Kearsney originally invited Catholic University School (CUS) from Ireland and Verona Rugby Club from Italy. Both had to drop out due to travel uncertainty created by the War in Iran and closing shop respectively. In there places Kearsney invited Zwartkop (a dreamteam of proportions in 2026) and welcomed back Transvalia, who had participated previously.Helpmekaar College is another big name Noordvaal A-section school to make a reappearance after being part of the festival in 2011.
| KEARSNEY EASTER R/F | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Day 1 : Thu 02-Apr-2026 | ||||||
| 08h00 | KZN | Glenwood | 05-24 | Helpmekaar | LIO | |
| 09h20 | VAL | Transvalia | 26-05 | Peterhouse | ZIM | |
| 10h40 | KZN | Westville | 83-00 | Framesby | EP | |
| 13h00 | KZN | Kearsney | 43-14 | Rustenburg | LEO | |
| 14h20 | WP | Milnerton | 20-27 | EG Jansen | VAL | |
| 15h40 | KZN | Durban HS | 31-14 | Zwartkop | BUL | |
| Day 2 : Sat 04-Apr-2026 | ||||||
| 08h00 | WP | Milnerton | 23-29 | Peterhouse | ZIM | |
| 09h20 | KZN | Durban HS | 38-07 | Rustenburg | LEO | |
| 10h40 | VAL | EG Jansen | 32-41 | Zwartkop | BUL | |
| 13h00 | KZN | Glenwood | 14-15 | Framesby | EP | |
| 14h20 | KZN | Kearsney | 33-13 | Transvalia | VAL | |
| 15h40 | KZN | Westville | 33-17 | Helpmekaar | LIO | |
| Day 3 : Mon 06-Apr-2026 | ||||||
| 08h00 | VAL | Transvalia | 07-10 | Framesby | EP | |
| 09h20 | KZN | Glenwood | 14-12 | EG Jansen | VAL | |
| 10h40 | LEO | Rustenburg | 26-17 | Peterhouse | ZIM | |
| 13h00 | KZN | Westville | 41-03 | Milnerton | WP | |
| 14h20 | KZN | Durban HS | 39-27 | Helpmekaar | LIO | |
| 15h40 | KZN | Kearsney | 22-19 | Zwartkop | BUL | |
@Mate (Comment #21)
Maybe 25. DHS have some iffy ones too. It’s a complete farce to be honest…..
@Grasshopper (Comment #20) Hopper, how old are some of those Westville forwards?
@Westville_Boy (Comment #19)
Class is permanent, bought form is temporary.
@Grasshopper (Comment #18)
Living in the past still… come back to reality🤣
@Westville_Boy (Comment #17)
We certainly don’t need pity from Westville, jeez years of humping them. Glenwood vs Westville, played 64, won 38, lost 18, drawn 8. Another 20 years of wins and then we can talk. Enjoy it whilst the money flows….
@Grasshopper (Comment #16)
Long tears… well its a long season so hopefully they can turn it around.
@Westville_Boy (Comment #15)
What clever remarks? Typical of a leafy suburb salty crew, rub it in when Glenwood loses. They should never have lost that game. Rock bottom and I see it’s where Westville like us to be……sad….
@Grasshopper (Comment #14)
Did you watch the game against framsby ???Any clever remarks??
Not covered by Beet, but some interesting results there. DHS involved in a Glenwood tourno is a good sign tensions might be easing. There was a strong Academy side there, forget their name but they beat a few fancier teams in the age groups. Glenwood beating Milnerton was interesting, obviously they have dropped from last year where they had a great side
@Bush (Comment #11)
If an Aussie school can do it, we can! Haha
@Snelvuur (Comment #10)
Zwarries is one of the best teams in Pretoria. Only second to Garsies and Affies. I think they will win all the rest incl. Menlo, Kloof. They must be in Section 1 Noordvaal. Great game against DHS who will be a Top 5 (2026).
@Grasshopper (Comment #9)
I think GW should play GCB this year, could be the year for GW🏆🏆🏆🏆🏆🏆2 3 Woody
Zwartkop has been good value here, but I’m not very impressed with DHS. I think they could pick up some speed wobbles in KZN this year if this is going to be their level…
@Atlantic (Comment #8)
Who really knows these days without proper medical based age checks……
How many u/19 players in the DHS team this year ? …. anybody ?
Is this Rustenburg 2nd team? I hardly recognise any of them from NS
@Meesh N (Comment #5)
The calibre of names & talent on that team was just bonkers!
Keagan Blanckenberg (2), Connor Evans (4), Ross Vintcent (8), Imad Khan (9), SFM (10), Suleiman Hartzenberg (13), Jonathan Roche (15) are all household names at just 22-23 respectively.
Some other notable high school talents in that team that didn’t go pro were Sam Rudston (5), Nasser de Kock (6) & Mikey Ford (12).
Just a side stacked full of talent, no doubt we would’ve seen them lose only maybe to Paarl Gim that regular season, don’t see anyone else beating them that year.
@Kantman (Comment #4)
That Bishops 2020 side is my roman empire, every so often (whenever the Stormers play) I sit back & think about what that team could’ve been. Had that side maybe played more rugby that year it would’ve triggered interest from excellent young rugby players & primary schoolers to want to attend the school & maybe their rugby wouldn’t be where it is today. They were already well on their way to a top 5 season that year having narrowly lost to a Gim side that was generational in their own right (I caught a 38-0 vs Gim the following week, ouch!)
We are only 5 years removed from that year & they have already produced 2 internationals from that side, with undoubtedly many more to come from that same group!
@Meesh N (Comment #3)
Bishops 2020 would have been real Top5 contender
@Kantman (Comment #2)
i do believe the Hilton 2022 & St Andrews 2019 sides were rightfully the best private schools in those years. I also would like to think the 2017 St Andrews side would’ve pipped Helpies that year, though Helpies with names like Mark Snyman, David Cary & Dameon Venter were a solid side in their own right.
The other years are debatable though, especially pre 2020 with Bishops playing much stronger comp than the rest of these private schools.
@beet Until Hilton take on 2 or more of the Top10 schools from the past 10 years in a single year I will not take their ranking seriously.
STILL ONE OF THE BEST FESTIVALS IN S.A
Why? It takes bravery from any school and coach to commit to 3 games where using the entire squad is key and as such KERF is still played in the spirit of the game. KERF also every year produce a few upsets, which is the magic spectators wants to see.
So in a era where, regrettably, rankings and pressure on coaches to win at all cost is high I do salute Kearsney and the participating schools.