The recent decision by Glenwood to withdraw from their summer interschools fixtures against Michaelhouse on 31 January 2026 may yet add an unexpected twist to the KZN schoolboy rugby calendar, if the same choice remains in place. While disappointing for players, parents and supporters alike, Michaelhouse have been quick to emphasise continuity, opportunity and the long-term interests of their boys in their attempt to put a positive spin on it.
At the heart of the matter lies an issue that has long been one of the most sensitive in schoolboy rugby: player movement. Within the KZN rugby community, it is no secret that Michaelhouse welcomed a highly rated junior front-row rugby player from Glenwood at the start of the year. From what has transpired, it appears that there was no mutual consent between the two schools for this transfer. This was not an accidental or misunderstood situation. Michaelhouse knew exactly what they were doing. They understood the sensitivity of the move, the likely consequences, and the potential damage to interschool relationships. They proceeded anyway. That is where the real issue lies – not in the reaction, but in the action that caused it.
Such moves, particularly when they involve rival schools, inevitably attract scrutiny and debate. In rugby circles, this is often viewed as the ultimate transgression – the unspoken eleventh commandment: “Thou shalt not covet thy neighbour’s star player.” It is a principle that has underpinned relationships between local rival schools for decades and one that exists to protect the balance, integrity and sustainability of the game.
For Glenwood, a school currently facing significant challenges both on and off the field, the loss of players is a particularly painful reality. They find themselves in a position where their talent is under pressure from many directions, and any further erosion of stability can feel like an existential threat. Against this background, their decision to withdraw from fixtures is understandable, even if regrettable for the boys who lose out on the opportunity to participate in sport over that weekend.
The more boisterous elements of the Michaelhouse old boys’ and parent community will no doubt rally behind their school, as supporters always do. That is natural. But this situation cannot simply be viewed through the lens of loyalty or rivalry. There is a broader consequence that reaches far beyond these two schools.
One of the most insightful perspectives to emerge in KZN last year was that incidents like this are never isolated. While it may appear to be a one-on-one dispute, it directly affects all other major rugby schools in the province. Many of them may have been aware of the same player, or others at Glenwood, and, despite temptation – regardless of whether parents made first contact or not – chose to resist and honour the “gentleman’s agreement” between schools. By doing the right thing, they lost out to the one school that was prepared to ignore the convention.
That creates a dangerous precedent. It raises an uncomfortable question:
Why play by the rules if those who break them benefit?
If this approach becomes normalised, other schools may decide that it is “gloves off”. The restraint that once governed schoolboy rugby relationships could disappear overnight. Recruitment would become aggressive, trust would collapse, and the system would slide further towards a free-for-all driven by fear of being left behind rather than respect for the game.
What should happen, ideally, is that the KZN headmasters – particularly from the major state schools – come together and take a unified stand, backing Glenwood and even giving strong consideration to taking the same action by cancelling fixtures against Michaelhouse. A collective refusal to tolerate such practices would send a powerful message and help restore balance. It would also shift the pressure back where it belongs, forcing those vocal House old boys and parents to seek accountability internally rather than quietly accepting boundary-pushing as the new norm.
But the reality is harsher. Most schools (not just in KZN) operate on a “look after your own” basis. Glenwood’s struggles are not their concern. Competitive advantage trumps collective responsibility. And so the cycle continues.
In many ways, this is where a large portion of the unwanted problems in schoolboy rugby originate. There is no strong central authority with the power or will to regulate player movement and other unethical practices, or to protect the long-term health of the game. Instead, direction is set by those bold enough to change course, forcing others to follow out of necessity rather than conviction. While not in every case, these shifts are not in the best interests of schoolboy rugby, yet they become unavoidable once the first boundary is crossed.
This situation is not just about Glenwood and Michaelhouse. It is about the erosion of trust, the weakening of shared values, and the steady move away from rugby as an educational and developmental platform towards rugby as a competitive marketplace. And once schools begin to covet without consequence, the damage will rarely be confined to a single fixture list.
Michaelhouse letter to their community:
23 January 2026
Dear Michaelhouse Parents
We are looking forward to our traditional clash against Maritzburg College this weekend – always a highlight in our sporting calendar. Next weekend, our basketball A teams are travelling up to Johannesburg for fixtures against St David’s and Parktown Boys, and our water polo A teams have been invited to participate in festivals, also in Johannesburg. It is a fantastic experience for our boys to play against schools in other provinces.
Unfortunately, Glenwood has advised us that they will be withdrawing from fixtures against Michaelhouse scheduled for the weekend of 31 January. The reason for the withdrawal is related to the movement of a boy from Glenwood to Michaelhouse, which occurred at the insistence of his parent. We are committed to resolving the matter, with ongoing high-level discussions.
While the cancellation of a weekend of sporting fixtures is disappointing, our priority remains to provide an excellent sporting programme for the boys throughout the term. The Sports Department is working hard to ensure that meaningful opportunities for participation and development are still available over the weekend concerned. Although it will not be a “normal” Saturday as many teams may be hosted in different locations or formats, every effort is being made to ensure that each boy is appropriately catered for, with an opportunity to participate in a sporting activity.
Further details regarding the revised sporting arrangements will be communicated to parents in due course.
Thank you for your understanding and continued support of Michaelhouse. We look forward to seeing many of you here tomorrow to cheer on our boys.
@ForeverHorseFly (Comment #67)
This was my favourite period vs DHS: Played: 20, 18 wins, 2 losses, 90% win rate. Points for: 574 (29) Points against: 267 (13)
2004 W 17 – 12
W 13 – 6
2005 W 31 – 16
W 10 – 5
2006 L 21 – 28
W 34 – 9
2007 W 13 – 6
2008 W 12 – 6
2009 W 31-3
2010 W 31 – 18
2011 W 19 – 15
2012 W 34 – 9
2013 W 46 – 14
2014 W 38-13
2015 W 45-21
2016 W 24-23
2017 L 17-20
2018 W 55-12
2019 W 59-19
W 24 -12
Then Pinhead got fed up of getting pumped and stopped fixtures…..found an excuse and the rest is history.
@ForeverHorseFly (Comment #67)
Mate, Pinhead used his Saad-chest to entice them over, I know 4 of them personally…..that’s fine, people have to go where the money is. DHS since 2019 are just a carbon copy of Glenwood from 2005 to 2018…..bought success
@Grasshopper (Comment #65)
You really need to get over the DHS poaching teachers and coaches thing…they left your school,simple as that. Either because of the scandal with the Glenwood headmaster or because they wanted to work under the headmaster coming over to DHS. The fact that so many would want to leave all at once says more about Glenwood than it does DHS. Im sure they didnt take much convincing and with the schools less than 5kms apart, they didnt have to uproot their lives.
@SA Rugby Hub (Comment #63)
Not really, Hilton cancelled fixtures with Glenwood for like 5 years because they took a pasting and blamed it on Glenwood being ‘too professional’ and because of injuries. That is childish……they are happy to poach but have to protect their win record….
@agter_die_pale_pa (Comment #64)
Not entirely true, Glenwood have been playing rugby since 1910 with early games vs DHS, Hilton, House and College involving teachers. It was when a scrum was 7 man. We’ve always been in the Top 50 and sometimes in the top 20 if there were rankings in 1965, 1979, 1987 etc. They didn’t throw the kitchen sink at it, it was money from Ivan Clarke and others at the time, sponsorship etc. Sean Erasmus was an early thinker making the set-up semi-professional, they were pioneers. The other schools have just copied the blueprint and bettered it. Glenwood unfortunately lost great coaches like Sean Erasmus, Mike Vowles, Rudi Dames, Jeremy McLaren, Heike Van der Merwe etc and settled on more mediocre coaches. In this process the head being caught for fraud, DHS poaching close to 15 teachers and coaches etc. It’s been a perfect storm. Glenwood have settled back to where they are naturally Top 40. It just takes 50 to 100 OBs engaging to help to spark a resurgence….I hope it happens
@BuffPmb (Comment #57)
“sold the family silverware to buy a rugby team and now they have neither”
Brilliant comment. Unfortunately I think many schools fall into this trap. Very few schools in SA can sustain an expensive rugby program over the long term and through various leadership-cycles.
RH
If a boy chooses to leave, accept that he does no longer wants to be there (probably best for the team anyways), or that he has the opportunity to put himself or his family in a better position. Yes, it sucks for the schools not able (or willing) to spend big on rugby, but that is the reality unfortunately. I can see more traditional derbies being in danger in future. Schools will decide whether rugby is one of many activities offered, or if they are running a semi-professional “rugby academy”. Like-minded schools will find each other over time and form new bonds. However, schools chopping and changing their approach every other year will find themselves alienated.
..
Side-note: If a boy moves whilst on a bursary, I do support the idea for the old school to be reimbursed for actual expenses incurred, either by the parents or by the new school.
@beet (Comment #59)
Tzaneen, the nursery for headmasters at bigger schools – Leon Bantjes, Chris Denysschen, Alan Redfern, Jan Stander!
@beet (Comment #59)
Yep, commercially savvy business leader plus ideas to bring back the talent. The boarding establishment is key, it needs to be high quality! Get 250x high achievers in there & the rest follows. The problem is who wants to live in Dirtbin?
@Grasshopper (Comment #58)
Small world! Pierre went to Stanford Lake College where he replaced Alan Redfern, who left to become the Maritzburg College headmaster.
I agree Pierre is good guy with good values. I’m sure he will do well at his new school and possibly move on to head up another big high school at some point in the future.
Personally I don’t think most headmasters at the leading high schools get their fair dues for doing a good job but its fair comment that the Glenwood assignment proved to be a tough one for the first time headmaster.
The acting headmaster Morne Scott has earned a lot of credit for being a very good head of academics. But in some form or capacity Glenwood probably needs a very strong and experienced business leader to help steer the ship.
@BuffPmb (Comment #57)
I agree with you, there has been a leadership vacuum since 2018 and the Kershaw/Pinheiro era. That was also not a positive one in the end, tarnished the school and it hasn’t been able to recover properly since. The rot set in when Glenwood had them in charge, great sports results but other things obviously went adrift. Andri Barnes the first female Head was a great achievement, BUT I don’t think she set the world on fire with sports, then she retired and Pierre Jacobs came in from Queens. I think he was a good guy but didn’t really inspire anyone or get the OBs going. He seemed a little quiet for me and looks like he’s gone off to a little school near Tzaneen, Stanford Lake College. Never heard of it. He was obviously a small town guy and lacked conviction to really drive action and positivity. Pinheiro is ambitious and has been good for DHS, but not sure about his methods. I do hope Glenwood can get a really strong new Head, maybe an Old Boy and then really get the OBs going again. Id don’t know Morne Scott, the acting Head, maybe others have a view here. A guy like Steve La Marque is an OB and surely should be a target for the Head role, he would make a huge difference BUT I know he is at College now. Maybe we need a passionate young OB. I really do hope we can turn it around, the school is 116 years old and the province needs a strong Glenwood, but one less shrouded in negativity all the time….maybe the traditional Gov schools should rather support them than try and bring them down all the time…
While we all realise that there are many different social and financial issues at play here, here are some of my thoughts:
A. The Glenwood “bubble” has now properly burst
B. The policies and tactics they used against the other Model C schools are what they are whining about now.
C. Kids don’t (I hope) just go to High School for Rugby. In the height of “The Green Machine” era we took a walk around the classroom block. Where other similar schools (model C) had carpets on the floors , AC’s and smart boards in every classroom, what we saw was shocking. Broken windows, old desks from the 50’s and green chalk boards.
D. So while they can point fingers at the rugby poaching, what was their general offering? Why did they go from 1200 people on the waiting list to no waiting list.
E. Glenwood sold the family silverware to buy a rugby team and now they have neither.
F. Instead of blaming what other schools are doing, go back and investigate who ran the G governing body over that period. What explanation do they have for the mess they have today. They should be held accountable for the radical policies of the time.
G. Lastly by “boycotting” cricket, waterpolo and basketball fixtures for one young lad who changed schools is the most pathetic and self harming decision.
Sorry, but not sorry. We all need Glenwood to be strong, but that’s up to them.
@ForeverHorseFly (Comment #55)
Yes, we just need to find a Stephen Saad. Ivan Clarke was small-fry compared. I’ll only get into a debate with a DHSOB when they start to play fixtures again vs their longest Durban rival……we continued to play DHS through their hardships….
@Grasshopper (Comment #51)
Considering how you literally comment on ever single topic, to the point of raising completely unrelated things, for you to say anyone should stay out of any topic is laughable. DHS was in a similar situation with its boarding establishment yes and they managed to fix it, which is why we can relate to what is happening and are a testament that things can be turned around if the leadership and buy in is there from those involved with the school. No one was picking holes but rather was saying that Glenwood needs to look within and start fixing what isnt working when confronted with proof of those issues.
@Westville_Boy (Comment #53)
I’m fully aware of the state of Glenwood, I’m in touch with the OB Chairman regularly. It’s an unfortunate case of location, a poor area getting worse & non-fee paying parents. Westville & Northwood are in more affluent areas and offered more bursaries, DHS is funded by a few wealthy Old Boys and College has tapped into their network of farmers/OBs etc to keep it afloat. They’ve had their own BE bullying issues to sort. The Gov schools are all under massive financial pressure. Even the likes of Westville will do well to stay as they are for another 30 years plus. Buying the whole SA Primary schools swimming team to protect their unbeaten gala record must be pricey. I was at Glenwood 30 years ago, it’s certainly not the same school as I remember, always ahead of Westville etc in those days. Affluent parents have moved away from the city and sending their kids to semi and private schools like Ashton, Crawford, Clifton etc. Westville and Glenwood have always had a feud, so I guess the Westville lot are stoked with Glenwood’s downfall….
@Grasshopper (Comment #51)
I know this for an absolute fact. Instead of speaking to current staff member speak to past pupils… speak to teddy and ask them how the former head of sports threatened his family members of paying back the money? Ask him… I think you will be very shocked of what’s come of your old school… we all wish that Gwd will be competitive again but the fact of the matter in the next couple of years Gwd will become a mid week fixture… They have a dying aquatics program… there 1st cricket is the only cricket team fighting… there rugby is in pieces…. But they will still have a strong 1st side as they have fought off the other schools in regards to some key players! The Gwd of old is long gone there is no easy way to put it..
@ForeverHorseFly (Comment #49)
You are 100% correct. When you speak to past pupils or current pupils.. they all saying the same thing! The fact of the matter is every school in kzn is to scared to engage because the matter of this “head masters agreement”… and when this agreement was made it was the kzn schools that all had very strong heads… now I stand to be correct that there is one left.
@ForeverHorseFly (Comment #49)
Are you 100% sure it’s poor boarding conditions? I know Ryan Yunnie & Mr Msizi Ngcongo quite well, they would never let the boarding become like that. I might check in with them to see their view on this rumour/claim. Always three sides to a story. Remember parents will say anything or make up things to justify the move. Before DHS people start picking holes they must remember Blackmores was a pit for years. Best DHS stay out of things that don’t involve them. They don’t even play Glenwood any longer, best to not comment….
@Tang (Comment #44)
There was a PHD candidate a few years ago who was looking for boys on sports bursaries at private schools to interview, the study was mostly about the pressures these boys face. I wish I could find it and it’s end result.
@Westville_Boy (Comment #47)
The reasons mentioned here are very similar to the ones mentioned for the current situation, single parent struggling against admin/finance issues + poor boarding conditions and bear in mind these issues are years apart. Theres clearly a systemic issue that Glenwood needs to sort out internally. Canceling fixtures isnt going to resolve kids wanting to leave if things arent great at the school currently.
@Tang (Comment #44)
Quite right Tang, now throw in the materialist things. Keeping up with the Jones not going to be easy.
@Grasshopper (Comment #41)
You have it very wrong Mambo left from Gwd in grade 9 and Gwd gladly allowed him to leave and the reasons behind it was he was extremely unhappy there. Chris left because his mother had wrote to the Head on multiple times and engaged with the school to fulfill the scholarship a simple request for out grown uniform was turn down. And once Chris Mother ( which is a single parent) decided that her son not being fed and the BE standard was absolutely shocking she had enough and pulled her son out. Again brings me to the point Gwd need to stop crying and fix in house problems!! Simple the boys wont want to leave if they happy??.
@ForeverHorseFly (Comment #45)
Sympathy is not what is wanted, just some sort of standards. ALL schools are guilty of ‘poaching/buying/enticing’ BUT there needs to be some sort of agreement how this happens, it’s a free for all currently. Glenwood always get the brunt of the bad PR. Another example was Tom-gate, Payi at DHS was the same. Ask anyone about Payi, no idea. DHS have poached from years back, in my year, the Logie brothers for surfing. The list is endless both ways. Hilton and House are in a different league, that step up is hard to fight against. Shifting across the Berea is the same for same. DHS are just the new Glenwood….backed by huge cash, bought success. Glenwood was the same from 2000 to 2020…..2 decades of excellence…
@Grasshopper (Comment #42)
Goes back to an earlier point about Glenwood pointing a finger when three are pointing back at them. 2010 Glenwood poached a DHS player Wade Elliott in his matric year who represented craven week that year, was at DHS since grade 8. I recently saw this Glenwood topic on a Facebook page of a different blog and literally every comment seems to echo the same sentiment, zero sympathy for Glenwood giving their own history of similar transgressions in their heyday.
Besides all the ethical considerations, very little is thought about from a player mental health perspective. The boy is now expected to play and perform for his new school. What happens if he doesn’t fit in or struggles to settle. His on field performance will be impacted and he may feel like a failure. @beet Have there been any studies to find out how these moves impact the youngsters mental health. Glenwood to Michaelhouse is not a huge move but the schools culture and ethos can potentially be worlds apart.
Jayson Gouws in 2013, the Glenwood under 16A captain and Grant Khomo rep was poached by Hilton, this never changes….so nothing new from them…
@Grant (Comment #36)
Yep, the now DHS Head was Deputy at Glenwood whilst Trevor Kershaw was Head. Kershaw ended up getting convicted for embezzlement/fraud of around R5m. He applied for the head role at SACS and didn’t get it, so went for DHS. Since then he has applied the same ‘win at all costs’ attitude at DHS, ensured DHS recruit across the country (mainly in EC/Border), secured funding from a wealthy OB, improved the boarding establishment and then poached teachers from Glenwood and elsewhere. At one stage, I counted over 12x old Glenwood teachers and coaches at DHS. He has managed to convince multiple Glenwood OBs to go their as trainee teachers. The recruitment of kids in primary school and placing them in local primary schools with a requirement to attend DHS. Recruiting the best coaches from the Western Province. Do you see a similarity here? It’s like Glenwood 2.0 AND there is a common thread. Glenwood were severely affected by the Kershaw issue, trust lost & after that had weak leadership in sport PLUS the latest head was very quiet, didn’t drum up OB support. It’s been a bit of a perfect storm for Glenwood over the past 5 years. Degrading area, non-paying parents, the migration to the Umhlanga/Highway/Ballito of wealthier families, poor overall & sport leadership etc etc etc. Hoping the new Head is a strong leader who can turn this around OR we may end up like Mansfield, a once great school. I’m doing my bit with a small R600 each month contribution, I call all the other OBs to match this at least…
@Westville_Boy (Comment #37)
Chris Cloete & Mambo Mkhize were poached by Westville from Glenwood, fixtures continued……both ended up playing Craven Week
@Westville_Boy (Comment #38)
That is exactly the DHS Heads attitude, do what we want, who cares about them & common decency. No surprise there.
@Skywalker (Comment #7)
I agree it isn’t in place just the threat that they school wont have any fixtures.
@Grasshopper (Comment #33)
They weren’t playing them anyway. It didn’t bother them.
There is a head masters agreement thats in place by by the 10 schools in place. The agreement is that there will be no boy leaving from one school to another on a scholarship. If that takes place all other local school will not play the fixture. I want to see if this is the case. I have a really strong feeling that this isn’t and the other schools wont cancel the fixtures against house and its just been an empty threat.
@stent99 (Comment #15)
That is exactly what happened. In addition reading what Hopper has posted over the years , Glenwood had major internal issues. A head or vice head that went to DHS and has turned the Horseflies around significantly, given a similar socio economic setting as Glenwood. Had the opportunity to visit DHS last year on tour.
@Grasshopper (Comment #3)
Every bit helps. KES started the same way. Brought the Old Boys back financially and generationally. Never looked back.
@beet (Comment #32)
I am curious what kind of framework if you were given the job would you put it place that ultimately doesn’t infringe on the parents right to choose which institution their child attends? Does the receiving school refuse the child and send them back? Do they withold funding and parents pay their way at the new school? How would this be fair in the context where there was no poaching and there is a genuine issue between the parents/child and the current school? In as much as I think the three KZN private schools will always have a recruiting advantage, its not every student or every parent who might think changing schools is in the best interest of the child or their rugby fortunes. I doubt the Glenwood of 15 years ago losses this player to Michaelhouse given the rugby program Glenwood had. I am not advocating for a free for all, but I also dont see what mechanism would work that stops movement between local schools.
@ForeverHorseFly (Comment #31)
It does as DHS recruited grade 11 KZN prop Teddy for grade 12, luckily the fixture wasn’t going to happen anyway. No repercussions for DHS….
@ForeverHorseFly (Comment #29)
In hindsight, it does feel as though Glenwood should have taken up one of the many opportunities Michaelhouse offered to engage and communicate around the player in question, and to try reach a mutual understanding. Their decision to cancel now seems to be placing them under the microscope, and in doing so is starting to expose issues they probably would have preferred to remain out of the public eye.
More broadly, in the context of schoolboy rugby in KZN, I feel the headmasters need to decide what kind of system they actually want. Do they want a structured local framework where individual exceptions are set aside in the interests of the bigger picture or do they want a free-market environment where every single case is treated in isolation?
The latter will effectively mean that schools are free to accept whomever they want, whenever they want, without consequence, because the parents’ wishes will trump all. For me, reverting to that kind of system might be a step backwards. It turns the clock back a few decades as it ultimately plays straight into the hands of the three big private schools in the province, rather than protecting the broader health and competitiveness of the game. That’s why I say this matter is should be of great importance to the state schools. Everyone wants to send their kids to a private school, not many want to leave one if they can help it!
@Grasshopper (Comment #30)
Focusing on the wrong thing, this has nothing to do with DHS. Get back to the topic at hand, context has been provided as to what is going on, address that and Glenwood’s part in the boy and his parents ultimately choosing to leave.
@ForeverHorseFly (Comment #29)
DHS cannot comment, the ultimate recruiters!
@Nkonyane yenkosi (Comment #9)
Seems no one wants to touch on the points you’ve raised about the context to this story. Issues at Glenwood seem to go beyond lack of money for bursaries at this point. If the ill treatment of the parent by the admin/finance office is true, then no wonder they would want to take their talented son elsewhere. Seems this isnt a normal case of talented scouted player being poached by rival school. The boy came to Glenwood unknown and not scouted, paid his grade 8 year, grew into his talent and was given a bursary for grade 9 and then internal frustrations lead to the parents wanting to choose a different environment for their son. The more concerning point raised is the food quality at the boarding house, that really needs attention if true.
@Grasshopper (Comment #27)
Ja, Jislikeit JJ has been pumping it in the UK. Absolute Beast Mode. Take care and be lekker don’t be a moose
@Bush (Comment #26)
Didn’t watch it, can’t keep up with all the competition. Sure the Glenwood Four did well, Hendrickse x 2 (turfed out the Boks), Ganyanu & Williams. Westville pull polony over Hooker…..Sharks are kak, not up to Euro Champions standards. English Premier League is looking good & JJ is mashing Okes here….Lood must watch out….
@Grasshopper (Comment #25)
First time I agree with you, I must be getting soft or your Suster is getting the better of me. 😘😘😘😘😘how was that Sharks vs Province game last night. I rolled polony for about 6 hours after that win😘
@Bush (Comment #24)
House must stick to their private school padded fixtures & pay Glenwood for the kid. The mommies & daddies can continue their on field gazebo with champers & oysters competition. Let the Gov schools play each other. My sister is well boet, missing the Viking….
Hmmmmm, why isn’t there a tie-in when signing of the scholar? If the other school wants the kid, then that school buys the kid out of that contract. This poaching thing is never going to stop. It keeps giving Hopper bullets to fire. Hey Hopper, Happy New Year. Hope your Suster is missing me❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️as much as you do😘😘😘😘😘
@Crashball (Comment #22)
hahah, yeah that 15 game winning run vs College between 2011 and 2019 will go down in history PLUS the 57-12 win in 2015, ALSO the 44-40 win on College’s 150th, the epic encounter on Greenstones! Distant memories now as College have bulked up their BE and built the depth again.
@Grasshopper (Comment #21)
At least College can rename Greenstones back to Goldstones… ;)
To put the dept of education contribution into perspective…
They pay for less than half the teachers and the “cash” contribution to costs, is not enough to cover the annual toilet paper bill
@Crashball (Comment #17)
Unfortunately I think you are right, the school maybe too far gone. Not enough paying parents, limited Gov funds, very few engaged Old Boys. The school is not how we remember it. Northwood, Westville and College are now the Gov schools of choice, DHS only hangs on because of a sugar daddy or two. It’s really sad. I have my 30 year reunion this year in July and was thinking of flying out for it, but may not now. We just cannot compete with the privates on cash & I fear Northwood are going to panel us on the OB day…..I mean we won one cricket game yesterday and lost all waterpolo and basketball fixtures with an equal match…..the College OBs must be enjoying this….
@Crashball (Comment #16)
That’s ok, but surely R600 a month isn’t a huge amount for an Old Boy to contribute….? We just need 200x OBs doing that….
@beet (Comment #13)
Yes Beet…as with most things associated with Glenwood, this is another long story. The ceding of the lease at the time to a development entity (the property was never Glenwood’s to actually sell – its land granted in a 99 year lease) was done in a legal manner.
Recently there have been some efforts to interrogate the legality of this decision, but at the time the amount paid over to the school was done so as a “full and final settlement”
The value now seems “rather low” based on the commercial success of that property. Hindsight is a perfect science
@beet (Comment #13)
Yes Beet…as with most things associated with Glenwood, this is another long story. The ceding of the lease at the time to a development entity (the property was never Glenwood’s to actually sell – its land granted in a 99 year lease) was done in a legal manner.
Recently there have been some efforts to interrogate the legality of this decision, but at the time the amount paid over to the school was done so as a “full and final settlement”
The value now seems “rather low” based on the commercial success of that property. Hindsight is a perfect science
@wanza_15 (Comment #8)
There is a very long back story to this but in short, the single biggest thing that has changed since Glenwood’s peak is that the money has run out. The leadership at the time was spending money that was never his to spend (Educatuonal trust) and when that money ran out and the scholarships dried up, the rugby program tanked.
If anything there is a warning here to other government schools that whatever kitty is made available has to be topped ip regularly. The hig private schools mentioned have trusts that are run as revenue generating entities (property development angles, wealthy donors contributing regularly etc.)
Glenwood has slipped so far that any funds that came in, would be needed to rebuild infrastructure first. The boarding establishment which is critical for out of province boys is a shadow of its former self
..
@Grasshopper (Comment #14)
Apologies…my math didn’t math
Didn’t take the 12months into account.
@Grant (Comment #2)
Where are their proud old boys of the Erasmus era that could help? It really is unfortunate for them but if they cannot fix their recruitment issues they’ll drop even further down the pecking order. Let’s see how their u14 ruby side does this season?
@Crashball (Comment #5)
R600 a month x 12 = R7,200 x 200 =1,440,000. Enough for 20 x boys. Still can’t compete with private school OB wealth. It’s not a level playing field. DHS poached Teddy the prop in grade 11, Westville have got 3 or more from Glenwood at 1st team level. All those stories are swept under the carpet….
@Crashball (Comment #5)
When you mention war chest for some reason I can’t help but think about the Glenwood Old Boys Club sale gone wrong. How Glenwood could have done with that revenue now.
@Nkonyane yenkosi (Comment #9)
I have no animosity towards Michaelhouse at all, and in every one of these situations in the past I have never opposed the right of parents to do what they believe is in the best interests of their children, even when I personally did not agree with their decisions. I also learnt very early on that every case is different, and that rigid, blanket rules seldom cater properly for individual circumstances. That said, without any rules at all, what standard are we actually meant to conform to?
A large part of the post above was written last year, ahead of a possible move involving a different player from Glenwood to another KZN school, not Michaelhouse, which ultimately did not happen. For that reason, I think it is fair to remove the school’s name entirely and speak purely about the principle. Because it always comes back to the same issue.
What I will say next may seem a bit harsh.
Schools want players primarily because they are good, or at least better than the players they already have. That reality trumps almost everything else. But in the interests of harmony, those same schools should place greater value on the long-term relationships they have with neighbouring / local rival schools than on short-term gains from individual player acquisitions from those same rival schools, that can, and often do, damage those relationships.
In other words, what is best for the collective should outweigh what is best for a single exception.
Unfortunately, school rugby has drifted to a point where it is often better for one unhappy parent or player to move to another province than to risk upsetting the apple cart locally. And that, in itself, says a lot about where the game currently finds itself.
@wanza_15 (Comment #8)
Thats what im trying to say there is more that meets the eye. A boy cant be sick one day every week with a sore stomach because of the horrid food they were being served. Last thing is boys from there no longer have pride for the school and thats not their fault.
@Skywalker (Comment #7)
The Headmasters’ Agreement that once existed is no longer in force. Luman was the last headmaster party to it, and he retired last year. As far as I recall, it never truly governed player movement between schools, except for limiting the eligibility of boys turning 19 who transferred to a new school in KZN.
Most of us would agree that parents must ultimately decide what is best for their children, and no agreement between schools should stand in the way of that. That said, nothing prevents a new school turning away a pupil, nor does it stop them from contacting the previous school to try and reach a mutual understanding ahead of a transfer.
So to answer your question there is no rule.
This situation is much like a bowler who halts in his run-up and runs out the batsman at the non-striker’s end. He can argue that the batsman was out of his crease and that he acted within the laws of the game. Technically, he is correct. But everyone else is left shaking their heads, because while it may be legal, it is not in the spirit of the game.
I have a great respect for your blog. I just wish to set a record straight, you can blame Michealhouse and the parents of the child but i think you need to get a whiff of what transpired.
The boy entered Glenwood in Grade 8 with not scholarship and was unknown just a random but trained hard after hours and after trying to leave (while not on any scholarship) a coach awarded him with a scholarship on from his Grade 9 year. So bear in mind he was never scouted, he goes on a makes the Sharks A Side for his age group. But he’s fee were not getting paid for via school scholarship but his mother was being harassed by the finance office ladies and the one lady says “argh” and hangs up when the mother tries to explain.
After months and 2 meetings (with written proof) with head of sport, nothing has changed so i just want to ask you thing, was it wrong for a single mother to try get a better school (the living conditions at the BE were poor) for her son. Michealhouse was not the first school they applied to, it was just the one who the family felt fit to join.
I think Glenwood should fix its internal issues and not point a finger when there are 3 pointing back at them.
Was there not a time in the recent-ish past where Hilton wanted nothing to do with Glenwood because, for lack of a better word, Glenwood were too good? I think they said something like “Glenwood are too professional”? I know I am not hallucinating!
I am reading all the responses and I find it interesting what you guys diagnose the issue to be..
Have Hilton and Michealhouse not always been “richer” than Glenwood? But for years and years Glenwood have been the better rugby school, it was never a problem til now? Is it perhaps (and maybe I am naive to the situation) a more aggressive effort now in the last 5 or so years to be a better rugby school? But without pivoting too much, even if Glenwood Old Boys pool together as suggested by Grasshopper, Hilton and MHouse will have the deeeper pockets. So the question then is, money aside, what ELSE has changed at Glenwood over the past 5 or 6 years? If we take a snapshot of Glenwood in 2016,17,18, (headmaster, personnel, coaching and everything in between) and a snapshot today, what has changed, because again, financially it has never been a conversation – there must be something else. These things don’t “just happen”.
Honest question…the article speaks about schools not playing by the rules…what are the rules? Are there rules governing recruitment? If school A informs school B that a child wants to move, and school B does not consent…does it matter? Do they have a say if a parent wants to move their child? I asked last year about the Headmasters agreement between KZN schools (public at least?) but was told that it did not seem to be in place any longer.
Any insight?
GLENWOOD CANCELS FIXTURES AGAINST MICHAELHOUSE
@Grasshopper (Comment #3)
The maths not mathing here…. R600 x 200 old boys would be R120k so enough for 2 day boy bursaries or 1 boarder (barely 1 actually) at Glenwood based on 2026 fees.
And this sums up the issue facing Glenwood. There is simply no money. Fee collections are down as the number of good families decrease across the board in Durban and nore specifically in the traditional catchment area for The Wood. Without money, no bursaries, no bursaries means sports programs flounder and that removes the “reason” for people to trek into Umbilo – which is usually out of the way from where they live or on their commute to work.
Glenwood at one stage had over 2000 applications for 250 places. This last year, they struggled to fill the minimum of 180 places in grade 8. Its difficult to get off that slippery slope without a “significant warchest” like the one DHS were able to put together a few years ago.
Stealing hurts. But moreso if its Your neighbor doing it and Your suddenly on the receiving end.
In the bigger picture the looser could become KZN in regards to rugby and maybe even Glenwood themselves as their local fixture list is already slimmer than others.
I do wonder if the boy in question is a KZN boy originally?
Parents will do what they believe is best for their child so they are hard to blame in any way.
I do hope The Green Machine has a great season ahead
@Grant (Comment #2)
The OB Chair has tried really hard, but only gets some engagement. I now put in around R600 a month, just a small contribution. If we got 200 OBs doing that then they would have some money for bursaries etc, probably for about 10 to 15 boys, that would make a huge difference. Unfortunately the school is doomed to become the next George Campbell or Grosvenor or Brettenwood….
@Grasshopper (Comment #1)
Sad reality Hopper. Without a very strong Old Boy network , structures and tons of cash, the end result is unfortunately inevitable. Hoping Glenwood can turn it around somehow.
This has happened since time began, the wealthy private schools offering gov school athletes the opportunity to go to fancy school with better teachers, smaller classes, elite boarding, elite coaching and most importantly write IEB or global exams. What Gov school parent would say no to their child going to a private school like Kearsney, Clifton, St Charles, Hilton, Michaelhouse, St Johns, St Stithians, Bishops etc……none! House and Hilton have done this for years. Hilton poached the Glenwood U16A captain and lock about 15 years ago. An ex Glenwood Head Boy suddenly sent his two boys to House mid high school, that might have been self paid BUT still. As parents we just want the best for our kids. Glenwood is unfortunately in an area of much degradation and the intake is now mostly from areas of lower income. I contribute to the Old Boys fund every month to help a boy or two, BUT this isn’t enough. It’s a harsh reality, no money no stars. Glenwood’s swimming and waterpolo is so poor now it’s bottom of the big schools, when 30 years ago we were winning D&D galas regularly and our polo was SACS level. We don’t even get invited to SACS anymore. Our cricket is average at best. Michaelhouse are just looking after their own interests and well that is life. I do think though that Gov schools should seriously consider not playing private schools anymore, the playing field is not level. Glenwood should rather play double fixtures vs Northwood, DHS, Westville and College plus look at Parktown, Jeppe, KES and PBHS. Glenwood could also look for fixtures vs Dale and Queens on a tour…..good luck to house. Unfortunately this shows Gini coefficient gap in SA society, the haves vs the have-nots. Well done to Glenwood for taking this stand…..