for the glorification of the school?
As Kloof of Menlo spelers by Garsfontein werf(wat al gebeur het) sal bestuur die fout by hulself soek.
Well done Graeme. Chickens are coming home to roost…
WELL DONE GRAEME