In rugby-obsessed Pretoria, one coach is daring to prioritise academics over oval ball glory. Paul Anthony’s approach at PBHS is proving that you don’t have to sacrifice values for victories.
“It’s not all about rugby.” In a city where the sport flows through veins like blood, where weekend conversations revolve around schoolboy fixtures and future Springbok stars, these words sound almost heretical. Yet Paul Anthony, head of rugby at Pretoria Boys High School, delivers them with the conviction of a man who has seen both sides of the coin.
The school’s philosophy flies in the face of conventional wisdom at South Africa’s elite rugby schools, where the production line of future professionals often takes precedence over everything else. But the PBHS boss is not interested in conventional wisdom.
“There is such a small percentage of players that will make a living out of the sport,” Anthony explains.
“The biggest win for me is to give boys an opportunity. It isn’t just a rugby opportunity, but an opportunity at studies. We need to prepare these boys for the world and teach them the right things, regardless of rugby performances.”
It is a refreshing stance in an environment where the pressure to produce professional players can sometimes eclipse the broader educational mission. And it manifests itself in a recruitment strategy that sets PBHS apart.
Academics first, rugby second
Where other powerhouse schools might tour primary school rugby fields with contracts in hand, PBHS takes a markedly different approach.
“We only recruit boys for Gr8,” Anthony states matter-of-factly.
“We check their report cards – academics always comes first. The boys that we hwlp have to be financially in need. We then only make a commitment to the boys to look after them for five years.”
Anthony has become adept at spotting diamonds in the rough, prioritising raw athletic ability over polished rugby CVs.
“The core skills of the game I’m able to teach,” he notes with the confidence of someone who has done exactly that time and again.
This approach might sound like a recipe for mediocrity in the cutthroat world of schoolboy rugby, but the Candies’ competitive record suggests otherwise. Anthony’s player development model proves that doing things the right way does not mean accepting second best.
A milestone season beckons
PBHS enters 2026 with extra motivation beyond the usual pursuit of victory.
“It is our 125th year celebration this year,” Anthony reveals.
“We have a good side, with our U16 side that was so competitive last year.”
The fixture list reflects both the school’s ambition and Anthony’s coaching philosophy.
“I am a believer in playing against the best,” he declares.
“You become a better team even if you lose.”
It’s an ideology that will be tested early and often. PBHS kicks off against St Stithians before the fixtures escalate dramatically. The Candies will lock horns with Paul Roos at the prestigious Noord-Suid tournament, then face Rondebosch and SACS during the school’s own 125th year Easter festival.
After the festival circuit, even more heavyweight clashes arrive. Maritzburg College, Hilton, Michaelhouse and Jeppe all loom on the horizon, before the traditional Boer versus Brit derby against Affies and the showdown with KES.
Unfinished business
When Anthony discusses the season ahead, his eyes light up with competitive fire.
“It would be massive if we could beat Jeppe, KES and College,” he admits.
“We really need to beat Hilton and Michaelhouse, as we’ve never beaten them. Then I want us to give Affies and Paul Roos cracking games.”
The ambition is not misplaced. PBHS defeated College and KES last year, then lost in the return fixture to both teams. They fell by a narrow margin to Jeppe, results that suggest these rivals are ripe for the taking in 2026. Those narrow margins between victory and defeat often come down to experience and belief, both of which the current PBHS squad will carry in abundance.
The fixture list is rounded out by clashes against St Johns, Parktown, St Davids and St Albans.
What makes Anthony’s approach so compelling is not just its novelty, but its sustainability. In an era where schoolboy rugby sometimes resembles a professional academy system, PBHS is betting on a different currency: well-rounded young men who happen to play excellent rugby.
