After a quiet start, the Noordvaal Cup Premier League — the oldest schoolboy rugby competition in South Africa — kicks into full swing this week.
The 10-team league has two main objectives. For the top-tier 1st XV teams, the focus is on securing a place in the top four, with full awareness that the playoffs demand a different mindset — a true cup knockout mentality where anything can happen.
For those near the bottom in the Promotion/Relegation (ProReg) zone, it’s about delivering their A-game, capitalising on every opportunity, and collecting enough points across all age groups to avoid finishing in the bottom two and facing relegation.
Picking a favourite? Topping the log is no easy feat.
Identifying a clear favourite in the Noordvaal Cup Premier League is no easy task. That said, Garsfontein — back-to-back champions in the last two editions — remain one of the frontrunners to defend their crown in 2025.
Noordheuwel and the unbeaten Menlopark are part of a improved wave of high-performance rugby programmes, both widely expected to challenge strongly for playoff spots. Last year’s runners-up, Waterkloof, are starting to find more of the same high-level consistency as 2023/24. While they haven’t quite made the same impact as in previous seasons, they still possess the firepower to go all the way.
Monument and Helpmekaar remain unpredictable — a case of which team shows up on the day. With talent-rich teamsheets and an exciting brand of rugby, they certainly have the tools to cause upsets and reshape the table. However, inconsistent form has seen them swing between highs and lows throughout recent campaigns.
Rustenburg, underpinned by solid coaching and a clear structure, are quietly putting together a balanced campaign — combining a powerful forward platform with a developing, dynamic backline attack.
Nelspruit, always a tough prospect at home in Mbombela, have shown flashes of brilliance in 2024. While their 2024 winning streak run of form was memorable, they’re expected to be closer to the foot than the summit of the log come the business end of the season.
EG Jansen — 2023 finalists — face a tough road ahead after a few standout years. Meanwhile, newly promoted Transvalia, also representing the Valke, are likely to struggle in their return season to the premiership, (they were part of the mix back in 2019). That’s no slight on them, but a reflection of the sheer quality and intensity of the opposition in this elite competition.
Fixtures for 10-May 2025
| Garsfontein | vs | Waterkloof |
| Menlopark | vs | Nelspruit |
| Monument | vs | EG Jansen |
| Helpmekaar | vs | Noordheuwel |
| Transvalia | vs | Rustenburg |
FORMBOOK
| # | SCHOOL | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 | 19 | 20 | 21 | 22 | 23 |
| 6 | Garsfontein | JEP | NH | PRG | STE | HMK | AHS | OAK | GCB | WK | MEN | NEL | RUS | TRA | MON | NH | EGJ | |||||||
| 26-18 | 34-28 | 32-34 | 25-18 | 47-29 | 25-41 | 30-30 | 29-45 | |||||||||||||||||
| 8 | Noordheuwel | RUS | GAR | GCB | PRG | AHS | JEP | HJS | OUT | HMK | KES | MON | EGJ | NEL | RUS | WK | GAR | MEN | TRA | |||||
| 40-12 | 28-34 | 22-24 | 19-26 | 27-45 | 21-20 | 14-42 | 35-32 | |||||||||||||||||
| 15 | Menlopark | ELD | PR | TRA | OUT | DRO | WK | HMK | NEL | WK | GAR | TRA | EGJ | MON | NH | RUS | ||||||||
| 52-13 | 78-07 | 29-17 | 34-24 | 43-29 | 23-23 | 36-33 | ||||||||||||||||||
| 17 | Helpmekaar | MHS | AHS | KIN | NM | OAK | GAR | BIS | WYN | MEN | GCB | FRA | NH | NEL | EGJ | MON | KES | WK | TRA | RUS | ||||
| 17-10 | 08-40 | 24-31 | 33-17 | 21-40 | 29-47 | 38-12 | 18-17 | 33-36 | 14-56 | 62-07 | ||||||||||||||
| 19 | Waterkloof | BV | OM | HTS | HJS | BL | MEN | NEL | DIA | STE | GAR | MEN | RUS | EGJ | HMK | NH | AHS | TRA | MON | |||||
| 47-30 | 24-21 | 26-22 | 00-66 | 37-46 | 23-23 | 24-31 | 52-26 | 17-17 | ||||||||||||||||
| 31 | Monument | WEL | GCB | DUR | GIM | JEP | GLE | DHS | MIL | OUT | HJS | EGJ | NH | HMK | TRA | NEL | GAR | MEN | RUS | WK | ||||
| 38-26 | 03-47 | 21-27 | 16-66 | 70-24 | 26-26 | 17-32 | 26-21 | 20-21 | 00-85 | |||||||||||||||
| 33 | Rustenburg | TRI | WIT | NH | DIA | NM | DHS | DUR | WVL | BVH | WEL | TRA | NEL | WK | GAR | NH | EGJ | HMK | MON | MEN | ||||
| 17-14 | 27-25 | 12-40 | 60-24 | 15-15 | 07-41 | 26-22 | 17-24 | 40-07 | 33-00 | |||||||||||||||
| 36 | Nelspruit | MID | HTS | EGJ | OM | OAK | RBH | MID | WEL | MC | WK | MEN | HMK | RUS | GAR | NH | MON | TRA | EGJ | |||||
| 18-13 | 18-24 | 24-22 | 40-32 | 12-45 | 12-47 | 26-27 | 34-31 | 22-13 | 31-24 | |||||||||||||||
| 46 | Transvalia | MV | KEM | MID | MEN | VRY | 2ND | 2ND | HTS | RUS | EGJ | MEN | MON | GAR | HMK | NEL | WK | NH | ||||||
| 15-24 | 21-28 | 28-21 | 17-29 | 45-09 | 10-10 | 06-05 | 21-10 | |||||||||||||||||
| 58 | EG Jansen | HTS | NEL | BV | BL | DUR | KEM | KEA | WVL | FRA | DRO | PRG | MON | TRA | HMK | NH | WK | MEN | RUS | NEL | GAR | |||
| 12-30 | 22-24 | 43-25 | 10-71 | 16-34 | 34-27 | 29-26 | 05-36 | 22-20 | 20-10 | 17-46 |
@OUD ANKER (Comment #29)
Ek het voor Covid hier gepost dat Grey al minder spanne gaan hê – die laerskole se spanne het al minder geword en die demografie het vinnig verander.
Tensy daar ingryping is gaan die aantal spanne nog minder word.
@Wonder (Comment #34)
Ja, goeie dag. Moet volgende keer bietjie langer kuier.
Werk hou my bietjie besig, maar sal tyd maak.
Beserings sal daar altyd wees. Die outjies wat ingekom het, het goed gespeel.
@Djou (Comment #27)
Baie goeie dag gewees vir Garsies teen Kloof, paar drieë op die veld gelos maar ek dink die Bere lyk goed. Ons het nou meer beserings as PRG maar ons kla nie. Was lekker om Saterdag te kon gesels.
@Grizzly (Comment #9)
Affies nie n profesionele rugby skool nie, hulle sal 30 wedstryde moet inpas wn wil graag tydmaak vir ander DINGE ook.
@AbsolutMenlo (Comment #31)
Ja dis hoekom ek se insiggewend. Dis n moerse wen vir Menlo. Min, Baie min spanne gaan daai reg kry op Nelspruit.
Wenne vir Garsfortein, Helpmekaar, Menlo, Transvalia en EGJ.
Verrassings … Helpmekaar wat een van die GROOT gunstelinge Noordheuwel 36 – 0 verniel en Transvalia wat Rustenburg klop.
Garsfontein met ‘n oortuigende wen oor Waterkloof wys dat hulle die front runners is.
Baie geluk Menlo met ‘n goeie wen oor Nelspruit 40 – 17. Nelspruit was baie beter as wat die telling aandui. Sterkte vir die spanne wat Nelspruit weg moet speel.
Geluk EGJ … ‘n wen oor Monnas is altyd besonders.
@OUD ANKER (Comment #29)
Die vete met Monnas?
@HSBR (Comment #22)
Die ongesonde kompeterende aard destyds was dalk ‘n rede waarom Pierre Edwards vir Affies onttrek het. Daai rede sou in any case nie meer vandag water gehou het nie, want SBR is deesdae BAIE MEER kompeterend as destyds. Die feit dat die skole destyds nie genoeg spanne teen Affies kon instoot nie was ‘n hoofrede en niks sinisters of snobisties daaromtrent nie. Pierre Edwards het geglo soveel as moontlik Affies moet speelkans kry. Die 2e effens meer sinister rede vir Affie se ontrekking destyds was die vete met Monnas…lets say no more….by the way waars die Grey manne, volgende week kan hulle “net” 8 oop spanne teen Affies instoot, gewoonlik is dit soveel as 11…is Grey besig omte convert in ‘n hokkie skool??
@Mate (Comment #21)
Ten minste kom 100% van Affies se matrieks die laaste paar jaar deur..meer as wat mens kan sê van sekere ander makro seun skole…
@Loubser (Comment #23)
Ding is, ek was by elk van die Stadsbeker semi-finale en finale en daarna by wat nou die Noordvaal is. HSBR is reg, dis ook hoe ek dit verstaan het en die rede waarom Affies nie meer daar speel nie.
Ek vermoed Jong Matie is reg dat Affies dit sou oorheers het as hulle nog daar was.
Oor whitewash, ek het geleer om nooit voor derbies voorspellings te maak nie – enigiets kan op die dag gebeur.
2-jaar gelede het Waterkloof 11/12 teen Garsies gewen.
@OUD ANKER (Comment #25)
Ek het n vermoede die ander skole sug van verligting dat Affies nie deelneem nie, hulle sou skoonskip maak (elke jaar)
@AbsolutMenlo (Comment #17)
En moenie Hoërskool voor Die uitlaat nie. In Brakpan is dit BAIE belangrik!
@MATE (COMMENT21)
@DJOU (COMMENT20)
AFFIES BEKER RUGBY
En ek dink ou Loubser praat nog meer strooi
Dit was oorspronklik Admin beker en daarna vernoem na Direkteurs Trofee met een “f”
Ek dink dalk Affies het opgehou om dit te speel omdat hul nie “ troffee” kon spel nie
@Loubser (Comment #7)
Jy praat mos nou strooi.
Daar was ‘n Stadsbeker in Pretoria waar al die skole behalwe Affies en Waterkloof meegeding het. Die wenner en naaswenner het dan teen Affies en Waterkloof gespeel. Die wenners van die 2 het dan teen mekaar gespeel om die wenner in die Bloubulstreek te bepaal. Hulle het dan deurgedring na die volgende rondte om teen die wenners en naaswenners van die ander streke in Noordvaal te speel.
En baie kere was dit teen ander seunskole soos HTS Middelburg, HTS Vereeniging, ens.
Gemengde skole het nêrens gekla nie, en dit kan gesien word in baie van die semi-finale en finale waar die tellings “close” was.
@Snelvuur (Comment #18)
4 (…or Parkies)
Garsies and Nories 1 and 2, quite clearly. 3 and 4 is a bit tougher to pick. For me, it’s between Klofies, Helpies and Menlo, with EG as a “buiteperd” (they stuck with PRG, granted playing many of their second stringers, for a decent portion of their game at Wildeklawer). If I was pressed to make a prediction, I’d go:
1. Garsies
2. Nories
3. Klofies
4. Menlo
@OUD ANKER (Comment #11)
We’ve got something in common Die Menlopark en Die Anker
@Kaya 85 (Comment #10)
That will be 2019 and was also against all odds.
@Loubser (Comment #7)
“gemengde skole gaan kla ” “of so iets” … say no more!
@OUD ANKER (Comment #11)
Menlo looking much much better than 2024…Klofies fairly solid except for the beatdown from Paarl but eish okes, Helpies, Monnas and Jansen have all struggled with consistency this year and taken some big losses.
@PietPompies (Comment #12)
Ah …thx ou Pompies,
In that case Garsies definitely favorites and rightfully so. But you never know, look what happened to ol’ RG and Leinster on Saturday.
@Kaya 85 (Comment #10)
The 1st team, playing the final, that ended higher in the league will have homefield advantage. So if it is Garsfontein vs Noordheuwel, it will take place at either of these 2 schools, which ever placed higher on the log. No chance for a neutral field. The lower aged teams might play neutral fields because they all have to play where the 1st teams play… even if the venue is neither of the 2 teams playing in that age group’s homefield.
@Kaya 85 (Comment #10)
I agree with you, sir, Garsfontein the favourites by a long way with Noordheuwel currently running second…Kloof and Die Menlo to spring a few surprises along the way.
Garsfontein outright favorites and could definitely make it 3 in a row. But if Noordheuwel makes the final, I feel in that context and if the Nories Blues dont have major injuries, then the game would be a 50/50…anyone’s game, especially if the venue is neutral which I think it will be…
Does anyone know where the final will be played?…
Yikes, it’s 2018 or 2019 since my last NV final…when Menlo blasted Helpies that day at Marais Viljoen.
@AbsolutMenlo (Comment #4)
Ek dink ook hierdie jaar gaan closer wees as wat baie besef.
@Loubser (Comment #7)
Hy weet wats die antwoord, try net snaaks wees. Dis al duisend keer hier verduidelik.
@STREPIE (COMMENT6)
Speel Affies dan nie ook in die Noordvaal beker nie?
Ek sien hulle naam word nie genoem nie.
Indien hulle nie deelneem nie, kan die Noordvaal bekeraanhangers asseblief vir die res van ons verduidelik wat die redes is?
Sekerlik moet hulle loshande die gunstelinge wees, gegee die uitslae sover die seisoen?
Ek luister graag.
Garsfontein is loshande voor en Noordheuwel daarna. Daar gaan hier en daar n upset wees maar dit sal 3 in n ry wees vir Garsfontein.
The favourites (Garsfontein & Noordheuwel) are crystal clear, but it is NV Cup rugby … anything is possible.
Maybe one or two surprises already this weekend.
Garsfontein behoort dit drie in ‘n ry te maak.
@Wondermaar (Comment #1)
die semi finale behoort tussen Garsies , Menlo , Kloof en Noordheuwel te wees ….die span wat dit die meeste wil he sal die Beker wen
Menlo to win the cup!💣💥