Paarl Boys’ High v Paul Roos Historic Overview
On Saturday 27th of May Premier Interschools once again brings a top-class derby to all lovers of schoolboy rugby. This time around the annual interschool between Paarl Boys’ High and Paul Roos Gimnasium is broadcast live at 12 noon from the Brug Street grounds of Boishaai.
These two traditional rivals have been playing each other since the early 1900’s and the two schools have a sporting history that dates back over 100 years and have always been great rivals on the sports fields and great friends off it. Many an old boy of these two schools have represented Western Province and South Africa together on the sports fields.
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 Paarl 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 (Paarl Boys’ High) 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.
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.
Paul Roos and Boishaai were also the two Cape schools invited to the first St John’s College Easter Festival and have been regular attendees of this festival over the years. In 1999, the Paarl Boys’ High 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 Paul Roos and pulled on a Paarl 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. Paarl Boys’ High then helped out Paul Roos by providing some substitutes for their bench just in case they get injuries.
The regular yearly derby only started to take shape in 1976 as rugby became more organised in Western Province and Boland Schools. Since the start of the annual interschool they have played 41 times with Paarl Boys winning 23, Paul Roos winning 17 and only one game ended in a draw.
Scores since 1976
| YEAR | HJS | PRG |
| 2016 | 28 | 3 |
| 2015 | 29 | 10 |
| 2014 | 13 | 17 |
| 2013 | 20 | 19 |
| 2012 | 22 | 17 |
| 2011 | 20 | 18 |
| 2010 | 17 | 31 |
| 2009 | 16 | 11 |
| 2008 | 29 | 42 |
| 2007 | 26 | 8 |
| 2006 | 6 | 10 |
| 2005 | 16 | 11 |
| 2004 | 7 | 22 |
| 2003 | 9 | 12 |
| 2002 | 18 | 18 |
| 2001 | 14 | 9 |
| 2000 | 12 | 8 |
| 1999 | 13 | 26 |
| 1998 | 3 | 17 |
| 1997 | 25 | 22 |
| 1996 | 0 | 3 |
| 1995 | 6 | 3 |
| 1994 | 20 | 22 |
| 1993 | 11 | 13 |
| 1992 | 6 | 3 |
| 1991 | 6 | 29 |
| 1990 | 0 | 4 |
| 1989 | 6 | 21 |
| 1988 | 6 | 10 |
| 1987 | 7 | 6 |
| 1986 | 0 | 3 |
| 1985 | 31 | 7 |
| 1984 | 12 | 9 |
| 1983 | 9 | 3 |
| 1982 | 10 | 7 |
| 1981 | 12 | 6 |
| 1980 | 15 | 10 |
| 1979 | 13 | 9 |
| 1978 | 20 | 8 |
| 1977 | 13 | 3 |
| 1976 | 14 | 0 |
Paarl Boys’ High had an exciting start to their season by travelling to New Zealand to play some of their top rugby schools. The school travelled with four teams (u19A, B and C and u16A) and won all their matches by healthy margins except the last one which the First XV lost in injury time in Christchurch to a dubious penalty. Shades of the Springbok tour of 1981 came to mind. In a funny twist, one of the parents of the u16 team was a Springbok on that self-same 1981 tour.
Immediately on their return from New Zealand, they joined the Easter school festival at St John’s College where they played three games with the last one against Affies being a real humdinger. To date, they are still unbeaten in South Africa after having played 9 games in total. Their last match was against perennial No 1 rugby school Grey College in Bloemfontein, where they surprised friend and foe with their performance in beating Grey by a record margin.
Paarl Boys’ High season so far (SA games only):
| Date | Opp | For | Against |
| 2017/04/13 | Eye of the Tiger | 57 | 0 |
| 2017/04/15 | NSW Combined Schools | 67 | 0 |
| 2017/04/17 | Affies | 14 | 10 |
| 2017/04/22 | Outeniqua | 47 | 16 |
| 2017/04/29 | Selborne College | 33 | 16 |
| 2017/05/01 | Glenwood | 31 | 12 |
| 2017/05/06 | Wynberg Boys’ High | 67 | 25 |
| 2017/05/13 | Grey College | 46 | 31 |
| 2017/05/20 | Rondebosch Boys’ High | 73 | 7 |
Paul Roos had a slightly different start to their season than the boys from Paarl. They started their season with a good win over a strong HTS Drostdy side at their own rugby day in March and then moved on to St John’s College where they won all three their games, coming back strongly against Helpmekaar after being down 22 to nil at one stage. They narrowly lost in the last seconds of their match against Paarl Gimnasium and then beat Affies in probably their best match of the season so far. They then lost two games in a row against Waterkloof and Grey High before coming back and beating an in-form SACS side last Saturday. This shows that they are not as consistent as they would like to be but on any given day when they click, they can beat the best teams out there.
Paul Roos season so far:
| Date | Opp | For | Against |
| 2017/03/25 | HTS Drostdy | 32 | 19 |
| 2017/04/13 | Nelspruit | 44 | 6 |
| 2017/04/15 | Helpmekaar | 25 | 22 |
| 2017/04/17 | Parktown Boys’ High | 61 | 12 |
| 2017/04/22 | Paarl Gimnasium | 19 | 20 |
| 2017/04/29 | Affies | 21 | 14 |
| 2017/05/01 | Waterkloof | 25 | 38 |
| 2017/05/06 | Grey High | 20 | 22 |
| 2017/05/13 | SACS | 29 | 24 |
Rugby at Paarl Boys’ High School
Rugby is an integral part of the Paarl Boys’ High way of life. It is important to win, but that should not be the primary objective. A sportsman may never be abused to ensure the success of a team. The primary objective at Paarl Boishaai must be one of enjoyment, for both player and coach. Whereas they agree with the legendary Vince Lombardi when he said: ‘’Winning isn’t everything; it’s the only thing’’ they hold winning to be more than just points on the board. Winning relates to the values, commitment and the pursuit of the best of one’s abilities.
Boishaai has produced 20 players that have represented South Africa since 1906. They have provided some of the legends and most famous Springbok rugby players ever to have played in the Green and Gold. Players like Oom “Boy” and Fanie Louw, Piet “Spiere” du Toit, Mannetjies Roux, Ryk van Schoor, Carel Du Plessis and Corné Krige.
Paarl Boys’ High provided 8 SA Schools players in 2016 which is a new record for any school in one year. They also provided five SA u20 players for the 2017 Junior World Cup squad to be played in Georgia later this year.
Paarl Boys’ High Springboks.
Cocky Hahn (1910)
Dirkie de Villiers (1910)
Louis Louw (1912)
Theuns Kruger (1921)
Champion Myburgh (1924)
Jack Bester (1924)
Boy Louw (1928)
Manie Geere (1933)
Fanie Louw (1933)
Ben du Toit (1938)
Ryk van Schoor (1949)
Theuns Briers (1955)
Piet du Toit (1958)
Mannetjies Roux (1960)
Haas Schoeman (1963)
Carel du Plessis (1982)
Wium Basson (1997)
Corné Krige (1999)
Gürthro Steenkamp (2004)
Frans Malherbe (2013)
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 school’s rugby.
Paul Roos has to date produced the most South African players to represent their country on a rugby field with Juandré Kruger becoming their 50th player when he played against England at Kings Park on 9 June 2012. Their latest Springbok is propped Steven Kitshoff who made his debut against Ireland in 2016.
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), Cabous van der Westhuizen (1994), Justin Swart (1996), Cobus Visagie (1999), Andries Bekker (2008), Schalk Brits (2008), Francois Hougaard (2009), Juandre Kruger (2012),Willie Le Roux (2013). Steven Kitshoff (2016)
The game will be broadcast live on Saturday 27 May on SuperSport Select channel 210 at 11h55.
You can also catch the build-up Premier Interschools Magazine Show from Wednesday 24 May at 18.45 on SuperSport One featuring Thomas du Toit and Ernst Joubert
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