So many good schoolboy rugby centres in 2026

Did Paul Roos coach Corne Uys do the SA Schools centres a massive favour by shifting his captain midfielder, Tiaan Basson, from inside centre to outside centre?

Last year, the big question lingered all season — where would Ethan Adams (Grey College) and Markus Muller (Paarl Gim) eventually slot in? It was a guessing game right up to the final selections.

Now, if Basson settles at 13, that particular headache might not be as complicated in 2026.

Anyone who has watched Grey College this year would argue that O’Ryan Kleyn is the standout inside centre of the season so far. Interestingly, Grey had even considered him as an outside centre option before the campaign began. A Kleyn–Basson midfield for SA Schools almost feels like an unstoppable combination.

But in South Africa, it’s never quite that simple.

As promising as Kleyn and Basson are, they don’t yet sit in that “untouchable” bracket occupied by players like Adams, Muller, or even Pieter van der Merwe (Grey College, 2024).

In fact, if you’re looking at long-term value beyond schoolboy rugby, Menlopark’s Dylan Stumke may well be the most complete centre prospect in the country. Alongside him, the rated u17 Danie Botma forms what is arguably the most exciting centre pairing in school rugby at the start of 2026.

And that’s where the real debate begins.

At the Noord-Suid tournament — arguably the premier schoolboy rugby festival in the country — several high-end contenders will put their case forward. Paarl Gim’s Ethan Barker stands out for his attacking intuition, while Helpmekaar’s Ethan Lourens is as rock solid and well-rounded as they come. Monument’s Juandre Ehlers brings physical presence and structure, Jeppe’s Phano Letsie offers variety and attacking instinct via his footwork, and Grey College’s Eddie Mabena adds yet another dimension from a system that consistently produces top-tier midfielders.

Then comes the Easter block, where more depth comes to the fore. Durban High School’s gap ghosting Nathan Aneke and Maritzburg College’s power Olwethu Kosani will be pushing hard, while Michaelhouse’s Alex Jankowitz and Kearsney’s Keanu Williamson add further quality in the region. From the Eastern Cape, Grey High’s Ciaran Killian and Graeme’s Erin Nelson bring strong pedigree, with St Alban’s Thabiso Simelane another name firmly in the mix.

As always, a few more names will emerge from the woodwork — including a couple of U17s ready to fast-track themselves into the conversation.

So yes, Basson’s move to 13 may bring a bit more clarity.

But when it comes to selecting SA Schools centres in South Africa, clarity rarely lasts for long.