Grey College have kicked off their 2025 campaign with a perfect seven-from-seven record, but the true test of their season is only just beginning.
They’ve already overcome some stiff early challenges — a gritty second-half turnaround to beat a feisty Oakdale 25–10, a nail-biter against Noordheuwel (24–22) at Noord-Suid where their driving maul defence was pushed to the limit, and a hard-earned 29–18 away win against a spirited Outeniqua side in George.
These were all quality victories, but in stature, none match the occasion of facing Paarl Gimnasium — even with the match taking place in Grey’s famed Bloemfontein fortress.
And it’s not just Gim on the horizon. Grey are heading into a brutal stretch of fixtures, with Paarl Boys’ High, Affies, and a dangerous Garsfontein still to come. It’s shaping up to be a defining few weeks — a “test match season” in every sense.
Big Names, Big Stage
Grey’s midfield wrecking ball, Ethan Adams (13), is still getting into full flight this year. While his conditioning and ball skills have noticeably improved, he hasn’t quite hit the towering standards of his jaw-dropping 2024 season — at least not yet. That spotlight has instead fallen on electric outside back Lamla Mgedezi, whose flair and finishing have lit up the early rounds.
On the other side, Paarl Gim boast arguably the player of the season so far in Markus Muller. The midfield maestro has been in irrepressible form, racking up tries and turning matches with moments of magic. Veteran schoolboy rugby followers are already placing him in the rare company of players whose individual brilliance consistently shifts outcomes.
Battle Up Front
With rain soaking Bloemfontein, Saturday’s showdown may well be fought in the trenches. This could be just the moment for Grey’s tight-five — often overlooked in national discussions — to impose themselves. They might not have the media hype, but their work rate is immense, and the wet conditions could tip the scales in their favour.
One key returnee is lock AJ Meyer, one of SA’s top schoolboy forwards in 2024. His presence could be decisive in neutralising the physically relentless Gim pack — a unit known for their relentless tempo and clinical execution.
If Grey are to tame the Gim tsunami, it will take a full shift from the engine room in navy.
@Smallies (Comment #35)
Ja ek dink ons altwee is bietjie seer vanoggend. Ek het Grey gesien by NS en dadelik geweet hulle gaan n bou jaar he itv hulle standaraard.Hulle is nog steeds goed vir n top 5.Dis die ding, Jy kry miskien 2/10 kanse met so Grey span. As jy dit nie vat nie moet jy 5 jaar wag. Soos ek verstaan is daar heelwat gr 11 in die span. Die game by Wk teen die Bere gaan bepalend wees. Garsies kan baie goed wees op die dag. Gister goed gespeel maar net basiese foute gemaak. Maar jy speel so goed soos jy toe gelaat word. Ek dink Affies se 8 is n masjien.
@Kaya 85 (Comment #33)
I dont mind the loss,what pisssed me off is the way Grey just kinda hensopped, the sloppy play in attack and defence.That’s what made me angry…anyway the wounds have been bandaged ,its a beautifull day and I know that my boys will bounce back big time.
Puik wen vir Gim! Baie geluk!!
@Smallies (Comment #30)
Jammer Smallies ou Pappie…
It’s OK.
This Gim team is really really special…
KES took a century.
Well done Gim!!
Skole rugby is goed vir die siel, GENIET SEUNS, almal kan almal wen. Grey nog van begin van seisoen swakker as ander jare.
@Smallies (Comment #23)
Dis was – ek voel egter Paarl Gim het Grey in foute gedwing met puik verdediging – ook om die enkels vir Ethan – en Grey het desperaat geword na hulle nie kon deurkom nie. Die dat hulle baie kort om die losskrum begin speel het.
Nou ja gents ,my dogter kuier hier ,ek gaan nou bietje family time he en wonde lek ,sommer oordentlik lek ,ek chat weer later…weereens welldone aan Gim ,en ook Affies …
@Cappie (Comment #28)
Soos ek verstaan het Gim net 500 seuns, so meeste het seker nog deelgeneem terwyl eerstes gespeel het.
Hoop dit verklaar vir jou die rede.
Baie geluk aan Paarl Gim. Was ‘n uistekende 2de helfte wat Gim gehad het. Hoe het dit met die ander wedstryde tussen die twee skole gegaan? Ek sien daar was meer Gim-meisies as seuns op die paviljoene. Ek neem aan van die seuns moes seker op ander plekke gesit het, of hoe?
@Grizzly (Comment #25)
Maroon Machine gaan toesak op Bloem, 3de week in Augustus.
AJ Meyer en Ethan Adams (ten minste) gaan weer uit wees vir SAS.
Ek het Grey geroep. Dit vat n span om 16 man in Bloem te klop. Gim het dit vandag gedoen.
@Smallies (Comment #23)
Ek het Gim voorspel met 12 en nou ja. Dis wat ek gesien het by NS. Grey sal terug wees volgende jaar. Gese Gim gaan nie weer verloor nie en hou daar by.Die seisoen gaan af stuur op interskole vir nr 1.Jong Matie kan maar droom. Affies vir my nr 3.
@Smallies (Comment #23)
Grey was uit op hul voete, weet nie wat fout was met die manne nie.
@Djou (Comment #22)
Mense kan my nou ma aanvat hieroor maar wat ek nou se se ek uit my hart uit ,daai tweede helfte van Grey was n properse shitshow gewees ,kak my nou ma uit ma dit is wat dit is
Gim was Grey se baas vandag en as ek so ma die ander uitslae kyk, kan Gim vir lank Grey se baas wees.
Well done!
Hokkie Gim 4-2 Grey Kollege.
Uitstekend Gim. Groot oor winning.
@OomPB (Comment #18)
Dit moet iets in die Wynland water wees
Gim is besig om Grey total te breek.
Jan-hendrik Wessels het ‘n Os du Randt wedstryd gehad teen die Skotte gisteraand.
GIM WIN
@OudAffie (Comment #11)
Ag kom ons maak dit 18-18 net omdat dit 2 Saterdae later is 😃
@boerboel (Comment #12)
50-50 would be quite a game…😉
@OudAffie (Comment #11)
Ek hou van jou 16-16 voorspelling, dit is so de ja vu vir Gim…..maar ek hou by my voorspelling dat Grey onoorwonne gaan bly, maar nie gaan draw nie…kom ons maak dit 17-16 vir Grey
@OudAffie (Comment #11)
agree- 50/50
@Djou (Comment #10)
Cannot call a winner, lets go for a 16-16 draw.
@OudAffie (Comment #8)
Can’t recall a Grey-Paarl Gim in Bloem. If it happened, it must be 50 years or more ago.
@Raps (Comment #4)
Yo, examples of Grey lacking grit, please?
Will this be the first game between Gim and Grey in Bloemfontein? (Ever?) New interschools and always just playing at festivals.
@OomPB (Comment #6)
Het getrek Kaap toe ,Amy something something…
Is Helgaard se vrou ref nog by Grey?
@Raps (Comment #4)
Time will tell
Calling it early, it will be a famous Gim win in Bloemfontein. I think Grey lack grit in recent seasons and Gim have serious grit
@JongMatie (Comment #2)
Cool
Paul Roos speel proewe in die Kaap teen Bishops die naweek.
Ethan v Marcus, that is going to be fun.
AJ’s return can be very impactful if he is match fit.