Historic overview: Paul Roos Gymnasium vs Paarl Boys High (Boishaai)

Jun 3 • General News, Premier Schools • 4747 Views • Comments Off on Historic overview: Paul Roos Gymnasium vs Paarl Boys High (Boishaai)

On Saturday 7 June at 12:15 on SuperSport Select (Channel 210) the two rival boy schools will once again lock horns in an epic battle at Paul Roos’s famous Markotter grounds. These two pillars of schoolboy rugby in the Western Cape have been neighbors, friends and rivals for close to 150 years. They met intermittently on the rugby fields during the early years as in those days Paul Roos played mostly in the “Cape” leagues against the likes of SACS etc. and the boys from Paarl mostly in the “Country” leagues against the neighboring town schools. They however competed enough against each other in all sports that the boys knew each other well and many has become friends and as old boys played together in representative teams for provinces and South Africa over the years.

Paarl Boys vs Paul Roos is one of the great derby clashes between two schools that have dominated Western Province schools rugby for many years. Together with Paarl Gym they have produced more than 75% of all Western Province Craven Week players since 1964!

This year the maroon boys are out for revenge as it has been 3 years since they last tasted victory against the hooped jerseys of Boishaai. Traditionally the derbies go the way of the home team by the smallest of margins. Exceptions to the rule are in the 70’s when Boishaai won 10 in a row and in the late 80’s and early 90’s when Paul Roos won 4 on the trot. Since then the matches have been very close and evenly spread, until Boishaai’s expected victory in 2012 over Paul Roos on their beloved Markotter field. Paul Roos nearly returned the favor in 2013 only for Boishaai to snatch victory at the death with a try to win the game 20-19.

Results since 2000

The first recorded time the old boys of the two schools played together for SA was in 1910 when the Springboks played Great Britain in a three test series. Dirkie de Villiers and Cocky Hahn became Boishaai’s first Springboks while Gideon Roos (Brother of Paul Roos), Dick and Lammetjie Luyt and Koot Reynecke where the PRG representatives.

Two other famous Springboks, Jannie Engelbrecht (PRG) and Mannetjies Roux (Boishaai) both made their debuts for South Africa in 1960. The first test they played together was against Wales in SA’s 3-0 win at Cardiff Arms Park. These two played together in 16 tests up to 1969.

Mannetjies Roux and Jannie Engelbrecht as depicted in magazines in the 60’s

The extreme rivalry runs deep between the two schools but so do the friendships. Over the years so many boys from the two schools have represented WP in various age group teams that when they get to their matric year they have played just as often with each other than against each other.

PRG and Boishaai were also the two Cape schools invited to the first St Johns festival and have been regular attendees of this festival over the years. In 1999 the Paarl Boys’ team was so depleted with injuries that they were one player short in their starting 15 for the last game against Kearsney. Up stepped George Hauptfleisch from PRG and pulled on a Boishaai jersey to help them out. He even scored a try in Neil Fullard’s No 3 jersey so the try was accredited to Neil! Boishaai then helped out PRG by providing some substitutes for their bench just in case PRG get injuries!

Rivalries between the schools even stretch across families as the famous Du Plessis rugby family can attain to. Springbok brothers Michael and Carel both had sons in the respective schools. In 2012 current SA u/20 Flyhalf Jean Luc Du Plessis, son of Carel was the Boishaai pivot and in 2013 Michael’s son Daniel was the Paul Roos centre. The two cousins however never played against each other as Daniel was injured in 2012 and before that played in age group rugby and being a year younger than his cousin, they never got to compete against each other on their schools jerseys. This will however change in the near future as Jean Luc is currently signed with the Sharks and Daniel is in the Western Province youth set-up.

Carel himself is an old boy of Paarl Boys and together with Paul Roos’s Hempies du Toit they won 5 Currie Cups in a row and were part of a magical time in the 80’s of Western Province rugby.

The 1984 Springboks vs England with Carel du Plessis and Hempies du Toit.

The trend for old boys to play together continues up to this day. Steven Kitshoff and Max van Dyk played against each other in the last victory for Paul Roos against Boishaai in 2010 at Markotter. In 2012 Paul Roos loosehead Steven Kitshoff and Boishaai tighthead Max van Dyk anchored the scrum for the SA u/20 side that won the Junior World Cup at Newlands.

Steven Kitshoff and Max van Dyk –SA u/20 2012

Paul Roos 2014 Season

Paul Roos’s season started at a leisurely pace with three relatively easy wins over visiting San Isidro from Argentina, Swartland of Malmesbury and Die Brandwag of Uitenhage. Then came their first big test in Grey High from Port Elizabeth. They somehow managed to lose a match they should have won comfortably after being 26-0 up with 20 minutes to play. They ended up losing the match 27-26 due a miraculous comeback from Grey. Lessons were learned that day as this is a very good team and will yet have a good season in 2014. They had a slight hiccup over the easter festival at St Johns losing to an inform Waterkloof 13-19 after smashing St John of Harare 80-7 two days earlier. They recovered well to beat a difficult Nelspruit team 15-10 on the final day of the festival.  Some of what they are capable off was displayed at Wildeklawer festival when they blew King Edward VII (KES) off the park in a very commanding 67-0 win. Two days later they also gave a convincing performance in winning against a strong EG Jansen 30-10.

Further wins over strong sides like Paarl Gim and Wynberg ensured that Paul Roos got their season back on track and currently find themselves 2nd on the national rankings just behind Grey College. The good form of their players lately was also rewarded when 6 of them was picked for the Western Province Craven Week team while a further 6 players was also selected for the Academy side.

2014 Craven Week Players

2014 Results

Paarl Boys High 2014 Season

Paarl Boys represented South Africa this year at the Sanix World Schools Competition in Japan and did very well to get to the final where they narrowly lost to No 1 ranked New Zealand school Hamilton Boys High. They suffered an early setback in the season when captain and Cravenweek hooker certainty Ruan Brits injured his knee to such an extent that he will not be able to play for the rest of the season.  Replacement captain Charl-Francois du Toit stepped into the breach and delivered an admirable job. He plays a hard, uncompromising game and leads his team mates by example. This Boishaai team of 2014 has shown a lot of character up to know and with new coach Sean Erasmus at the helm, they look to be a team not to be taken to lightly. They will fight to the last minute and will never give up, true Pride and Passion as is their unofficial motto!

Since the tight schedule in Japan where they played 6 matches in 9 days, the inevitable happened and they picked up a host of injuries. So much so that 8 of their regular starters could not take the field against a strong Wynberg team. Against all odds and with sheer determination they fought back from being 7-19 down to win 24-22. A sure sign that this team will keep on playing for the blue stripe jersey no matter what the circumstance.

A Week later they again had to dig deep and won against Boland Landbou in the final minute of play with a try in the corner. Then they came up against No 1 ranked School Grey College of Bloem and for the full 70 minutes at Brugstreet the game was anyone’s for the taking, Grey eventually running out winners 15-10. This Boishaai team is not the biggest of resent years but they pack a punch Paul Roos should be weary of!

Boishaai will be represented by 3 players in the Western Province Cravenweek team and a further 2 in the Academy team.

2014 Craven Week Players

2014 Results

Paul Roos Gymnasium profile

On 29 January 1864 the Rev. J.H. Neethling of the Stellenbosch Dutch Reformed Church writes to Dr. Langham Dale, Superintendent General of Education of the Cape:

“As a piece of news that will interest you, I may state that yesterday (28 January 1864) 30 inhabitants of this district have decided to erect a gymnasium or Latin School. They have guaranteed 465 pounds (R930) per annum, chosen a Board of Directors of five persons to carry out the resolutions with all possible speed and decided that as soon as possible a preparatory school or infant department shall be established.”

In 1879 the Gymnasium and College had separate functionally. The College acquired the name “Stellenbosch College”. In 1885 the separation also became physical when the school and College moved to new but separate premises between Andringa and Van Ryneveld Streets. The name Stellenbosch College changed to Victoria College in 1887 and this institution became the University of Stellenbosch in 1918.

In 1887, “The Young Men’s Home” or “Het Tehuis”, the first hostel for boys, opened its doors under the supervision of Mr J.D. Krige – later affectionately known as Oom Japie “Home”. The present school hall is named after him. He was vice-rector at the time of his retirement in 1948, and ever since, a painting of him takes the place of honour next to the stage.

The school was renamed three times, Stellenbosch Boys High and Victoria College after the Queen. In 1940, it was renamed after Paul Roos, a former captain of theSpringbok rugby union team. Roos was a former pupil and teacher at Paul Roos Gymnasium, and was the school’s rector from 1910 to 1940.

The Rhodes Scholarship was instituted in 1903, and Paul Roos is one of four schools in South Africa that may award a Rhodes Scholarship every year to an ex-pupil to study at the University of Oxford.

Rugby at Paul Roos

The words Paul Roos and rugby are synonymous as the great man was the originator of the now famous Springbok emblem and name for the South African national team. He is seen by many as the “father” of South African rugby and it is fitting that the school that carries his name is such a powerhouse in South African schools rugby.

Paul Roos has to date produced the most South African players to represent their country on a rugby field with Juandre Kruger becoming their 50th player when he played against England at Kingspark on June 9th 2012. Their latest Springbok is fullback Willie Le Roux who got his test cap against Italy in June 2013.

The following players from Paul Roos represented South Africa on the rugby field.

Arthur Nicholas de Kock (1891), Jacob Stephanus (Japie) Louw (1891), James Alexander (Jim) McKendrick (1891), Robert (Bob) Shand, Paul Johannes de Waal (1896), Japie Krige (1896), Bob Loubser (1896), Pieter Albertus Ryno Otto (PO) Nel (1903), Paul Johannes Roos (1903), Koei Brink (1906), Henry John (Pinkie) Daneel (1906), Boy de Villiers (1906), Freddie Luyt (1910), Dick Luyt (1910), Koot Reynecke (1910), Gideon Daniël Roos (1910), Wakkie Krige (1912), John Douglas Luyt (1912), Tom van Vuuren (1912), Nic du Plessis (1921), Theuns Kruger (1921), Charlé Meyer (1921), Mannetjies Michau (1921), Phil Mostert (1921), Tokkie Scholtz (1921), Jackie Tindall(1921), Attie van Heerder (1921), PK Albertyn (1924), Nico Bosman (1924), Daunce Devine (1924), Kenny Starke (1924), George Murray Daneel (1928), Manus de Jongh (1928), AF du Toit (1928), PK Morkel (1928), Boet Prinsloo (1928), Ferdie Bergh (1931), George Lionell van Reenen (1937), Ballie Wahl (1949), Tjol Lategan (1949), Jannie Engelbrecht (1960), Gertjie Brynard (1965), Hempies du Toit (1980), Cabousvan der Westhuizen (1994), Justin Swart (1996), Cobus Visagie (1999), Andries Bekker (2008), Schalk Brits (2008), Francois Hougaard (2009), Juandre Kruger (2012),Willie Le Roux (2014)

With the current crop of excellent youngster coming through the ranks, one can be assured that Paul Roos will keep on producing rugby players that will go on to represent their country one day.

HOëR JONGENSKOOL PAARL (Boishaai) – PROFILE

Hoër Jongenskool Paarl (also known as Boishaai, Paarl Boys’, BHS or HJS) is one of the oldest schools in South Africa. Built in 1868 the school’s rich history is filled with tradition and pride. The first building to house the school was a granary on Zeederbergplein, the owner of which was mr. D. Beyers (a close friend to the first headmaster, Rev. Jeffreys). The first years of the school were unstable ones, with the school increasing in size every year, larger facilities were required frequently. The grounds on which the school stands today were originally formed part of the farm Berlyn owned by mr. P.J Malherbe.

Paarl Boys’ High has featured in the academic merit list of the Western Cape for ten years running and has been featuring in the top ten for the duration as well, making it one of the top academic schools in the province. The school is bilingual, with classes in English and Afrikaans and has been maintaining a 100% pass rate for over a decade.

The Boishaai Drumline and Boys in front of the Main Building

Each year the school takes part in one of the biggest interschools in South Africa against its arch rival, PaarlGymnasium High School. The main event (the u/19A rugby match) attracts over 20 000 spectators to the Faure Street Stadium. The school has produced many Springboks, from legends like Boy Louw, Mannetjies Roux and “Prince of Wings” Carel du Plessis, to more recent players like Corne Krige (former Springbok Captain), Gurthro Steenkamp and Frans Malherbe. Other sports that are also included in interschools are: field hockey, cricket, swimming, squash, tennis, chess, golf and even debating. Golfing professional, David Frost, also matriculated at Paarl Boys’ and continues to make a contribution to golf at the school. Students of the 2 schools have traditional nicknames; the Boishaaiers are known as ‘Galpille’ and the Gimmies as ‘Bloedworse’.

Paarl Boys produced 20 Springboks so far.

Legendary “Oom” Boy Louw and Carel du Plessis also coached the Springboks. Cornè Krige is still the only SA Schools captain who went on to captain the Springboks as well.

Their latest crop of potential stars includes old boys Jean Luc Du Plessis (2012) and Thomas du Toit (2013) who were included in the SA u/20 Junior World Cup squad for 2014.

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