Maritzburg College, so well coached by Hendre Marnitz, have seen their narrow 27–24 victory over Northwood — backed up by an equally gritty 18–17 win over Durban High School a week earlier — quietly redefine their 2026 season.What began as a sluggish start to the campaign, as the school eased out of its summer sporting programme, has steadily gathered shape, with momentum building notably since their Easter trip to Pretoria.
The Red, Black and White will return from their bye on 23 May due to the half-term weekend with the knowledge that the defining fixture of their season is already circled in red. On Saturday 30 May, they host Hilton College on Goldstones in what is shaping up to be the closest KwaZulu-Natal comes to a de facto title decider. While a few permutations remain beyond that encounter, the reality is that the winner in Pietermaritzburg will carry the strongest claim to provincial supremacy — or at the very least a share of it.
Unlike 2025, when an unbeaten Westville side set the benchmark as undisputed champions of KwaZulu-Natal schoolboy rugby, 2026 has refused to settle into a clear hierarchy. Varied results between evenly matched first teams, combined with a blend of expected and unexpected scheduling disruptions, have left the campaign unusually difficult to read, and the identification of a definitive No. 1 far from straightforward.
Compounding that uncertainty is the fact that unbeaten Hilton College’s position at the summit has not yet been fully stress-tested in the same way as their closest challengers — a point that has not gone unnoticed among observers of the season. The cancellation of their home fixture against Durban High School removed what would have been a significant measuring stick for their campaign. Despite suggestions that a rescheduled date may have been possible, the most viable windows — including 28 March at the Glenwood Festival and the lead up to a midterm weekend where both schools have a bye — ultimately passed without resolution.
As the season enters its decisive phase, consistency may well become the defining currency — and the greatest advantage of the side that wants it most.
Maritzburg College remain one of the defining institutions of KwaZulu-Natal schoolboy rugby, their legacy deeply woven into the province’s sporting fabric. The great era of 1981–1990 stands as a benchmark of sustained excellence, with College losing only nine matches across an entire decade. Even earlier, under the legendary Skonk Nicholson, the school forged a formidable reputation, with records attributing as many as 22 unbeaten seasons to his tenure up to the early 1980s.
Yet for all that heritage, College’s last undisputed claim to being the province’s leading side dates back to 2005. That season marked the end of their prolonged dominance, and while their rugby culture has remained arguably the strongest in KwaZulu-Natal, converting that identity into a complete, title-defining campaign has proved elusive.
Now, nearly two decades and many many head coaches later, the opportunity presents itself once more — not through declaration, but through outcome. Goldstones on 30 May may not formally settle everything, but it will go a long way towards determining who truly holds sway over KwaZulu-Natal schoolboy rugby in 2026.
@Vleis (Comment #14) 100% right Vleis. Why the drop-offs from age group to opens? Selection? Lack of development? The drop off from 2022 U16 to 2024 Open is the most telling – there were 5 SA U20 players in that 2024 team and they underperformed by losing by big margins to Grey, Affies and Paarl Boys High when in reality, all should have been close games. Their other loss was to a strong Jeppe team who they had beaten easily in U15 and twice in U16 (no U14 due to Covid).
@Vleis (Comment #14) KES have been very unlucky with injuries in the last two years. Last I heard 7/8 of the starting XV were out – crazy man! Hopefully it will improve in the 3rd term but with Affies looming this weekend – eisch !!
@ForeverHorseFly (Comment #13)
Ah that would make more sense. Hopefully that A team stays together and continue to be nationally dominant over the next few years. Seems like School have got some great coaching structures in place to develop the kids through to 1st team, so it looks likely!
@Roger (Comment #11) Yes, the KES age group A teams are all looking promising. However, in recent times, the output from the 1st team has dropped off from the A team results – sometimes by a smallish amount (e.g. ’22 to ’24), but other times by a larger amount (e.g. ’23 to ’25 and ’24 to ’26). Of course, the past two years have been hit very hard by injuries…but it’s nevertheless something to keep an eye on.
@ruggaman (Comment #12)
I think that stagger was for their St Charles filler game and not the DHS fixture which is why I think it was an error when they posted. The DHS fixture sheets and results post on their fb page dont have that u14e game as a stagger. That u14 age group is very strong so I doubt they would have needed a stagger game but in any case its always great seeing competitive rugby against a school like MC whose rugby depth in KZN has always been impressive.
@ForeverHorseFly (Comment #8) Apologies I checked again and you’re quite right it was 10 wins for DHS. Home ground advantage making that little bit of difference maybe, but so good to see it competitive right the way down. The stagger was in the lower u14s which is quite surprising to me, given the DHS u14As look set to be ranked #1 in the country. They are an incredibly impressive team, as Skywalker says.
@Skywalker (Comment #9) I see on Facebook that the KES u14A team beat Westville(and the 15A and 16A teams were separated by a point or two) – by your rationale, that means KES have a pretty good u14A team. I haven’t really been following all the results, but that’s good to know after two pretty lean years for the Reds.
@Skywalker (Comment #9)
I stand to be corrected but I don’t think the Westville A teams have been beaten locally. The same applies to DHS. Next week on their OB day will be a true test for the Griffin.
@ruggaman (Comment #7)
Westville have invested well over the last few years, as has DHS. DHS has been more obvious and they get singled out but Westville have done the same. Good depth and a strong pipeline. That DHS u14A team though is somehting else! They going for top 5 in SA with thise boys in 5 years time…Will be interesting to watch
@ruggaman (Comment #6) It was actually DHS 10 wins MC 11 and 1 Draw…I dont believe there was any staggers, maybe that was an error on their page. Last year DHS had 11 wins to MC 9 so things swapped around this year
@ruggaman (Comment #6)
That being said, Westville are probably the next best and in some years/groups superior in terms of consistent depth, now that Glenwood have collapsed. I coached age group Cs/Ds at 2 different Gauteng schools with KZN exchanges from 2016-2020, and after the College fixture, Westville was the boys’ yardstick. We were always hosted really well there too. The school and rugby programme seems to be on a great trajectory.
@star (Comment #5) Looking at the last 2 weeks, according to the College FB post, DHS won 9 out of 22 games (including staggers). NW won 7 out of 21 at home (no staggers). Tough to argue against College having the strongest rugby culture in KZN.
@KES Oldboy (Comment #4)
I would not be surprized if DHS got the better of them this year. Against Westville it was 23 played 11 won 11 lost 1 draw. Westville also won all the A team games and of course the IST team. On that note if Westville can win their last few games which include a difficult OB game away to DHS and at home to House they could retrieve the season and be in the mix at the end.
I think even though College 1st teams over the past 20 years might not have been what they used to be, as a school they are the undisputed champions amongst English medium schools for their strength in depth. When last did they lose more fixtures on a day than they won? (Affies excluded)
Exactly what I thought …. We all know Hilton College chooses their games very carefully …. won’t be keen to play DHS. Hilton College , certainly not a Top 10 team.
@Atlantic (Comment #1)
I don’t think Hilton will want to chance their arm against DHS – could easily be played midweek this week, just before half term. The safest rugby programme in all of SA. Until they truly test themselves they won’t be taken seriously.
@Beet – when will the postponed match : Hilton College vs DHS , take place ?