Well the idea might not be original but it’s always been a great one. Get the top schools from the Noordvaal to play the best that the Western Cape has to offer on an annual basis. These schools so seldom get the chance to meet on the rugby field, simple because of the logistics.
Putting the theory into practice has not been quite so easy. With a big sponsor on board and Paarl Gymnasium plus Waterkloof committed, the debut tournament has certainly got pulling power but won’t cultivate the true essence of a Noord-Suid festival without added support from the big guns.
Menlopark are the hosts. They do very well in the junior age groups but tend to fizz at 1st XV level. So Menlopark equals a good Noordvaal team to have but definitely not one of the first names that come to mind when thinking about the region’s top rugby schools. Menlopark’s star is believed to be on the rise though, so watch this space.
The challenge for the “Slaptjips” Rossouw and his fellow tournament organisers has been getting a second Western Cape school on board. Most Cape schools are already committed to other events. Organisers thought that they had Boland’s number one HTS Drostdy in the bag. Not so. Drostdy has forged a good relationship with the University of the North-West via the Pukke Skouspel, which in turn has opened doors for Drostdy school-leavers, meaning that the Worcester school is keen to build on this friendship. Drostdy will consider taking part in a ’Noord vs Suid’ tournament in 2015 provided it does not clash with the Pukke Skouspel.
There is talk that Paarl Gim will send their 2nd XV up to Pretoria to complete the line-up. Not ideal but better than nothing.
There is also hope that the likes of HJS Paarl Boys High and Affies will join the new festival in 2015, giving it the sort of “never- look-back” boost it needs to establish itself as a permanent fixture. A 2015 festival is planned to take place in the Cape with the aim being to rotate the venue between the Noordvaal and Western Cape every year thereafter.
This tournament could become a real treat for SBR supporters if it does take off.
@Murrayfield: @AbsolutMenlo: ????
@Rugbyman: ????
Catch a falling star and put it in your pocket, save it for….Verskietend ster.
@Rugbyman: Jip en Wonder is die geheime agent!
@Murrayfield: Mens moet nooit ‘n skool se verhouding aan een of twee individue meet nie… jy weet dit tog goed… soms irriteer mense op die blog soveel so dat ek sommer vir 2 weke nie eers lees wat hier aangaan nie… eks seker ek irriteer mense ook… ek meen eks laasweek deur een van julle manne as kapokhaan uitgewys… een individu maak nie ‘n skool of instansie goed of sleg nie…
Jy ken mos die mense by ons… jy weet mos ons brag nie en ons is nederig… net soos ek julle ook ken… so… relax… menlo is ‘n top skool en verseker ‘n rugbyskool…
???? weer of topic!!
Verseker sal Garsies ook groot belangstelling wek … Nee die grootste!!
@Grizzly: NEE jy en @Rugbyman was nog nooit deel van die sirkus nie. Rugbymanne vir wie ek baie respek het.
On topic is ons nou eens waar Noord/Suid begin het!? @Hastings …. !?
@Murrayfield: Ek het meer pelle by Menlo as by Garsies,dis n feit!Maar wat sal jy van my dink as daar na my skool verwys word en ek reageer nie….AM ken my so en sal ook teleurgesteld wees indien ek hom nie meds teruggee nie
@Grizzly: Lyk my dat die “mooi” vriendskap tussen Garsies en Menlo maar net vir die “show” is.
“BRAG” kan julle seker doen.. oor julle prestasie en julle ontwikkeling as n rugby skool!
Baie geluk.. Garsies doen uitstekend.
Menlo is ni n rugby skool ni.. Net skool wat rugby Skole partykeer en soms wen!
@AbsolutMenlo: Hoe lank het jy gesoek na die Topic,2013!
Eerste keer wat ek hom onder oe het..Twee punte van @Beet wat net sowel vandag gepost kan word-julle jnrs wat sterk is en dan my gunsteling”Menlo Park’s star is believed to be on the rise though”hy praat hier van jul eerstes…Hoe het dit vir julle uitgewerk toe 5 jaar later? 
Op wat baseer jy n game tussen julle en Affies wat die belangstelling sal gaande maak,laasgenoemde resultate? 
Ek stem Garsies moet eers die Virseker n paar keer wen voor hulle kan saamgesels met Monnas en Affies 
Nie maklik om daai sirkus te join nie,jy moet die beste onder die bestes wees…daai sirkus stel belang wat jy kan doen voor n gehoor…nie op forums nie…. 
@AbsolutMenlo: Mooi man. Volgens die inligting hierbo het die kenners is 2013 al gepraat van Menlo se “star is on the rise”. 5 jaar later en die star is stil rising. Soos jul eie kaptein op 144 gesê het:”Nee maar sterkte”
@Hastings! ???
@Woltrui: This is not a new initiative. It has been mooted several times. However, time and costs had always been the problem. So Wildeklawer, Kerf, Pukke Skouspel or one of the other Easter tournaments would have been ideal, but the organisers follow their own interests and as such don’t co-ordinate. The Easter tournaments at KES, Saints and St Johns would have been ideal if the schools decided to co-ordinate and co-host all the different school games.
Vrede vs Grey Bloem
A North South rugby “festival” is a great inisiative by Mr Rossouw. Would fill a vacuum in SA schools rugby. The top NV teams against top mountain goat teams on the same format as the Pukke skouspel would draw huge crowds. Hopefully a big sponsor would step up to the plate with TV coverage etc. Can imagine Monnas vs Boishaai, Affies vs Paarl Gim and Kloof vs Paul Roos, for example, playing consecutive games. Would much rather watch these schools play each other than any Superrugby team. Kudus to Mr Rossouw for this brilliant inisiative. Hopefully such a “festival” can be realised some time in the feature.
@PaarlBok: Ek verneem “vertroulik” van BHP dat julle n uitnodiging om teen Grey se junior spanne te speel, van die hand gewys het. Te besig met netbalreelings, of wat?
Slappes chased Grey away when he invited Paarl Gym. 5 years to early.
I think Vrede could be available in 2017
Looking at the participants, perhaps the commitment of a netball team, was a pre-requisite ?