Eight tournament titles. An unbeaten 2026 season. A 30-match unbeaten streak that has left South Africa’s traditional water polo powerhouses gasping for air. Kearsney College’s U15 water polo team hasn’t just rewritten the record books, they’ve established themselves as the most dominant age-group side in recent South African school water polo history.
Under the astute guidance of coach Chelci Rodda, this extraordinary squad has toppled giants like SACS, Rondebosch, Hilton, Bishops, St Stithians, St Johns, Wynberg and Clifton. What began as a talented U14 outfit in 2025 has evolved into an unbeatable force, delivering a masterclass in how to build a dynasty.
Building the dynasty in 2025
The foundations were laid at the Jeppe U14 Water Polo Festival in 2025, the opening salvo in what would become a remarkable two-year campaign. That season, the squad posted 28 victories from 33 matches, suffering just four defeats and one draw, impressive numbers that hinted at the dominance to come.
Their first statement arrived at the Curro U15 Tournament, where Kearsney competed as the only U14 side invited. Facing older, more physically developed opposition, Rodda’s charges refused to be intimidated, claiming the title and announcing their arrival on the national stage.
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The momentum continued at the Rondebosch National Tournament, where an 8-5 final victory over SACS delivered their first major national crown. They followed that with another national title at Hilton, defeating the hosts to cement their status among the country’s elite age-group teams.
By the end of 2025, the question wasn’t whether Kearsney belonged at the top table, it was whether anyone could stop them.
Perfection in 2026
If 2025 established credentials, 2026 delivered perfection. Progressing to U15 level, the team embarked on an unbeaten season that included just two draws and a staggering 30-match unbeaten streak, a run that would make professional sides envious.
The Dallas Hutton National U15 Tournament in February provided the first conquest, with Grey College dispatched in the final. Weeks later, the prestigious Indigo National Tournament in Johannesburg fell to Kearsney after a pulsating 9-7 final victory over Hilton, further evidence that this side thrived under pressure.
But the defining moment arrived in September at Cape Town’s hallowed Wynberg National Tournament. Facing the hosts in their own pool, always the toughest assignment in school water polo, Kearsney produced a stunning 12-6 demolition to claim the title, becoming the first KwaZulu-Natal school in 20 years to conquer Wynberg on home turf.
The psychological and tactical discipline required to deliver that performance, away from home against one of the Western Cape’s most established programmes, underscored the exceptional maturity of this squad.
Further history followed at the KZN Top 10 Tournament, where a nail-biting 7-6 victory over Hilton secured Kearsney’s first provincial crown since 2008, ending an 18-year drought and reclaiming KwaZulu-Natal bragging rights.
A legacy cemented
The numbers tell a compelling story. Eight tournament titles, including six national crowns. Twenty-eight wins from 33 matches in 2025. An unbeaten 2026 campaign. Historic triumphs at Wynberg and the KZN Top 10.
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But beyond the silverware lies something more significant, a culture of excellence that has redefined what’s possible for KwaZulu-Natal school water polo.
Under Rodda’s leadership, this squad has developed the winning habits, tactical discipline and mental resilience required to consistently beat South Africa’s traditional water polo elite. Their ability to deliver in hostile away environments, to close out tight matches, and to rise to occasions when the pressure intensifies, separates good teams from great ones.
