“Success is relative to every programme,” Kearsney College Director of Rugby Keegan Daniel explains. “It can be measured in wins and losses, but we want to look at performance. Ultimately, you can perform well and lose, or perform poorly and win. We’re not shying away from the fact that we want to win, but there’s far more to consider than just winning and losing.”
That balanced approach extends to the programme’s preparation and culture. Daniel emphasises consistency in preparation whilst fostering genuine passion for the game. “We need to be consistent in the way we prepare and control what we can. As coaches, we need to make the best of the time we have. We want them to love coming to training and love playing the game.”
Creating lasting memories ranks equally alongside competitive success in Daniel’s vision. “We want them to enjoy the journey and create memories along the way,” he noted, adding that external validation holds little sway over the programme’s direction. “The rankings are irrelevant at the end of the day. We’re in a good space with where our programme is going and our philosophy, so we don’t chase rankings.”
Apart from the highly competitive fixtures in Kwazul-Natal, Kearsney’s 2026 campaign includes Rustenburg, a team playing in the Noordvaal cup, who will test themselves against the One-stripe at the Kearsney festival. “It’s a great opportunity to play a team outside the province. Rustenburg has a great programme and are well coached. We’re looking forward to it,” Daniel said.
The director harbours no illusions about the challenges ahead. “KZN is such a strong school rugby system. There’s no hiding from a difficult season, everyone is a good side. Westville and DHS were both in the top 10 in 2025.”
Despite facing traditional heavyweights, Daniel believes Kearsney’s preparation provides opportunities for upsets. “The way we prepare, we always have an opportunity to upset a few big guns, although nobody expects us to beat them. We haven’t put our best performances in recent years, but we’ve put measures in place to grow the programme. It does take time.”
Kearsney’s commitment to developing their own players underscores the programme’s holistic approach. “Only two boys across all the A teams didn’t start at Kearsney College in Grade 8,” Daniel revealed. “We’re not here to promise parents that their sons will become Springboks. We can promise that we care and will give them the best opportunity,” he said.
Kearsney are building their presence in a competitive KZN environment. In 2025 they claimed victory against Clifton College and Glenwood in KZN. Their results against cross border competition went better, securing wins against St. Stithians, Pretoria Boys High, Hudson Park, Dale College and St. Albans.
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