Helpmekaar is under the spotlight after cancelling their interschools fixture against KES, scheduled for 6 June 2026, citing player welfare concerns. It marks a significant departure from the norm.
There have been three documented cases in this years where illness has resulted in high-profile interschools Saturdays being called off, the most recent being Grey College versus Selborne. Generally, however, cancellations tend to come down to one of two factors: serious unhappiness with an opponent, often linked to poaching allegations, or a fear of taking a heavy defeat.
Helpies fit neither category.
There is no known animosity between the Johannesburg private and KES. In fact, the opposite could be argued. On paper, Helpmekaar would have entered the fixture as favourites to claim the 1st XV honours. Ironically, it is KES who have endured one of the most injury-ravaged campaigns among South Africa’s leading rugby schools this season, with as many as nine players unavailable for selection at a stage.
The explanation from Helpies is straightforward: player welfare.
According to the school, its top rugby sides have endured an exceptionally demanding schedule. Since and including Wildeklawer, the A teams and 1st XV have played seven matches in six weeks. That run has included fixtures against Boishaai and DHS at junior level, Grey College and Queen’s College at senior level, as well as five consecutive Noordvaal encounters against Garsfontein, Menlopark, EG Jansen, Monument and Noordheuwel.
The workload does not end there. More than 20 Helpies players are set to represent the Lions against the Pumas, while another Noordvaal fixture against Middelburg awaits on 13 June.
Viewed in isolation, the argument has merit. Modern schoolboy rugby places increasing physical demands on young players, and concerns around player welfare have become a growing topic of discussion within the game.
Yet public perception rarely operates in isolation. So expect this decision to be frowned upon. After all it is a commitment made and now broken.
Verstaan die meriete, maar soos OudAffie tereg uitwys kon mens dit voor die seisoen geweet het. Die realiteit is dat die seisoen te lank is en die wedstryde te veel is, vir baie van die top 30 skole. Veral die Noordvaal-skole sal moet mooi dink hoeveel “voor-seisoen” rugby hul wil speel, as dit by toere, NWU-reekse, Noord-Suid en Wildeklawer kom…. en dan begin hul “liga” eers.
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Ek sien eintlik net 2 alternatiewe vorentoe indien jy workload wil beperk. Een is jy speel feeste en derbies, of twee jy beperk jou voorseisoen tot een of twee warm-ups, een fees/toer en dan fokus op Noordvaal. Vir my is 15-16 wedstryde die sweetspot.
Ek wil net uitwys dat Helpmekaar Kollege self verlede jaar hul program en aantal wedstryde vir hul A-spanne op papier gesit het, om te sê daar word te veel rugby gespeel in ‘n kort tydperk maar jy reël die program self is effe lagwekkend. Ek sê nie dit is nie ‘n geldige probleem vir die spelers en hul werksladig nie, ek noem net dit is swak om te sê ons speel te veel rugby, maar jy self het dit so beplan. Reël dan minder wedstryde, sekerlik kan die ‘higher ups’ voorspel dat tussen Wildeklawer, Noordvaal, Leeus wedstryde en vriendskaplike wedstryde dat dit te veel gaan wees. En dan beplan mens mos rondom dit. OF soos Menlopark wat in die verlede uit wedstryd onttrek het agv groot aantal beserings, as jy weet jou seisoen kan lank raak of die spelers gaan te veel rugby speel, hoekom beplan jy nie beter itv bepalings nie. Sekerlik as die seuns in die skool se belang was sou iemand dit uitwys (vroegtydig), en dit tel ook vir al die skole wat Festivals, NoordSuid en Wildeklawer speel en 8 tot 9 wedstryde in 6 weke speel.