More than just a game: The story of the largest schoolboy rugby game
The stadium is packed to the rafters with more than 20 000 supporters. The noise and cheers are deafening! Welcome to the largest and greatest derby in South African schoolboy sports; the Paarl rugby derby that sees Paarl Gimnasium taking on their perennial rivals Paarl Boys High (Boishaai).
On 1 August these two giants of schoolboy rugby will clash again in the
Mutual & Federal Premier Interschools Series as they’ve done so ferociously over the past century. As the title sponsor of Premier Interschools Series, Mutual & Federal is proud to be at the heart of this historic and continuing rivalry.
The first match between these two schools started in 1915 when masters, schoolboys and old boys all played together. This was the format up to 1927 after which was decided that the interschools matches should only comprise of schoolboys and the current format as we know today started officially in 1929.
Almost a century later, the rivalry between these two schools is still going strong. In the week preceding the Derby the town is divided between North and South, between Gimmie (Gimnasium) and Boishaaier (Boy’s High), between Bloedwors and Galpil. The blue and white of Boishaai and the maroon, green and gold of Paarl Gim are on full display as the rivalry goes into hyper drive!
These colours will feature on almost every tree, gate, porch or window of Main Street Paarl. The mood is always festive with a lot of jousting and needling going on, however the business at hand is never forgotten.
Thursday afternoon sees the “Goffels” and “Hommels” (G and H teams) playing their own unique brand of rugby before Friday morning when it kicks into the business end of the weekend.
These two schools can rightfully be described as the nurseries of South African rugby. They have produced some of the most distinguished rugby players in the country. Boishaai’s (Paarl Boy’s High) biggest exports are certainly some of the greats of Springbok rugby. They had the famous “Oom” Boy Louw who played for and later coached and managed the Springboks. Ryk van Schoor, who was known for his crash tackles, Piet (Spiere) du Toit (Grandfather of current Sharks lock Pieter-Steph) and known for his scrummaging strength, the legendary centre, Mannetjies le Roux, the Prince of Wings, Carel du Plessis, and more recently the hard man of Springbok and WP rugby, Corne Krige.
Paarl Gim has not been a slouch either when it comes to contributing players to the Springboks; contributing some legends of their own and names like Jan Pickard, famous WP and Springbok lock and administrator, Schalk Burger snr, the uncompromising lock of the 80’s. Kobus Wiese and Balie Swart, teammates of the first Sprinbok World Cup victory in 1995 also come to mind, and more recently, Schalk “Skalla” Burger jnr, who is fast becoming a living legend of his own!
Together these two teams have produced 40 Springbok rugby players, Boishaai more in the early years and Gim more recently.
Between them they have consistently produced Springboks for more than 100 years. They have also produced more SA Schools and Craven week players between them than any other town in SA has.
For a town of just under 200 000 inhabitants this is impressive. How does this tiny town manage to punch so far above its weight? Some say the rural set-up in Paarl is conducive in attracting boys from the rural farming areas and surrounds as well as the big metropolitan area around Cape Town and Bellville. Their reputation of being great secondary school institutions in both academics and sport for more than 100 years has earned them respect and these two schools have no shortage when it comes to applications and can basically pick and choose the cream of the crop for their Grade 8 intakes.
As Mutual & Federal we recognise the heritage, tradition and passion that are represented by the Paarl Derby. These are the same values we aspire to. We are proud of our association with these two venerable schools, long may their rivalry continue!
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