The countdown to one of South Africa’s most electric school rugby weekends has begun.
When the Kearsney Easter Rugby Festival (KERF) explodes into life over the Easter long weekend, 28 teams, including international raiders from Ireland, Italy and Zimbabwe, will converge on one of the country’s most picturesque rugby venues for three days of bone-crunching, lung-busting schoolboy rugby.
Now in its 17th year, KERF has cemented its place on the school rugby calender in South Africa. It’s where reputations are built and future Springboks announce themselves.
This year’s edition promises something special. Local spectators will get a rare opportunity to witness how Irish and Italian schools approach the game, a fascinating tactical contrast to the power-based rugby that dominates South African school fields.
Catholic University School from Dublin and Verona Rugby from Northern Italy will bring their distinct playing philosophies to Kearsney’s pristine Stott Field, alongside perennial festival participants Peterhouse Boys’ School from Zimbabwe. The international contingent ensures KERF 2026 isn’t just a domestic showcase, it’s a genuine cross-continental rugby laboratory.
The local firepower is equally formidable. Four of KwaZulu-Natal’s heavyweight programmes, Durban High School, Westville Boys’ High, Glenwood High and hosts Kearsney College, will defend provincial pride against teams from Gauteng, the Eastern Cape, North West and the Western Cape.
Newcomers Helpmekaar College from Braamfontein join the established might of Hoërskool Dr EG Jansen from Boksburg in representing Gauteng’s interests. Hoërskool Rustenburg (North West), the always-entertaining Hoërskool Framesby from Gqeberha, and Milnerton High School from Cape Town complete the senior boys’ division.
The three play days, 2, 4 and 6 April, will test depth, conditioning and mental resilience as teams navigate multiple matches in quick succession.
Kearsney headmaster Patrick Lees acknowledged the festival’s evolution since its inaugural edition in 2008, particularly highlighting last year’s expansion to three divisions for the first time.
“The success of the festival underlines its invaluable role in the development of the country’s school rugby culture and growth,” Lees said, whilst paying tribute to the sponsors whose support has fuelled KERF’s annual expansion.
Headline sponsor Standard Bank South Africa views the festival through a wider developmental lens.
“We recognise the powerful role that sport and education play in building character, confidence and unity. Through platforms like this festival, we are not only nurturing athletes, we are shaping responsible, resilient and inspired leaders for tomorrow,” said Tshiamo Molanda, head of the youth and mass market at Standard Bank’s personal and private banking division.
Carrie-Ann van Heerden, dealer principal at first tier sponsor Halfway Ford Waterfall, captured the essence of what makes KERF special.
“There is nothing quite like the electric atmosphere at the festival, the roar of the crowd, the crunch of hard tackles, and the pride that rugby ignites in all of us,” she said.
Coenraad de Villiers, high performance manager at The Sharks Academy, confirmed what scouts and rugby administrators already know: KERF consistently delivers world-class talent.
“Each year we are impressed by the consistently high standard of rugby on display, with the knowledge that many of these players will go on to contribute meaningfully to the growth and success of rugby in the country,” he said.
Building on last year’s successful initiative, four U16 girls’ teams will showcase the rapidly developing women’s game during lunchtime slots. Mowat Park High from Montclair, Grosvenor Girls’ High from the Bluff, Inanda’s Ohlange High School and Ogwini Comprehensive Technical High School from Umlazi, the latter two boasting five and six provincial girls’ rugby players respectively, will demonstrate that the future of South African rugby is emphatically female as well as male.
The festival’s grassroots dimension sees 12 primary school teams experience the thrill of playing before massive crowds. Joining Peterhouse College’s U13 touring side from Zimbabwe will be local teams from Ashton Ballito, Atholl Heights Primary, Chelsea Prep, Highbury Prep, Hillcrest Primary, Kloof Senior Primary, Northlands Primary, Umhlali Prep, Westville Senior Primary and Winston Park, plus the KZN Ibutho Development side.
It’s this multi-generational approach, from primary school hopefuls to senior schoolboy stars, from developmental girls’ sides to established women’s age-grade programmes, that makes KERF more than just a rugby tournament. It’s a celebration of the game’s entire ecosystem.
Families and supporters will descend on Kearsney’s beautiful campus to soak up the festival atmosphere. A KidZone will keep the little ones entertained, whilst numerous food outlets and a refreshment tent ensure nobody goes hungry or thirsty across the three marathon days.
For those unable to make the pilgrimage to Botha’s Hill, every match will be live-streamed on the SuperSport Schools app. Additional festival information, results, match reports and action photographs will be available on www.kearsney.com throughout the weekend.
Organisers are urging spectators to purchase tickets online now via Quicket.co.za to avoid match-day queues.
The fixtures promise drama from the opening whistle on Thursday morning. Day one’s highlight sees Durban High School lock horns with Verona Rugby at 3.40pm, whilst Kearsney College face Hoërskool Rustenburg in what shapes up as a physical arm-wrestle at 1pm.
Saturday’s blockbuster arrives at 2.20pm when Kearsney test themselves against Catholic University School, giving local fans a genuine comparison between Irish schoolboy rugby and the Natal style. The day closes with Westville Boys’ High battling Helpmekaar College in what could be a festival-defining encounter.
Monday’s finale features the mouthwatering prospect of Durban High School versus Catholic University School at 2.20pm, before Kearsney close the show against Verona Rugby at 3.40pm to conclude three days of top-drawer rugby.
