The two standout rugby schools in South Africa in 2025 – Paarl Gimnasium and Paarl Boys’ High – will clash in early August to determine once and for all who’s No 1 in the country.
The Cape rugby powerhouses have enjoyed stellar seasons to date and it’s nearly impossible to separate them in terms of No 1 and 2 in the land.
However, all will be decided – barring a draw – on Saturday, 2 August.
Paarl Gimnasium will host the fixture giving them – on paper at least – an advantage.
It promises to be the biggest schoolboy match in living memory – if not ever.
Schoolboy rugby rankings
Any attempt at ranking South Africa’s First XV rugby schools is guaranteed to upset as many readers as it will please.
The simple fact of the matter is that there is NO possible way of accurately determining a definitive list.
Many lists are to be found floating around the internet – none of which are in fact ‘official’.
Rugby festivals
While it’s true that thanks to an increase in the number of schoolboy rugby festivals around the country more schools are playing schools they previously wouldn’t have faced, no school plays every other school both home and away during the season.
Hence, every list should be taken with a pinch of salt and is subjective at best.
Having said that, with the second term now finished and with provinces preparing for the upcoming U18 Craven Week, here is the unofficial ‘official’ First XV Top 20 rankings list.
NOTE: This year’s U18 Craven Week will take place from 7 to 12 July at Middelburg Hoërskool in Mpumalanga.
| Ranking | School | Province |
| 1 | Paarl Gimnasium * | Western Cape |
| 2 | Paarl Boys’ High * | Western Cape |
| 3 | Grey College | Free State |
| 4 | Affies | Gauteng |
| 5 | Paul Roos | Western Cape |
| 6 | Oakdale | Western Cape |
| 7 | Garsfontein | Gauteng |
| 8 | Westville | KwaZulu-Natal |
| 9 | DHS | KwaZulu-Natal |
| 10 | Wynberg | Western Cape |
| 11 | Rondebosch | Western Cape |
| 12 | Helpmekaar | Gauteng |
| 13 | Northwood | KwaZulu-Natal |
| 14 | Noordheuwel | Gauteng |
| 15 | Outeniqua | Western Cape |
| 16 | Hilton College | KwaZulu-Natal |
| 17 | Grey High School | Eastern Cape |
| 18 | Jeppe | Gauteng |
| 19 | Stellenberg | Western Cape |
| 20 | KES | Gauteng |
*It’s a pointless exercise debating whether Paarl Gimnasium should be No 1 or whether in fact Paarl Boys’ High boast a stronger case for top spot.
Both sides have had stellar first-halves to the season, they haven’t played the same opponents, and, most crucial of all, they haven’t faced one another.
Yet.
And that’s official …
Do you place any emphasis on schoolboy sport rankings?
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