It is time for the big Paarl rugby rivalry again when Paarl Gimnasium (Gim) and Paarl Boys’ High (PBHS) take each other on at Faure street on Saturday 5 August. The Galpille against the Bloedworse, South vs North.
This is the time of year when Paarl is divided into the two camps for a whole week. A rivalry that has existed for more than 100 years culminates in the main rugby match between the two schools at the Faure Street Stadium at 16:00 on Saturday.
The first match was played in 1915 when masters, schoolboys and old boys all played together. This was the format up to 1927, after which it was decided the Interschools matches should comprise only schoolboys. The current format as it exists today started officially in 1929.
Before the enforced two-year break in 2020 and 2021 due to covid, the Interschools was interrupted only for one year, in 1928, when the derby did not take place, the reason for which is lost in the mists of time.
The intensity of this derby is reflected in the average winning margin of only five points in more than a 100 games. There are no easy Interschools games. Each point gained is precious and defence is usually rock solid. There have been 11 drawn matches and three of them ended in a 0-0 draw, the last one in 1986. This shows the commitment and pressure that can build up in these games.
During the week there will be functions and reunions, with old friends and foes reminiscing about days gone by. The first battle on the rugby field will be fired on Wednesday evening, as the two Old Boy teams lock horns in what can only be described as a “friendly, but fierce” game.
Thursday afternoon sees the “Goffels” and “Hommels” (G and H teams) play theirown unique brand of rugby before Friday morning kicks proceedings into the business end of the weekend. This is the time when the two schools have their Big Brags in the school hall. Here the rugby and hockey warriors who are representing their respective teams on Saturday are introduced and the first teams are capped for Interschools.
The big matches on Friday afternoon are the u-14A match, the “main” match of the day, and the rugby games between the school’s third teams, known among the locals as the “Chiefs” vs “Chippies”. There are only four rugby matches played on Saturday at Faure Street Stadium.
The games usually start at 12:00 with the u-15A match, followed by the u-16A, the Seccies and then the main match commencing at 16:00.
