St. Charles College may not boast the storied rugby heritage of traditional KwaZulu-Natal powerhouses, but Director of Rugby Craig Dwyer believes the school’s patient, player-centred approach is laying the foundations for sustained success in 2026 and beyond.
“We’re not a traditional rugby school, but our profile has grown significantly over the last few years,” Dwyer explained. “We pride ourselves on playing an attractive brand of rugby – coast-to-coast stuff. The blueprint starts at a young age, teaching our prep school boys to play the way we want to play from the beginning.”
That grassroots focus manifested in the innovative “Ball for All” campaign, which saw St. Charles distribute 500 rugby balls to prep school pupils following a series of coaching clinics led by 1st XV players. “A ball is an opportunity to connect with dad or an older brother,” Dwyer noted, highlighting the programme’s emphasis on building rugby culture beyond mere results. The initiative has already borne fruit, with scenes at the school’s old boys day underlining the growing connection between generations.
In an era where schoolboy rugby increasingly resembles a win-at-all-costs environment, Dwyer’s approach stands in stark contrast. “For us, it’s process over outcome,” he insisted. “We want to leave the jersey in a better place, win, lose or draw. We just need to play to our potential and ensure boys get opportunities at varsity or union level. The main thing is just the love of the game. In 16-plus years of coaching, I’ve looked at the most successful environments, and one key thing stands out: care and connection,” he said.
The 2025 season represented a transitional year for St. Charles, fielding a young squad that nonetheless showed encouraging signs against traditional heavyweights. A narrow 10-point defeat to Maritzburg College particularly stood out. “We could have won. A few decisions didn’t go our way, but it showed how the programme and belief has grown,” Dwyer reflected.
With 90% squad retention and a full pre-season under their belts, expectations are cautiously optimistic. “These boys just want to get back into the season. We’ve had our best testing results in the last two years,” Dwyer said.
St. Charles face a challenging 2026 fixture list, with traditional powers Maritzburg College and Glenwood on the schedule, whilst the Grey PE festival will provide early tests against Kingswood College and Hudson Park.
The budding rivalry with cross-town neighbours Maritzburg College holds particular significance. “It’s not a traditional derby game , the gap between us has been too big historically, but looking at last year, we did well. I’m hoping we can make it into a local derby that can grow.”
As a Glenwood old boy himself, Dwyer admits the fixture against his alma mater carries extra spice. “Beating them in 2024 was a highlight for me personally. They smashed us in 2025, but we have a score to settle in 2026.”
Strengthening the coaching roster remains paramount, with former Springbok BJ Botha joining the programme to work with players across all age groups.
