| ST STITHIANS EASTER R/F | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Day 1 : Thu 02-Apr-2026 | ||||||
| 830 | ENG | Hartpury 2nd XV | 14-25 | Windhoek HS | NAM | |
| 940 | LIO | St Stithians | 21-24 | St John’s (Harare) | ZIM | |
| 1050 | INV | Mali XV | 34-21 | Clifton | KZN | |
| 1200 | KZN | St Charles | 07-18 | Northcliff | LIO | |
| 1310 | VAL | Kempton Park | 27-15 | Pietersburg | LIM | |
| 1420 | ENG | Hartpury | 14-21 | Middelburg | PUM | |
| 1530 | WP | Wynberg | 84-00 | Garsfontein Inv XV | BUL | |
| Day 2 : Sat 04-Apr-2026 | ||||||
| 830 | ENG | Hartpury 2nd XV | 55-33 | Mali XV | INV | |
| 940 | KZN | St Charles | 24-17 | Kempton Park | VAL | |
| 1050 | ZIM | St John’s (Harare) | 22-18 | Clifton | KZN | |
| 1200 | NAM | Windhoek HS | 35-40 | Northcliff | LIO | |
| 1310 | ENG | Hartpury | 47-18 | Garsfontein Inv XV | BUL | |
| 1420 | LIM | Pietersburg | 27-14 | Middelburg | PUM | |
| 1530 | LIO | St Stithians | 12-28 | Wynberg | WP | |
| Day 3 : Mon 06-Apr-2026 | ||||||
| 1010 | NAM | Windhoek HS | 47-35 | Mali XV | INV | |
| 1120 | ENG | Hartpury | 54-20 | Northcliff | LIO | |
| 1230 | BUL | Garsfontein Inv XV | 18-47 | Kempton Park | VAL | |
| 1340 | LIM | Pietersburg | 38-18 | St John’s (Harare) | ZIM | |
Oh…and take note…. There is a St Dunstan’s rugby/sports festival out in the Benoni ‘burbs where smaller schools and 2nd & 3rd tier teams are also getting their opportunities to play against Easter touring sides.
The Saints festival has lost its lustre. It was the original Jhb Easter festival, attracted big names, and usually also hosted local teams to draw crowds. But under pressure a decade or so ago, to ‘diversify’ into a multi-sport festival including netabll and hockey, and soccer and basketball etc etc. it’s all good and well, but the rugby festival is not a serious event any more. It attracts the Saints supporters and a few others here and there, but they have sacrificed rugby to keep everyone else happy, except the Drama department.
Vleis het die spyker op die kop geslaan. Jaar in en jaar uit is daar wedstryde met krieket tellings by die Saints festival. My laaitie het 2 jaar in hul prep school festival gespeel en daar was elke jaar n aantal van hierdie wedstryde. Selfs waar n span in jaar 1 n loesing gekry het, speel hulle weer dieselfde opponent in jaar 2
@Grizzly (Comment #16)
Onnodig om die man te antwoord. Common sense is al wat nodig is.
Hy was nog altyd ‘n suurknol en nou nog meer na die verloor wat hy nie kan handle nie. So, ignoreer hom!
@Grizzly (Comment #16)
Ek wag vir die feite, mag die hoop nie beskaam nie.
@Kantman (Comment #15)Hoekom wag jy nie tot jy al die feite rondom die hele storie het voor jy so stupid post maak nie. So kan jy sien daars ander uitnodigings spanne op die toernooi. Wat as Garsfontein genader is en ander bepalings beloof is. Wat as hulle net wou help omdat daar n krisis was met n span te min. Ek gee jou gelyk dat as dit nie die geval is nie dit nie n baie slim idee was nie. Ek het egter al geleer dat as jy posts maak op grond van assumptions dit gevaarlik kan wees.
@Garsieoldboy (Comment #13) I agree. Will add that it is either arrogant or stupid to send a third team to an Easter tournament. What did the school expect?
Swap Wynberg and Northcliff around and the problem is solved. Wynberg probably still too strong for St Charles but at least the fixture makes more sense than a top 20 side like Wynberg taking on a 3rd team.
Can honestly not tell who thought this was a smart decision. Bosbere got stuck in for the first 15-20mins and thereafter the Wynberg backs unfortunately too fast and too skilled. Stupid planning from the organizers as they knew Garsies were sending a 3rd team.
@Gold (Comment #11) I struggle to see the common sense in this. Like stated there’s no value in it for either team. Someone needs to man up and take responsibility for this mess.Wynberg won’t be happy considering travel cost etc. I can only shake my head.
@Djou (Comment #10)
50-0 after 33 minutes. Really poor planning, and struggle to see the benefit all round.
@beet (Comment #7)
100%, they were informed it is the 3rd team. So, a huge mismatch.
It’s very dumb of the Saints organisers to schedule Garsies 3rds v Wynberg and Hartpury (who are normally very strong)…but they have prior form in this regard.
All four Easter Fests are under more pressure now because Noord Suid is little bigger and Pretoria BH are doing a 125th fest which took several leading teams out of the Easter equation for the other four fests.
Saints have unfortunately suffered the most as a result of what has transpired.
@Grizzly (Comment #6)
As far as I know Garsies did internal comms on this decision months ago and informed the Saints organisers of this. The 3rd team squad went to a festival in Nylstroom in the past and now debuting at Saints.
From here I’m not sure now the comms got misinterpreted by Saints. But hopefully Wynberg were informed way back when the decision was shared with Saints.
It will be a total mismatch but it cannot be recorded as a Garsies 1st XV for ranking or other purposes
@beet (Comment #4)
Did Helpies withdraw? Why? If this is Wynberg first team it will be a big mismatch. Was this a last minute replacement?
Seems like a tough ask, but I guess nothing to lose and everything to gain in terms of bragging rights.
Historically Wynberg has always played Helpmekaar 1st XV at this festival.
Garsies team for today is their Bosbere – their 3rd XV squad
@Gold (Comment #1)
A Bunch of 2nd/3rd team players, more 3rd than 2nd team with a few 4th team players as well.
Does anyone know the makeup of this Garsfontein team?