Bloemfontein – This weekend one of school rugby’s most anticipated annual clashes takes place when Grey College and Paul Roos Gymnasium resume old rivalries for the 31st time.
As it stands, Grey is the leading rugby school in the country, while the side from Stellenbosch occupies the third spot on the log, just behind Monument from Krugersdorp.
Speaking told Courant Sport, Paul Roos headmaster, Mr Jannie van der Westhuizen said they enjoy their trip to Bloemfontein every two years.
"It’s the final match, whether it’s rugby or hockey, it doesn’t matter. It’s the final Saturday, it’s the final weekend, it’s the final match of the season, so we absolutely enjoy visiting Bloemfontein.
"We have so much respect for our opponents over the years, and it’s just a wonderful way to end off the season," said Van der Westhuizen.
Taking into account both sides’ form during the current school rugby season, the match has the makings of yet another epic and bruising battle.
The two schools boast with the proud record of being the two most productive rugby factories of the country by producing the most Springbok rugby players.
Toyota Cheetahs loose foward, Boom Prinsloo, who attended Grey and played in many of these matches told us what makes the derby day so special.
"Grey and Paul Roos have played against each other for so many years, it’s two schools with a lot of tradition and history.
"Another important thing is it’s the last game for their school, for a lot of the players, so it means a lot to them and many of the guys who have played before them," said Prinsloo.
A lot of people who never attended an all-boys school, don’t understand the magnitude of the yearly interschools and what it means to face your bitter rivals. Grey College headmaster, Mr Deon Scheepers told us it’s all about involvement.
"If you look at a day like this, it goes beyond one score, the first team result.
"It’s really all about involvement. A day like this there are close to 700 boys involved and it includes all the majors sports and also culutural activities such as debating.
"This year for the first time we will even be competing at computer games, believe it ot not. So we really try to give every boy the opportunity to make a contirbution to the success of a day like this," said Scheepers.
Since 1967 the two schools have faced each other on 30 occasions, with the Bloemfontein side having the upper hand on no less than 23 occasions.
The last time the sides played in the City of Roses was in 2012, with Grey coming from behind to win 33-23. Last year’s fixture on the Markötter rugby fields in Stellenbosch saw the Bloem boys win 40-8.
The last time Paul Roos won the clash was in 2009 when the team ran out a 9-3 winner at home.
Despite the long rivalry, it was only from 1988 that the fixture became annual on the South African school rugby calendar.
Grey has scored 734 points in the 30 previous matches, while Paul Roos has only managed 444, which translates to an average score of 24-15 in the favour Grey College.
Last week Grey beat Martizburg College 46-20, while Paul Roos dispatched Boland Landbou 43-32 in Stellenbosch.
Saturday’s fixture on the main field at Grey College kicks off at 14:15.
