Light rain is forecast across much of KZN on Saturday, 21 March 2026, setting the tone for what could be a bruising second round of schoolboy rugby in the province.
Durban High School’s much-anticipated visit to Hilton – a fixture that would almost certainly have been the match of the weekend – has unfortunately been cancelled. A severe bout of flu has swept through the Hilton camp, leaving players sidelined in numbers. Ironically, DHS were gearing up for a rare milestone, chasing their first win on Gilfillan since 2016.
Northwood make the trip to Balgowan where, despite their encouraging showing against Glenwood last weekend, they head in as underdogs. This Michaelhouse side has already proven stronger than pre-season expectations suggested. The Knights’ task is further steepened by history – they have never won on the Meadows. That opportunity is also on hold this year, with the match shifted to Bailey’s as the Meadows undergoes final levelling and drainage upgrades. Even so, a win at Michaelhouse in any form would mark a historic first for Northwood.
Maritzburg College, as always, are expected to draw a strong travelling crowd and, weather permitting, Bowden’s should be well filled. Their clash against Helpmekaar would have offered key takeaways, particularly in defensive line speed and a more effective use of the boot from the base. Both areas will need to be sharp against a Westville outfit likely to push the tempo throughout. Discipline, however, remains a concern for Ville following their defeat to Hilton.
College boast a strong overall record against the Griffin, even at Bowden’s. The last home victory in this fixture dates back to 2018, although Covid disruptions and Sharks Day scheduling have limited recent meetings. The Red, Black and White last claimed victory in Westville in 2022.
A confident Kearsney side returns to Stott Field aiming to secure a third consecutive win over Glenwood, having edged a 25–22 result on their last outing against the Green Machine in 2024. There is a pleasing balance to the One Stripe, but conditions and the traditionally testing Stott Field surface could shift the contest towards the forwards.
Glenwood’s last victory at Kearsney came in 2023, and they arrive primed to lift their intensity — particularly at set piece — with visiting supporters eager to see their strike runners given more opportunities to influence the game.
| TEAM | KEARSNEY | TEAM | GLENWOOD | ||
| 1 | Luke Faure | u18 | 1 | ||
| 2 | Micah van Wijk | u17 | 2 | ||
| 3 | Azania Thela | u18 | 3 | ||
| 4 | Robert Gelderman | u17 | 4 | ||
| 5 | Thomas Francke | u18 | 5 | ||
| 6 | James Whatmore | u17 | 6 | ||
| 7 | Oliver Ludwig | u18 | 7 | ||
| 8 | Nhlanhla Ndlovu | u18 | 8 | ||
| 9 | Fynn Verbaan | u18 | 9 | ||
| 10 | Daniel Miskey | u17 | 10 | ||
| 11 | Lwandle Mkhize | u18 | 11 | ||
| 12 | Keanu Williamson | u18 | 12 | ||
| 13 | Thomas Aylward | u18 | 13 | ||
| 14 | Sibu Khuzwayo | u18 | 14 | ||
| 15 | Lwazi Mbebe | u18 | 15 | ||
| Coach | GRANT BASHFORD | Coach | JUSTIN HOLLIS | ||
| TEAM | WESTVILLE | TEAM | MARITZBURG COLL | ||
| 1 | Ngcali Nonxuba | u18 | 1 | Linamandla Mabanga | |
| 2 | Rorke Stirk | u17 | 2 | Theo Boshoff | u18 |
| 3 | Bandile Mncwango | u19 | 3 | Alande Ngubane | u18 |
| 4 | Warren Murray | 4 | Sean Jansen | u17 | |
| 5 | Lwandile Mlaba | u18 | 5 | Connor Mountfort | u18 |
| 6 | Levin Allen | u17 | 6 | Mian Pretorius | |
| 7 | Omphiwe Dladla | u18 | 7 | Caleb Sweetnam | u18 |
| 8 | Lwandle Makhanya | u19 | 8 | Rory Stanton | u18 |
| 9 | Sandiswa Mbokazi | u18 | 9 | Dominic du Toit | u18 |
| 10 | Jade-Will Koopman | u19 | 10 | Liyema Tsoko | u18 |
| 11 | Avumila Lisa | u18 | 11 | Lwanzo Vyambwera | u17 |
| 12 | Curtis Fenton | u17 | 12 | Olwethu Kosani | u18 |
| 13 | Jadrian Afrikaner | u19 | 13 | Matthew Harris | |
| 14 | Bukho Sotaka | u18 | 14 | Caleb Scheepers | u18 |
| 15 | Luxolo Sonkononkono | u18 | 15 | Mojalefa Mogale | u17 |
| Coach | ZANDER ERASMUS | Coach | HENDRE MARNITZ | ||
| TEAM | MICHAELHOUSE | TEAM | NORTHWOOD | ||
| 1 | Aphelele Chamane | u18 | 1 | Trevor van Vollenstee | u18 |
| 2 | Max Oliva | u18 | 2 | Anesu Kuzonyei | u18 |
| 3 | Nicolas Salamousas | u18 | 3 | Andile Thwala | u18 |
| 4 | Trezeguet Hawkins | u17 | 4 | Sifiso Meyiwa | u18 |
| 5 | Oliver Vickery | u18 | 5 | Phinda Nkosi | u17 |
| 6 | Kumkani Dwenga | u17 | 6 | Sondelani Sheleni | u17 |
| 7 | Jed Reilly | u17 | 7 | Ludi van der Walt | u18 |
| 8 | Oliver Guy | u18 | 8 | Kevin van Vollenstee | u17 |
| 9 | James Mallett | u18 | 9 | Caeleb Mackenzie | u17 |
| 10 | Jack Carmody | u18 | 10 | Bandile Gwala | u18 |
| 11 | Barend de Bruyn | u17 | 11 | Ruddy Makoni | u18 |
| 12 | Alex Jankowitz | u18 | 12 | Nala Shabangu | u17 |
| 13 | Fabiano Fierro | u17 | 13 | Janco Visagie | u18 |
| 14 | Laird Hamilton-Brown | u18 | 14 | Tinayeishe Ruwona | u19 |
| 15 | Reece Cole | u18 | 15 | Omila Marambana | u18 |
| 16 | 16 | Sphe Mhlongo | u19 | ||
| 17 | 17 | Awande Mthethwa | u17 | ||
| 18 | 18 | Connor Alexander | u19 | ||
| 19 | 19 | Sibaphiwe Mbatha | u18 | ||
| 20 | 20 | Troy Dick | u18 | ||
| 21 | 21 | Ivan Vermaak | u18 | ||
| 22 | 22 | Josh Mills | u17 | ||
| 23 | 23 | Jadon Smith | u18 | ||
| Coach | MARCO ENGELBRECHT | Coach | JACQUES DEEN |
@Grasshopper (Comment #41)
I think it’s Donald Trump🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣
GW still a tough game, not a push over.
@Bush (Comment #40)
2,3……WOOD! Who is the Wood player in the House team, out of interest for a friend of mine…..
@Grasshopper (Comment #24)
2 3 House
@Westville_Boy (Comment #37)
See, I’m not sure you understood what I said. It ~never happened~ despite what the supposed victim said (and of course you know him and he told you directly), he knows what he was told, but what happened was … nothing. Your subtle “nudge, nudge wink, say no more” is misplaced. So there was nothing to “clean up”.
I can write it in your home language if you wish?
@Westville_Boy (Comment #37)
I think the horse bolted on your sandpit comment….
@Gungets Tuft (Comment #36)
Take your word for it. But rest assured I heard it from the boy in question.
But thats all in the past I am sure college has cleaned up its act.. Its a great school and I am not just saying it… definitely leading boarding school for boys in Kzn.
@Westville_Boy (Comment #35)
It’s been a while since I commented here, my lightie 11 years away from College now, but that comment deserves a response. Have you noticed that there was no follow up on that story, the second by the same Sunday Crimes “reporter”. Because – it never happened. Two kids were told it had happened and ran off to tell mom. “Vietnam” is a very heavily controlled and monitored rite of passage that is valued by every boarder kid once it’s over. If you want to be bored by the whole saga of “initiation” and traditions at College after Chris Luman arrived just let me know.
@TJ (Comment #30)
I hope you not referring to college as that model of Be… I think piss!ng in the sand pit and getting grade 8s to crawl through it i would think that ship has sailed.??
@star (Comment #32)
I must admit yes I am worried about the discipline… and definitely cant blame the ref…. he blew westville up for not retreating outside the ten meter radius of a kick that was kicked and chased by the kicker and person behind the kicker…its such a technical law to blow i am sure that there must be a concentrated effort on discipline in the coming weeks
@star (Comment #32)
Last place I wanted to go was Westville with the de Marigney’s……they lived in my complex behind Waxies…eish the 96 Westville okes were worse too…..
@Westville_Boy (Comment #28) Don’t worry about Grassy. He used to live in Westville but stayed at GW .As a result he took great flack and is still trying to get over it.
On a more serious not are you not a little concerned about the discipline of Westville. That was 2 matches in a row where the penalties were heavily stacked (can’t always blame the ref) against Westville with 2 being for not retreating the required distance from the kick. It just upsets the flow of a potentially great side and allows other teams to stay in the fight 
@TJ (Comment #30)
If you can’t pass matric now you must be very challenged……
@Westville_Boy (Comment #26)
I must congratulate Westville on following what all major boarding schools have been doing for many years: having a family man head up a hostel. It must be rather alien to the school when compared to the “digs” style experience of not so long ago! As for how College recruits, well, not much has changed over the years. Maritzburg College places a premium on a potential learner’s academic ability to pass his matric exams; if not, the child is passed over, and a more suitable academic candidate is sought. Two good examples of this are the school’s decision to pass up Cheswill Jooste and Batho Hlekani due to their academic performance. Brilliant rugby players, but not good fits in the academic space. The school recently took in two development players, both capped for the 1sts, and, more importantly, both passed their matric exams, with one boy earning four distinctions. Furthermore, no boy at the school is “encouraged” to stay back for the betterment of the sports programme, as is the case south of Marionhill Toll Plaza.
@Westville_Boy (Comment #28)
Classic, that is exactly what they said about DHS 10 years ago. The Traditional schools have been around for 100 years plus for a reason, we know how to adapt. Glenwood will be back and competing. You cannot keep us done no matter how arrogant & confident you are…
@Grasshopper (Comment #27)
You so salty🤣🤣🤣🤣 Its laughable really is… you living in the past Gwd is done and dusted. The good old days🤣🤣🤣 Shame man.
@Skywalker (Comment #25)
Throw in free travel for sport, a sponsored car if reach driving age, ‘pocket money’, lifts to the Pavilion, new kit, free supplements & someone to tuck Johnny into bed, you can see why some schools are ‘attracting’ the best. It’s a complete free for all & I don’t see much happening re proper medical age checks. The DHS buses roaming Queenstown & KWT have probably removed their logos & Ville have sales reps meeting parents directly. It’s a sad state of affairs. The likes of Glenwood can’t compete. Oh for the good old days of natural organic acquisition of talent where schools had good, bad & the occasional great year.
@Skywalker (Comment #25)
Hahaha shows what a happy boy can do but seriously I go back to the point Dusty and his team are getting it very right at the moment.. Westville Boarding is definitely a selling point compared to college.. college traditional boarding where Westville boarding space is run by someone that has a family and runs it like a home away from home… I cant give my identity away but I can reassure you that college recruitment is very aggressive… But they just hoping and wishing they get the correct people… the person who does recruitment asks ” have dhs Westville approached you”… that doesn’t work.
@Westville_Boy (Comment #14)
Just 1 different player and they overturned a 40 point difference? Must be one heck of a flyhalf! That is great to hear joking aside. Bottom line is you need talent to work with. Rassie would not win a world cup with the Namibian national team. You need good coaches and good facilities, but they need quality rugby boys and hence the war for talent. Some schools recruit more or less, at different levels and with different levels of transparency. But clearly Westville are doing it well, cause like DHS they have a formidable pipeline. My question was where are they finding such gems while others are not able to get the same. Is the boarding offering maybe a differentiator? Is Westville offering better then a College?
Got to laugh at House’s new marketing strapline. ‘Everything Money can’t buy’
It only costs you R420,000 a year plus tours, uniform etc to get that privilege hahahah.
@Westville_Boy (Comment #22) My point is many boys are being supported privately and many more than just 10 to 15. My mate alone is supporting one kid entirely with his fees and it’s not a bursary or scholarship. Westville luckily probably have multiples of OBs doing that. R60,000 a year is not a huge amount in pounds, £2,600 or £215 a month. I contribute a small amount to Glenwood each month of about R500 UNTIL I see more OBs doing that I will keep it low for now….
@Grasshopper (Comment #21)
Your last point is important not everything is made public.. and I am sure the school finances are on top of that list… think you should really ask yourself do you honestly believe that giving 10 to 15 scholarships would make sense financially? Surely you can be reasonable when you conclude? I can assure he there is no old boy thats injecting money for scholarships…. What do you think it would do to the poor boys around us if Westville go out and buy an entire team? What does that do to the culture of the school..
@Westville_Boy (Comment #20)
Glenwood didn’t run itself into the ground, two very questionable characters did, one named Trevor’Very Clever’ Kershaw and the other is plying his trade across the Berea. The school has not been able to recover from that, combined with a perfect storm of a decaying area, lack of OB support, changing demographics, fingers being pointed around age issues (others included Ville swept that under the carper quickly). It’s like Ville have a bit of weird Schadenfraude, laughing at the demise of a school that actually helps them. A strong Glenwood is good for everyone. But what can one expect from an upstart Leafy suburbs school that thinks they are above everyone else. I can tell you now Ville were nothing in the pool in the 90s, 5th at best in the D&D galas, Peter Chillcott the best they had. DHS and Glenwood ruled the D&Ds for years, Northlands/Beachwood (Northwood) to a degree at one point gave us a challenge (Matt Bowman etc). Same for all other sports, Westville didn’t feature. They just recruited very well in the early 2000’s, got in the right Swimming clubs, then ensured they got the best swimming coaches. Well done to them, not a naturally strong swimming school, but attracted the likes of Chad le Clos from Penzance. I think the WOB UK Chairman would know on the bursary front, remember not all have to be public. Multiple OBs paying for kids and subsidising fees on the quiet. We are not stupid….
@Grasshopper (Comment #16)
Dieter works at westville in the administration part so not sure the point you trying to make…. I think when you haven’t lost a swimming gala in 17 years no need to recruit in that space… and swimmers definitely doesn’t need to play polo… I think I am missing the point with your 20 30 40% scholarships at westville… However I am pretty sure that the school will not run itself into the ground like Gwd did and have a financial model that suits the school.. 10 to 15 kids per sporting code is laughable and is just not facts.. that financial model can never work.
@TJ (Comment #18)
They were recruited at Iqhawe week… u15… please have a look at the Hollywood bets iqhawe week page will give you those details
@Westville_Boy (Comment #14)
I strongly disagree with you when comparing the number of boys College recruit to Westville. The notion that Westville only recruit at Grade 8 is laughable. Grant Khomo, Iqahwe and Academy Week’s all have been happy hunting grounds for Westville these past few years. If that is so, then Koopman and Afrikaner did very well to lay low for their first couple of years at Westville and not play any rugby!
@beet (Comment #10) Very interesting about berea park, any idea what they say the development will be?
@Westville_Boy (Comment #13)
My WOB mate here in the UK, who is the chair of the WOB committee here, says on average Westville give out 60-70 bursaries a year, half of which are partial so 20%, 30%, 40% discount etc. No1 priority is swimmers, get the A & B team SA Primary school swimmers, so circa 10 kids (feeds waterpolo too) to ensure they maintain their unbeaten gala record. Then rugby, 10 to 15 kids, cricket, hockey, football etc. They now have more BE capacity too, so outside of KZN kids go there. Buying houses in Jan Hofmeyr Drive for this. Westville have multiple successful businessmen OBs ploughing efforts into the school, plus OBs like Dieter Kriese really leaning in. They have maintained great academics and the areas is relatively safe, so it’s got a good balance. If highways people can’t afford Kearsney, Westville is the obvious next choice…
@TJ (Comment #12) The biggest eye-sore at Goldstones are the pylons, I know not much can be done about that unless you build a stand of something to block it out. For Glenwood to save itself, they have to look seriously at relocation to Ballito, not sure how viable that is OR find a huge cash injection. College has managed to avoid the declining area making a difference by having a large campus and big Boarder capacity, ship the best in from the farms. The Duzi helps as a barrier too. Finding paying parents will be the challenge going forward for Model C schools too. I see the privates becoming too strong within 10 years and having to play each other in a league….
@TJ (Comment #6)
College offer more…. they just offer to the wrong boys… college recruitment is throwing the net wide and far and seeing what they catch… Westville try bring in the right boy from grade 8…. I give you an example u14 side against Hilton got smacked 40 something 2025… 2026 that same team beat Hilton… new player was Westville 10… he left Hilton because he was told he cant play hockey and rugby… so what does it come down to?? Great coaches that put the boy first…
@Skywalker (Comment #5)
Skywalker… what happens if I told you that the director of rugby is getting alot right… I will give you an example i had a look at the A, B coaches in all those age groups… they the same person.. so automatically it opens the door for a more consistent alignment in coaching i think that the culture they have is making them a force to reckon with very exciting…. Westville recruitment happens in grade 8 … yes if there is a need for a player then they will go to Iqahwe week it seems. (U15) so they dont bring is anyone as it will disrupt the culture of the rugby program.
@beet (Comment #11)
Those ideas have floated around for a while now. The idea of extending Snows and turning it into a larger field has been considered, especially when looking to host a National Week. If Inland cricket goes belly-up, the Oval becomes available…
I think the more conservative minded Old Boys would rather commit seppuku than see the much beloved (hated) cricket pitch get removed
@TJ (Comment #6)
But I somehow don’t think too many MCOBs would agree.
I went up to Maritzburg College for the Helpies game. I remember the very first time I ever arrived there as a schoolboy for cricket I asked if it was a private school. It still looks and feels like a private school today. Beautiful buildings and fields with the river next to the outer fields. And the boys always neatly dressed and proud of their school.
Lots for the MCOB community to love and want to keep strong.
If I had one wish it would be to close the road at the bottom, extend Snows and make that the 1st XI cricket pitch, so that they can dig up that eye sore on Goldstones and make it a grand rugby field
Sounds like DHS have a few new donors on board. They are going to buy Berea Park, develop it and probably never look back given the war chest the rumours suggest they will have.
@Skywalker (Comment #8)
Must be some sort of silent investor or just got all OBs to contribute. It only takes R250 a month from all OBs to make a difference. The Glenwood OBs are trying to drum this up, but it’s proving really hard. I do R500 a month but need thousands to do this, not just 100 or so. DHS have got a whale investor..,
@Grasshopper (Comment #7)
DHS I know have had big bank rollers, but Westville? Who is funding? And how many bursaries are given is maybe the bigger question. NW I think don’t give many. Even so, if they are finding boys all round SA, so are MBC. Surely College also have a decent fund to draw on? Westville prep school i have noted before did not show great rugby results vs Chelsea i think it was, so its not like they have a local powerhouse pipeline…so where are these boys from who are so good? And why cant MBC or NW get the same? Just really amazed by that stat.
@Skywalker (Comment #5)
It’s really simple, DHS and Westville have more money…..yesterday I think was the nail in Glenwood’s coffin, if we can’t beat Kearsney with 500 boys and lose most of the games, we are destined to be 6th or 7th in the province for the forseeable future. I just can’t see how they can turn it around without a massive injection of cash, getting top coaches and attracting the best in the province again. We probably need R20m+ to do that…
@Skywalker (Comment #5)
As much as it pains to me admit, right now both schools have better programmes and it is showing. Finances also are an issue, where DHS and Westville are able to offer more bursaries to get more kids in whilst College cannot compete. The topping up of talent from Iqhawe Week and the like by both schools is also a factor. College at the moment is treading water and the results are there for all to see.
Honest question, what are Westville (and DHS) doing to get the rugby talent they are? Out of 16 games played in the u14, u15 and u16 age groups, MBC won only 4 against Westville today! And they were C,D E and F teams. Ville beat Maritzburg College in u14A, u15A, u16A and 1st team. Now I know MBC rugby is not as dominant as it once was, but it has been working hard to up the level again and they too recruit from all over. How are the likes of Westville and DHS just getting so much stronger? Price wise these are all public schools and the fees for the school and boarding are roughly the same im sure. Where do these Westville boys come from to be so much better year after year?
So apparently Kearsney needed a home game for this weekend due to the Gr 8 2027 open day. They made an arrangement for Glenwood to get Westville (meant to be at Ville this year) at home so that this Glenwood game could take place on the Stott
@Black and white (Comment #1)
Eish. Thank you.
Might be the second weekend in a row that the school meant to host the match this weekend comes up short.
Very unfortunate about the DHS:Hilton game. Would also give some insights into where those teams are at. But 100% the right call.
Do you have team lists @beet?
1. Mhouse vs Northwood: House to win by 7. Not sure if Parkinson is ok after limping off, or the hooker? Need Wimble to have a massive game to challenge House away from home though, especially if rainy weather expected. Not ideal for what NW would want i think.
2. Kearsney to secure another win. I think they have a team to take on the big guns this year and will be composed enough to beat Glenwood this weekend i feel. Glenwood will fight back, but i think better coaching and execution will pay off for KC. KC by 16.
3. Westville will be hurting after last weekend. Dont really have much to go on for College. I would think Ville at home to take the win, unless College get dominance early and the pressure of losing at home starts to derail Ville? But think they will come back strong. Ville by 9.
Correction Kearsney are playing Glenwwood at home, on the much improved STOTT this weekend .