The 2025 Southern Suburbs rugby season is heading for a blockbuster finish, with Wynberg hosting Rondebosch in what amounts to a final of sorts on Hawthornden Field on Saturday, 23 August.
Wynberg, the 2025 Triple Crown winners, looked set to stay ahead in the title race, but a last-gasp missed kick against Bishops on a rain-soaked Piley Rees Field saw their clash end 26-all. That stumble opened the door for Rondebosch, champions in 2023 and 2024, to stay in the hunt.
Earlier in the season, Berg edged Bosch 38-33 in a thrilling, high-quality encounter that had plenty of memorable highlights. That result gave Wynberg the upper hand after the first round of fixtures.
But the picture changed in August. Despite missing several key players away on national duty, Bosch dug deep on their home turf at Tinkie Heyns Field to edge a spirited SACS side 23-20. Two crucial penalty goals in heavy conditions during the second half proved the difference, giving Bosch the lifeline they needed after a gutsy SACS team mauled over for a late try.
Now, with their stars back from international commitments, both Berg and Bosch could be closer to full strength for what is being billed as the Southern Suburbs “Final.” The stakes are high: bragging rights, momentum, and a chance to stamp authority on one of the fiercest rivalries in Cape schools rugby.
Yet neither side can afford to relax. Bishops and SACS still lurk in the closing round a weekend later, and while both are battling to avoid the wooden spoon, neither will go quietly. On the contrary, both sides have the ability and pride to pull off an upset that could ruin the party for either Berg or Bosch.
All roads in Cape Town schools rugby now lead to Hawthornden, where history, rivalry, and Southern Suburbs ambitions will collide in what should be another great showdown of the 2025 season.
| SOUTHERN SUBURBS 2025 | BISH | BOSCH | SACS | BERG | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sat.10May | Bishops | 14-14 | SACS | 3 | – | 3 | – |
| Sat.17May | SACS | 17-40 | Rondebosch | – | 6 | 0 | – |
| Sat.24May | Wynberg | 34-05 | Bishops | 0 | – | – | 6 |
| Sat.07Jun | Rondebosch | 33-38 | Wynberg | – | 2 | – | 4 |
| Sat.21Jun | Rondebosch | 28-07 | Bishops | 0 | 6 | – | – |
| Sat.21Jun | SACS | 10-21 | Wynberg | – | – | 1 | 5 |
| Sat.16Aug | Bishops | 26-26 | Wynberg | 3 | – | – | 3 |
| Sat.16Aug | Rondebosch | 23-20 | SACS | – | 4 | 2 | – |
| Sat.23Aug | SACS | vs | Bishops | – | – | – | – |
| Sat.23Aug | Wynberg | vs | Rondebosch | – | – | – | – |
| Sat.30Aug | Bishops | vs | Rondebosch | – | – | – | – |
| Sat.30Aug | Wynberg | vs | SACS | – | – | – | – |
| POINTS | 6 | 18 | 6 | 18 | |||
| WINS | 0 | 3 | 0 | 3 | |||
| Position | 3 | 1 | 3 | 1 | |||
| BISH | BOSCH | SACS | BERG | ||||
Scoring
MOST VICTORIES WINS THE SS4 CHAMPIONSHIP
4pts for a win, 3pts for a draw
Margin of victory points:
Greater than 14 = 2pts to the winning team
Between 8 & 14 = 1pt to the winning team, 1pt to the losing team
Less than 8 = 2pts to the losing team
| SOUTHERN SUBURBS 2024 | BISH | BOSCH | SACS | BERG | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sat.20Apr | Rondebosch | 55-22 | SACS | – | 6 | 0 | – |
| Sat.27Apr | Bishops | 08-35 | Wynberg | 0 | – | – | 6 |
| Sat.04May | Wynberg | 27-49 | Rondebosch | – | 6 | – | 0 |
| Sat.04May | SACS | 29-07 | Bishops | 0 | – | 6 | – |
| Sat.01Jun | Bishops | 16-31 | Rondebosch | 0 | 6 | – | – |
| Sat.01Jun | Wynberg | 29-30 | SACS | – | – | 4 | 2 |
| Sat.03Aug | SACS | 05-43 | Rondebosch | – | 6 | 0 | – |
| Sat.03Aug | Wynberg | 38-16 | Bishops | 0 | – | – | 6 |
| Sat.10Aug | Rondebosch | 19-07 | Wynberg | – | 5 | – | 1 |
| Sat.10Aug | Bishops | 12-10 | SACS | 4 | – | 2 | – |
| Sat.17Aug | Rondebosch | 22-05 | Bishops | 0 | 6 | – | – |
| Sat.17Aug | SACS | 07-09 | Wynberg | – | – | 2 | 4 |
| POINTS | 4 | 35 | 14 | 19 | |||
| WINS | 1 | 6 | 2 | 3 | |||
| Position | 4 | 1 | 3 | 2 | |||
| SOUTHERN SUBURBS 2023 | BISH | BOSCH | SACS | BERG | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sat.06May | Bishops | 31-25 | SACS | 4 | – | 2 | – |
| Sat.13May | Wynberg | 10-14 | Bishops | 4 | – | – | 2 |
| Sat.13May | SACS | 07-22 | Rondebosch | – | 6 | 0 | – |
| Sat.27May | Rondebosch | 20-16 | Wynberg | – | 4 | – | 2 |
| Sat.10Jun | Rondebosch | 08-13 | Bishops | 4 | 2 | – | – |
| Sat.10Jun | SACS | 17-30 | Wynberg | – | – | 1 | 5 |
| Sat.12Aug | Bishops | 20-27 | Wynberg | 2 | – | – | 4 |
| Sat.12Aug | Rondebosch | 29-21 | SACS | – | 5 | 1 | – |
| Sat.19Aug | SACS | 25-27 | Bishops | 4 | – | 2 | – |
| Sat.19Aug | Wynberg | 20-21 | Rondebosch | – | 4 | – | 2 |
| Sat.26Aug | Bishops | 35-36 | Rondebosch | 2 | 4 | – | – |
| Sat.26Aug | Wynberg | 36-14 | SACS | – | – | 0 | 6 |
| POINTS | 20 | 25 | 6 | 21 | |||
| WINS | 4 | 5 | 0 | 3 | |||
| Position | 3 | 1 | 4 | 2 | |||
| SOUTHERN SUBURBS 2022 | BISH | BOSCH | SACS | BERG | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sat.07May | SACS | 00-34 | Bishops | 6 | – | 0 | – |
| Sat.09Apr | Rondebosch | 46-24 | SACS | – | 6 | 0 | – |
| Sat.21May | Bishops | 14-20 | Wynberg | 2 | – | – | 4 |
| Sat.28May | Wynberg | 24-15 | Rondebosch | – | 1 | – | 5 |
| Sat.11Jun | Wynberg | 40-15 | SACS | – | – | 0 | 6 |
| Sat.11Jun | Bishops | 15-20 | Rondebosch | 2 | 4 | – | – |
| Sat.13Aug | SACS | 12-24 | Rondebosch | – | 5 | 1 | – |
| Sat.13Aug | Wynberg | 44-12 | Bishops | 0 | – | – | 6 |
| Sat.20Aug | Bishops | 10-15 | SACS | 2 | – | 4 | – |
| Sat.20Aug | Wynberg | 10-17 | Rondebosch | – | 4 | – | 2 |
| Sat.27Aug | SACS | 05-16 | Wynberg | – | – | 1 | 5 |
| Sat.27Aug | Rondebosch | 43-26 | Bishops | 0 | 6 | – | – |
| POINTS | 12 | 26 | 6 | 28 | |||
| WINS | 1 | 5 | 1 | 5 | |||
| Position | 3 | 2 | 4 | 1 | |||
SURPRISED
QUESTION ANSWERED
That settles that for 2024