KZN Schoolboy Rugby Weekend – 02 May 2026

Hilton vs Michaelhouse

Hilton will feel they left plenty on the table in their recent outing against Bishops, flattering to deceive in a performance that suggested they still have a few gears to find.

This weekend presents a far sterner examination as they host Michaelhouse in what is arguably their toughest assignment since welcoming Westville at the start of the season.

Hilton’s sizeable forward pack is always a major weapon, but Michaelhouse have steadily built a reputation in 2026 for neutralising bigger packs. Their forwards continue to punch above their weight physically, while their lineout has become a particularly effective platform.

One of Hilton’s biggest assets remains their kicking game, which is arguably among the sharpest in the country. This is an area where Michaelhouse may need to significantly raise their standards if they are to avoid surrendering territory and control.

Despite a recent defeat to Grey High, Michaelhouse remain firmly in the conversation as one of the standout teams of 2026. The biggest concern from that loss was not so much the result, but another prolonged lapse in concentration — similar to the drop-off seen against Jeppe — with shades of the same sluggishness also evident in the first half against St Andrew’s shortly thereafter.

Outside of those concentration lapses, House continue to be one of the most entertaining teams to watch. Their backs handle brilliantly, attack with real fluidity and ambition, and are complemented by a hardworking pack that consistently gets the job done.

Hilton appear close to full strength, while Michaelhouse remain hampered by key absences. Influential tighthead Nicolas Salamousas, one of the top No.3s in South African school rugby, remains sidelined with a hamstring injury, while powerful loose forward Jayden Jubber is expected to miss the remainder of the season. There are notable changes too, with exciting U17 talent Ben Hughes taking over at scrumhalf and Trezeguet Hawkins starting at No.8.

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Westville vs Kearsney

This fixture comes with an unusual scheduling wrinkle.

In order to secure a home fixture against Glenwood later in the season, Kearsney effectively sacrificed this encounter, while Westville will travel to Glenwood to complete the switch arrangement.

Kearsney have made a fascinating tactical call by reshaping their front row. The One-Stripe have introduced serious size with highly rated U17 props Clement Makalele and Tunga Griffiths joining impressive young hooker Mcebisi Zulu.

The move gives Kearsney a bulked-up starting unit to counter Westville’s sizeable pack, while the rolling substitutions law provides additional flexibility to revert to their more experienced front row later in the contest — and even switch back again if required.

Westville have also been forced into front-row changes, most notably at hooker with Rorke Stirk absent. There is reward too for Omphiwe Dladla, who shifts from the loose trio into the second row. A handful of backline changes have been made, although the key attacking threats remain intact — most notably the mercurial Jade-Will Koopman at flyhalf, who continues to be central to Westville’s high-tempo attacking game.

There are several possible scripts here.

One scenario is that Westville are still carrying the physical toll of their first-ever Wildeklawer campaign, potentially handing Kearsney an edge after a comparatively less bruising tour to Gqeberha.

The counterargument is that Westville will have banked invaluable lessons from that experience and return battle-hardened, better equipped to establish dominance up front.

Kearsney continue to look dangerous with ball in hand, boasting sharp distribution and creative attacking touches, but defensive vulnerabilities remain a concern. Against a Westville side averaging 37 points per game — largely through the speed and decisiveness of their backline — that weakness could prove costly.

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Maritzburg College vs St Charles

The spotlight in Pietermaritzburg falls on the traditional City Derby as Maritzburg College host St Charles.

Saints produced a respectable account of themselves at the Grey Festival, but few will realistically expect them to seriously threaten College here.

Maritzburg College enhanced their reputation at Wildeklawer with two highly competitive performances, pushing both elite opponents all the way to the final whistle and reinforcing their status as one of KZN’s most resilient outfits.

College will, however, be without several influential players. Lock Sean Jansen — arguably KZN’s standout U17 player of the season thus far — is unavailable, alongside centre Olwethu Kosani and wing Lwanzo Vyambwera.

There is better news on the injury front, with home supporters set to welcome back onto Goldstones, flank David Colenbrander, who is fit again.

Even with those absentees, College should have too much quality and physical edge for their city rivals on home turf.

TEAM	HILTON		TEAM	MICHAELHOUSE
1	Aidan du Plooy	u17	1	Aphelele Chamane	u18
2	Kyle-Reese Clements	u18	2	Max Oliva	u18
3	Mholi Khuzwayo	u18	3	Sphelo Mfazwe
4	Hartman Fourie	u18	4	Reese Hill	u18
5	Andrew Schnell	u18	5	Oliver Vickery	u18
6	Callan Kenmuir	u18	6	Oliver Guy	u18
7	Ross Steyn	u18	7	Jed Reilly	u17
8	Zander Muller	u18	8	Trezeguet Hawkins	u17
9	Benoit Rey	u18	9	Ben Hughes
10	John Grubb	u18	10	Jack Carmody	u18
11	Liyema Gazi	u18	11	Barend de Bruyn	u17
12	Ruan Mulder	u17	12	Alex Jankowitz	u18
13	Guy Fender	u18	13	Fabiano Fierro	u17
14	Tomupeishe Gurupira	u18	14	Laird Hamilton-Brown	u18
15	James Peattie	u18	15	Reece Cole	u18
16	Sean Burman	u17	16
17	Garrick Phillips	u18	17
18	Dimo Zigiriadis	u17	18
19	Lwango Ntantala	u17	19
20	Rob Jervis	u18	20
21	William Eustace		21
22	Sigcobe Magwentshu		22
23	Nico Davel	u17	23
Coach	BRAD MACLEOD-HENDERSON		Coach	MARCO ENGELBRECHT
TEAM	WESTVILLE		TEAM	KEARSNEY
1	Sibusiso Hlongwa		1	Clement Makalele	u17
2	Lwandle Bulose		2	Mcebisi Zulu	u17
3	Bandile Mncwango	u19	3	Tunga Griffiths	u17
4	Lwandile Mlaba	u18	4	Robert Gelderman	u17
5	Omphiwe Dladla	u18	5	Thomas Francke	u18
6	Levin Allen	u17	6	James Whatmore	u17
7	Ezra Karolisin	u17	7	Oliver Ludwig	u18
8	Lwandle Makhanya	u19	8	Nhlanhla Ndlovu	u18
9	Tony Cadil		9	Fynn Verbaan	u18
10	Jade-Will Koopman	u19	10	Daniel Miskey	u17
11	Lisa Sijadu		11	Lwandle Mkhize	u18
12	Curtis Fenton	u17	12	Keanu Williamson	u18
13	Jadrian Afrikaner	u19	13	Thomas Aylward	u18
14	Avumila Lisa	u18	14	Sibu Khuzwayo	u18
15	Luxolo Sonkononkono	u18	15	Lwazi Mbebe	u18
Coach	ZANDER ERASMUS		Coach	GRANT BASHFORD
TEAM	MARITZBURG COLL		TEAM	ST CHARLES
1	Linamandla Mabanga	u18	1	Dane Allardice	u17
2	Theo Boshoff	u18	2	Dresden Coetzee	u18
3	Alande Ngubane	u19	3	Bonga Nkosi	u17
4	Raymond Chikukwa	u18	4	Braydon Joese	u18
5	Josh Thompson	u18	5	Joshua Harris	u18
6	David Colenbrander	u18	6	Alec Steenkamp	u17
7	Caleb Sweetnam	u18	7	Hlubelihle Nkosi	u17
8	Rory Stanton	u18	8	Thomas Borgen	u18
9	Dominic du Toit	u18	9	Thandokuhle Nyawo	u18
10	Liyema Tsoko	u18	10	Caleb Sharp	u17
11	Matthew Harris	u18	11	Mathew Ludick	u19
12	Brent Smith	u17	12	Blake Du Cozta	u18
13	Luthando Dladla	u17	13	Njabulo Nala	u18
14	Caleb Scheepers	u18	14	Raheem Wheatley	u17
15	Sandiswa Hadebe	u18	15	Phiwe-Junior Dlamini	u18
16			16	Raiden Reid	u18
17			17	Zvikomborero Dewa	u17
18			18	Brandon Wardle	u18
19			19	Joshua Milne	u18
20			20	Unesulihle Shabalala	u17
21			21	Ntsikelelo Madosi	u17
22			22	Lukhthi Mbalana	u19
23			23	Qhawe Macebo	u18
Coach	HENDRE MARNITZ		Coach	CRAIG DWYER