Boys’ High are celebrating 125 years in style with a top notch line-up of schools from around SA taking part in their birthday festival over Easter.
| PRETORIA BH 125TH FEST | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Day 1 : Sat 04-Apr-2026 | ||||||
| BUL | Pretoria BH | vs | SACS | WP | ||
| BUL | Affies | vs | Michaelhouse | KZN | ||
| LIO | Jeppe | vs | Maritzburg Coll | KZN | ||
| LIO | Parktown | vs | Grey HS | EP | ||
| BOR | Selborne | vs | Rondebosch | WP | ||
| Day 2 : Mon 06-Apr-2026 | ||||||
| BUL | Pretoria BH | vs | Rondebosch | WP | ||
| BUL | Affies | vs | Grey HS | EP | ||
| LIO | Jeppe | vs | Michaelhouse | KZN | ||
| WP | SACS | vs | Maritzburg Coll | KZN | ||
| LIO | Parktown | vs | Selborne | BOR | ||
@beet (Comment #14)
“Studio audience”? I must have missed this, on Supersport Schools I am imagining?
“Phano Letsie” is definitely a Sotho name so his roots will be traced back to Lesotho, but coming to what you say, and I agree with you, for him to actually have been born in Lesotho and spent some time there is interesting and not something you hear often.
@wanza_15 (Comment #7)
Phano and the Hammer were part of a studio audience on TV a few months ago. I may have misheard, but I’m fairly sure Phano told the presenter that he’s from Lesotho. That would be quite interesting — we often hear of Namibians and Zimbabweans playing schoolboy rugby in South Africa, and occasionally the odd Congolese, Ghanaian, or Mauritian player. But it’s rare to come across a youngster from Lesotho, or even from Eswatini, Botswana, or Mozambique.
@POD (Comment #6)
Yeah I was just saying if they wanted KES, they could have moved it a week earlier. Then Affies would have been ruled out and there would be two festivals on in very close proximity to each other. Closer than KES to St John’s over Easter but probably not worth it for PBHS to test those waters.
@wanza_15 (Comment #11)
Yes, you make a good observation. However, the 2026 group should be very good. There are at least 10 players returning and of the 10, many of them have multiple caps. The u16 group coming through have improved every year and there were 5 in the u16 A Blue Bulls GK team. I think 2026 will be the first time since 2013 where the first team selectors have some real headaches. I’m not saying 2026 will be a Top 20 type of year but this team will be highly competitive.
@Tang (Comment #10)
When I saw the PBHS 125 was in 2026, I thought damn, I am sure they would have wanted it in 2027 rather, or best case scenario, 2028? Are those not the 2 years you guys have a keener eye on compared to next? Nonetheless, excited for the new season – never under-estimating the Candies, especially if we must make the trip to Pretoria. I thought that Queenton Mncube of yours was in matric in 2025, goodness, he is back next year?
@wanza_15 (Comment #7)
Regarding your last sentence. PBHS are definitely thinking about it. Under estimating PBHS in 2026 could be a huge error for many teams.
@wanza_15 (Comment #7)
I’m pleased to hear that Jeppe have such a strong returning group and some strong u16’s coming through. When I looked at Jeppe’s fixtures for 2026, I was stunned by the quality of the opposition in the first 10 fixtures.
@Roger (Comment #2)
100% correct. I’m sure the two schools tried to work something out. It’s a real pity not to have KES in the mix.
SNEAK PEAK OF JEPPE 2026
We have a lot of guys coming back, probably the most i can remember.
I know that doesn’t always automatically equal results but they got a lot of 2025 minutes. 8 of them in total I am sure of, and 5 were provincial players. Joel Akilo at 15 is who im most excited about. Phano Letsie at 12 I think comes back and takes the armband in 2026. Then Hammer Time in the front row – Joshua Hamman, oh my goodness I am having an orgasm.
Then our 10 next year will be Ndzalama Mbhalati, coming from u16 and was in that SA performance EPD thingy. A very good kicker apparently, according to him, he spends 2 hours “every” morning kicking at poles.
Roger, Brent, Grant, KES oldboy, I will be doubling you guys again in 2026, there is nothing you guys can do about it unfortunately
Tang, Meesh, its not happening in 2026, forget about it if you were thinking about it.
@beet (Comment #5)
Noord Suid is 1 week earlier.
@Meesh N (Comment #4)
Or for PBHS to move their festival one week earlier to accommodate KES and lose out on the two most popular festival attendance days of the calendar year.
@Roger (Comment #2)
Really sad but it is understandable, wouldn’t expect KES to potentially kill the momentum of such an old festival & a highlight on their calendar for a once of celebratory fest.
Day 1 will be my birthday so I’ll definitely be there, hope the laaities can give me something extra to celebrate by getting one over my boss’ alma mater & a reason to get battered at our old boys club after! 😂
@Tang (Comment #1) a real pity KES are not at the 125 celebrations. I guess the clash with the KES festival couldn’t be avoided. With Jeppe and St Johns, Pretoria Boys is KES’s oldest rival.
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