The hallowed grounds of Brug Street Paarl will erupt with passion this Saturday as one of South African schoolboy rugby’s most storied rivalries resumes when the hosts Paarl Boys’ High welcome Grey College Bloemfontein for their annual showdown.
This fixture, which dates back to 1950, represents more than just a rugby match—it’s a celebration of legacy, tradition, and excellence that has spanned generations. The Paarl Boys’ High vs Grey College contest has evolved into one of the most anticipated dates on the schoolboy rugby calendar.
The rivalry’s statistics tell a compelling story. In 49 encounters since 1950, Grey College has established dominance with 39 victories against Paarl’s nine wins, with two matches ending in draws. What began as occasional meetings—just 21 matches between 1950 and 1995—has blossomed into an annual tradition that rugby enthusiasts across the country eagerly anticipate.
While Grey College’s overall record speaks to their historical supremacy, recent years have seen a significant shift in the competitive balance. Since 2011, Paarl Boys High has experienced a remarkable resurgence, claiming four of their nine total victories and a draw during this period.
The 2017 encounter stands as a landmark moment for Boishaai, when they stunned the rugby community with a convincing 46-31 victory on Grey’s home turf. They followed this with consecutive victories in 2016 (28-18) and 2015 (21-19), establishing themselves as worthy adversaries.
However, Grey College has reasserted their dominance in recent meetings, claiming the last four encounters including a 40-28 victory in their most recent clash in 2024.
This weekend’s match promises another captivating chapter in this historic rivalry. Grey College enters as slight favorites, but Paarl Boys buoyed by home advantage and an excellent recent form will be pulling out all the stops. And Boishaai will definitely be wanting to make a statement in the light of their arch rivals, Paarl Gymnasium, who recently enjoyed a historic victory against the men from Bloem, and that on Greys home turf.
Paarl Boys High coach Sean Erasmus said that Boishaai are very excited to have Grey College in town.
“It is a very special occasion to host them. All our teams get the opportunity to compete against the boys’ from Bloem on all fields and levels and this is a very important factor of this occasion.””I am very proud of our performance at Wildeklawer and we look forward to measuring ourselves against Grey. They are a great school and we have a lot of respect for their players and coaching staff. It is definitely going to be a great game to watch.”
With both teams featuring several provincial representatives and future Springboks, spectators can expect a display of schoolboy rugby at its finest—combining raw passion with tactical sophistication and athletic brilliance.
Kick-off is scheduled for 14:00 on Saturday, with a capacity crowd expected to fill the stands in what promises to be yet another unforgettable encounter between these two rugby powerhouses.
Historical Results: Grey College vs Paarl Boys High – recent encounters:
2024: Grey College 40-28 Paarl Boys High
2023: Grey College 39-30 Paarl Boys High
2022: Grey College 21-12 Paarl Boys High
2021: Grey College 37-3 Paarl Boys High
2019: Grey College 43-24 Paarl Boys High
2018: Grey College 34-20 Paarl Boys High
2017: Grey College 31-46 Paarl Boys High
2016: Grey College 18-28 Paarl Boys High
2015: Grey College 19-21 Paarl Boys High
2014: Grey College 15-10 Paarl Boys High
2013: Grey College 35-28 Paarl Boys High
2012: Grey College 18-28 Paarl Boys High
2011: Grey College 15-15 Paarl Boys High
Overall Record:
Grey College wins: 37
Paarl Boys High wins: 9
Draws: 2
Total matches: 48
