KZN

Hilton continues to exceed expectations this season and they are now on a four game winning streak. Last weekend they took down Kearsney and this weekend their victim was Westville who they beat 25-12, outscoring their visitors by three tries to nil in the process.…

Durban High School ended one of their longest droughts against KZN tier-1 opposition when they beat Westville 25-24 in an error riddled yet exciting away match.…

From DHS:
DHS 1^st XV played some exciting rugby to run out comfortable 39-8 winners over Northwood at Kings Park on Saturday. …

In a match characterized but not limited to stand out kicking out of hand and from the tee, Kearsney rained on DHS’s 150^th Celebration Rugby Day parade by hanging on to beat the hosts 26-22 in a highly entertaining match that proved to be a fitting advert for the festive occasion.…

Kearsney slotted a last play of the game penalty from close range to clinch a 9-6 home win against Highways rivals Westville in a match that was on a knife-edge through the second half.…

KZN Tier-1 is just about ready to roll with two exciting opening games coming up on 12 March 2016. Kearsney hosts Westville on Botha’s Hill and Hilton start off against a promising looking DHS.…

Within a year of joining DHS, former Sharks scrumhalf and DHS old boy, Scott Mathie has been appointed as the 1st XV head coach. DHS celebrates 150 years in 2016 …

After the fantastic high of the 2015 tournament which featured DHS and produced a number of memorable games including a nail-biting finish to the final between after the final hooter winners Glenwood and Westville, the Port Natal Night Series 2016 sponsored by Kenfield Tyres has been characterised by the withdrawal of all three KZN Tier-1 rugby teams’ 1st XV squads. …

Hilton are already in the fortunate position of being able to afford both Brad Macleod-Henderson and Greg Miller to oversee their rugby. Recently it was confirmed that Shane Gaffney, their existing Director of Sports and Director of Coaching Cricket had been announced as the St Dominic’s College Welkom Headmaster with effect from the 2nd term of 2016.…

Hennie Havemann, the Westville Boys’ High Director of Marketing and Boarding, is set to become the new Penzance Primary School Headmaster.…

Maritzburg College has made great strides forward judging by the make-up of the new KwaZulu-Natal High Schools Rugby Association Executive Board, KZN under-18 selectors and under-18 coaches panels. This while fellow KZN rugby powerhouse Westville Boys’ High appears to have taken a step backwards in as far as their influence in the decision-making process is concerned.…

KZN move a step closer to “One School One Vote” at under-18 level…

A brand new ranking the player under-16 and under-18 trials method and format for 2016 was agreed on at the KZN High School Rugby AGM. The Tier-1 structure looks like it has been finalised. There are still some discussions and possible changes to the Tier-2 and Country Districts school pools to come.…

The KZNRU President Graham Mackenzie made interesting contributions at the KZN High Schools Rugby AGM.…

Talking schoolboy rugby in KZN, there’s belief amongst school officials that change is needed and in some cases it’s believed to be way overdue.

The AGM for high schools which takes place on Saturday 07 November 2016, is the time and place for school representatives who feel this way to come out, say exactly what’s bugging them about the current systems and/or personnel and then use their vote to help bring about meaningful change.…

George Campbell’s Noel Ingle has reason for a double celebration. He was recently named as the new Chairman of SA Schools after standing unopposed. However there was a strong possibility that he would have had to forfeit this national position. A requirement of the SA Schools post is that it’s Chairman has to hold office in his own region as well. Although Ingle is currently the Chairman of the KZNRU High Schools’ Association, the KZN Schools’ AGM which takes place on 07 November 2015 is where his fate would have been decided by the local high schools. This created quite a buzz in school rugby related circles around KZN up until last week when the nominations were made official and it was revealed that the highly regarded opponent expected to run against Ingle had decided not to challenge for the leadership position, thereby clearing the way for Ingle to be re-elected. …

From Clifton College:

We have great pleasure in announcing the appointment of Grant Bell as our Director of Rugby: Coaching from 1 January 2016. This is a new position in the school and will involve Mr Bell in the formulation of a unique Clifton coaching strategy and the development of our boys’ rugby skills from Under 8 to Under 19.…

Maritzburg College teacher Tim Orchard has been promoted and will effectively replace fellow MCOB Francois Lubbe in the 1st XV setup. Lubbe is leaving for Australia at the end of the 2015. Orchard will manage the forwards while another Old Boy and former 1st XV player Kevin Smith will continue in his dual role as 1st XV Head Coach and Director of Rugby.…

Just one season after acquiring the services of MCOB Francois Lubbe from Kearsney, Maritzburg College are in the market for a new 1st XV coach again. Lubbe is set to emigrate to Australia at the end of the year.…

Content from DHS website:

Durban High School announced that five of its learners have been selected for the South African Rugby Union (SARU) U16 Training Camp which will take place in Paarl in October.…

Current Afrikaans and History teacher Roland Norris has been appointed as Westville 1st XV Head Rugby coach for the next 3-year cycle with effect from 1 October 2015. He will be assisted by JoAsh van Aswegen.…

Brad Macloed-Henderson has been reappointed by Hilton while Michael Schwartz has been replaced after steering Michaelhouse to their first unbeaten season in over a century.…

There are lots of changes coming up for Westville in 2016. …

Email from a Michaelhouse parent / reader:…

Update: Thanks to the generosity of the parents of 4 players, all 22 KZN Schools squad members received blazers before Craven Week and were seen wearing these during the opening ceremony, which was broadcast on national television. Interestingly not a single one of the four players is linked with a move to the Sharks next year.…

Northwood didn’t officially have a player at Craven Week 2015 but they might be able to claim a share of Griffons prop Neo Mohapi.…

KwaZulu-Natal must surely be on course to set a new Academy Week record for the number of regular second team players in their 22-player squad. The initial count of 8 (6 Glenwood and 2 Westville) has been increased to 10 with the inclusion of two more 2nd XV players. …

From Working Words, Kearsney:
Photo by Tracey van den Aardweg

Kearsney ended their rugby season on a high beating Clifton 66-10 in a highly entertaining match in Botha’s Hill, coinciding with Founders’ weekend which attracted a good crowd on a perfect wintery afternoon.…