The JA Kriel Stadium in Paarl is set to erupt this Saturday at 14:00 when two giants of South African schoolboy rugby collide in the King Price Derby Series.
For the Maroon Machine of Paul Roos Gimnasium, JA Kriel feels almost like a second home. In their last six encounters with Paarl Gim, they’ve only tasted defeat twice. But this time, they face a Gimmies side chasing history — a 12th consecutive victory.
Form Guide:
- Paarl Gimnasium: 11 wins in a row, last weekend crushing Oakdale Landbou 49–13.
- Paul Roos Gimnasium: Riding a 6-match streak, fresh off a 68–3 demolition of Bishops.
- Both teams have lost only once this season — each at the hands of giant-killers Stellenberg, whose 2026 campaign has been nothing short of historic.
Key Battle – The Midfield Clash:
- Ethan Barker (Paarl Gim captain, inside centre): Scored five points last weekend, a creative spark and leader.
- Tiaan Basson (Paul Roos captain, outside centre): Back from injury, already crossing the tryline in his comeback. Both are Western Province Craven Week selections, and their duel could define the match.
Coach’s Voice: Former Springbok wing and Gimmies head coach Pieter Rossouw summed up the anticipation:
“Paul Roos is incredibly well coached. They don’t have any weaknesses. It’s one of those fixtures all the boys look forward to every year.”
The Stakes: The King Price Derby clash could well decide who finishes 2026 as South Africa’s No. 1 schoolboy rugby team. Expect fireworks, fierce collisions, and unforgettable moments.
Team Line-ups
Paarl Gimnasium: 15 Thomas Saunders, 14 Corné de Beer, 13 Derick Cloete, 12 Ethan Barker (captain), 11 Dewaal Vivier, 10 Louis Koen, 9 Mickyle Booise, 8 Hendré van Zyl, 7 Dirk Hugo, 6 Corné Niemand, 5 Jean Dreyer, 4 Bernhardt Schulze, 3 Sebastian Bekker, 2 Charles Whitehead, 1 Jayden Steyl.
Paul Roos Gimnasium: 15 Kyle Snyers, 14 Jean Hamman, 13 Tiaan Basson (captain), 12 Albert Nel, 11 Cadynn Samuels, 10 Travis Pheiffer, 9 Jaedon Powell, 8 Werner de Bruin, 7 Gerard Bekker, 6 Christiaan le Roux, 5 Reuben Winter, 4 Stef de Villiers, 3 Zak Steyn, 2 Lehan Bernard, 1 Thomas Meyer.
You must be logged in to post a comment.