Kearsney Easter Rugby Festival 2026 – Media Release

MEDIA RELEASE
KEARSNEY EASTER RUGBY FESTIVAL 2026
Widely regarded as one of the country’s most entertaining and successful school rugby events, the
Kearsney Easter Rugby Festival (KERF) returns this year with an impressive field of 28 participating teams,
including international visitors from Europe and neighbouring Zimbabwe.
Now in its 17th year, this prestigious festival promises another thrilling showcase of top-level schoolboy
rugby, while offering local spectators a unique glimpse into the school rugby styles of Ireland and Italy,
adding an exciting international dimension to the Easter weekend spectacle.
Touring teams from the Catholic University School (Dublin, Ireland), Verona Rugby (Northern Italy) and
Peterhouse Boys’ School (Zimbabwe), will be joined by four strong local KwaZulu-Natal schools in the
senior boys’ division – Durban High School (DHS), Westville Boys’ High, Glenwood High and hosts
Kearsney College.
Included in this year’s lineup are two tough Gauteng teams – Hoërskool Dr EG Jansen (Boksburg) and
newcomers Helpmekaar College (Braamfontein); as well as Hoërskool Rustenburg (North West); the
always-exciting Eastern Cape’s Hoërskool Framesby (Gqeberha) and Milnerton High School (Cape Town).
The three play days over Easter weekend are Thursday 2nd, Saturday 4th and Monday 6th April.
Confirming this year’s participating teams, Kearsney headmaster Patrick Lees said the success of the
festival, which last year included three divisions for the first time, highlighted its invaluable role in the
development of the country’s school rugby culture and growth since Kearsney’s inaugural festival in
2008.
He acknowledged the immense contribution of festival sponsors, whose invaluable support has assisted
the event to grow each year.
Headline sponsor Standard Bank South Africa said their sponsorship of the festival highlighted their
desire to support youth development.
“We recognise the powerful role that sport and education play in building character, confidence and
unity. Through platforms like this festival, we are not only nurturing athletes, we are shaping responsible,
resilient and inspired leaders for tomorrow,” said Tshiamo Molanda, head of the youth and mass market
at Standard Bank’s personal and private banking division.
Carrie-Ann van Heerden, dealer principal at first tier sponsor Halfway Ford Waterfall, said they were
looking forward to another unforgettable KERF weekend, where families, friends and rugby enthusiasts
can celebrate the game.
“There is nothing quite like the electric atmosphere at the festival – the roar of the crowd, the crunch of
hard tackles, and the pride that rugby ignites in all of us,” she said.
Coenraad de Villiers, high performance manager at The Sharks Academy, said each year they were
impressed by the consistently high standard of rugby on display at KERF; with the knowledge that many
of these players would go on to contribute meaningfully to the growth and success of rugby in the
country.
Building on the success of the initiative at last year’s festival, four U16 girls’ teams will play during
lunchtime slots. They are Mowat Park High from Montclair, Grosvenor Girls’ High from the Bluff, Inanda’s
Ohlange High School and Ogwini Comprehensive Technical High School from Umlazi. The latter two
teams boast five and six provincial girls’ rugby players respectively.
Twelve primary school teams will also enjoy the excitement of playing festival rugby in front of large
crowds.
Joining touring Peterhouse College’s U13 team from Zimbabwe, will be local teams from Ashton Ballito,
Atholl Heights Primary, Chelsea Prep, Highbury Prep, Hillcrest Primary, Kloof Senior Primary, Northlands
Primary, Umhlali Prep, Westville Senior Primary and Winston Park, as well as the KZN Ibutho
Development side.
Teams travel with families and supporters to enjoy KERF’s spectacle of running rugby in a family-friendly
festival atmosphere on Kearsney’s beautiful campus. Adding to the ambience, there will be a fun
KidZone for the little ones, ample parking, as well as numerous food outlets and a refreshment tent to
ensure spectators can fully enjoy the weekend’s sporting entertainment.
For those unable to attend the festival, games will be live-streamed on the SuperSport Schools app.
Additional festival information, results, match reports and action photographs will be available on
www.kearsney.com during the festival.
To avoid the queues, tickets can be purchased online now, at Quicket.co.za
FIXTURES: STOTT FIELD
BOYS HIGH SCHOOL TEAMS
DAY 1 THURSDAY 02 APRIL 2026
08h00 Helpmekaar College vs Glenwood High School
09h20 Hoērskool Framesby vs Peterhouse Boys’ School (Zimbabwe)
10h40 Westville Boys’ High School vs Catholic University School (Ireland)
13h00 Kearsney College vs Hoērskool Rustenburg
14h20 Milnerton High School vs Hoērskool Dr EG Jansen
15h40 Durban High School vs Verona Rugby (Italy)
DAY 2 SATURDAY 04 APRIL 2026
08h00 Peterhouse Boys’ School (Zimbabwe) vs Milnerton High School
09h20 Durban High School vs Hoērskool Rustenburg
10h40 Verona Rugby (Italy) vs Hoērskool Dr EG Jansen
13h00 Glenwood High School vs Hoērskool Framesby
14h20 Kearsney College vs Catholic University School (Ireland)
15h40 Westville Boys’ High School vs Helpmekaar College
DAY 3 MONDAY 06 APRIL 2026
08h00 Helpmekaar College vs Hoērskool Framesby
09h20 Glenwood High School vs Hoērskool Dr EG Jansen
10h40 Peterhouse Boys’ School (Zimbabwe) vs Hoērskool Rustenburg
12h50 CLOSING CEREMONY
13h00 Westville Boys’ High School vs Milnerton High School
14h20 Durban High School vs Catholic University School (Ireland)
15h40 Kearsney College vs Verona Rugby (Italy)
FIXTURES: GIRLS U16 TEAMS
DAY 1 THURSDAY 02 APRIL 2026 FIELD
12h00 Ogwini Comprehensive Technical High vs Grosvenor Girls’ High Stott
12h00 Ohlange High School vs Mowat Park High School Roberts
DAY 2 SATURDAY 04 APRIL 2026
12h00 Ogwini Comprehensive Technical High vs Ohlange High School Stott
12h00 Grosvenor Girls’ High vs Mowat Park High School Roberts
DAY 3 MONDAY 06 APRIL 2026
12h00 Ogwini Comprehensive Technical High vs Mowat Park High School Stott
12h00 Grosvenor Girls’ High vs Ohlange High School Roberts

ISSUED ON BEHALF OF KEARSNEY COLLEGE
BY SUE MILES
WWORDS@IAFRICA.COM
083-222-5211
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