It’s been a great season for Paarl Gimnasium. Other than a 19-20 loss to Stellenberg High in their campaign’s opening game, they’ve been ruthless, winning their last 12 games.
Their smallest margin of victory came in a 29-14 triumph over Grey College. That, though, has been the outlier. They’ve won most of their matches emphatically
On Saturday, they face Rondebosch on the Tinkie Heyns Field at 12:45. It’ll be Gim’s penultimate game of the season, and it serves as an important opportunity to work out any rust accumulated during the mid-year holiday before they end their season with the traditional Paarl derby against Paarl Boys’ High next Saturday.
Catch the action LIVE on SuperSport Schools (www.supersportschools.com).
Rondebosch is working on a third stretch of winning three successive games this season. Their season’s record stands at nine wins and four defeats, and it concludes with three southern suburbs’ derbies after Saturday’s clash.
The Paarl locals won 19-12 when the sides last met on the Tinkie Heyns in 2024, but Gimmies will expect to score far more points on Saturday. Since their 29-14 win over Grey College, they’ve played seven matches, and their lowest output has been 45 points. They’ve scored 405 points in those games, including 68 in their most recent outing, a 68-22 demolition of Paul Roos. That’s an astounding average of 58 points per game.
Hooker Charles Whitehead loves scoring off the back of the rolling maul, which has been one of the key weapons in schoolboy rugby this season. He’ll have his sights set on bolstering his try-scoring tally after helping Western Province win the main game at the FNB Craven Week and earning selection for the SA Schools A team during the mid-year holiday.
Scrumhalf Mickyle Booise scored a try against his schoolmate for the SA Schools side in a cracking match. The number nine has a good eye for space and kicks well from the base of the ruck. If the home side’s defences are not well-structured, then he would likely be the one to catch them out with a sniping run or kick down the blind for his wings to collect.
There’s little doubt that Gimmies are the strong favourites given their red-hot form, but Rondebosch, playing at home, will be eager to give a good account of themselves and make it a tough outing for the visitors.
In 2024, with Luan Giliomee pulling the strings at flyhalf, Hoërskool Charlie Hofmeyr was undefeated. They’re yet to taste defeat in 2026, too, and have won eight on the trot ahead of their meeting with Hoërskool Hugenote. In 2025, Charlies won a tight contest 21-13.
Given those stats, the Ceres side goes into Saturday’s showdown as the favourite. They’ll look to players like fullback Shandley Burrows and Boland Craven Week right-wing Chriswill du Toit to lead their fleet-footed assault.
Like Charlie Hofmeyr, Hugenote had one Boland representative at the 2026 Craven Week, prop Christoff Filmalter. He’s a dangerous ball-carrier and can change momentum with his strength in the set scrums.
Hoërskool Melkbosstrand faces a challenging start to the third term. They take on Hoërskool Parel Vallei (PV), who have won 10 out of their 11 games this season.
Flyhalf Stephan Niemann has been solid off the kicking tee for the Somerset West outfit. If the game does go down to the wire, he could be the man to make the difference with his boot.
The Bulldogs’ fullback Shudley Rhoda and left-wing Raphael von Loeper have been regular try scorers in 2026, and they’ll be eager to add to their tallies.
Outside centre Craig Solomons has been the key playmaker for Melkbosstrand. He goes up against a strong defence, which has not yet conceded 20 points in a game this season.
With points likely hard to come by, Melkies will need to create turnovers and produce a strong defensive performance if they are to upset PV. Eighthman Ethan Loncq could be a difference maker for the home side.
TEAMS:
Paarl Gimnasium (likely): 15 Thomas Saunders, 14 Corné de Beer, 13 Derick Cloete, 12 Ethan Barker (captain), 11 Dewaal Vivier, 10 Louis Koen, 9 Mickyle Booise, 8 Hendré van Zyl, 7 Dirk Hugo, 6 Corné Niemand, 5 Jean Dreyer, 4 Bernhardt Schulze, 3 Sebastian Bekker, 2 Charles Whitehead, 1 Jayden Steyl.
Rondebosch Boys’ High (likely): 15 Shellvon Mabooi, 14 Jayden Wyngaard, 13 Kelebogile Nkwana, 12 Tyler Heyns (captain), 11 Lulibo Nyawula, 10 Christiaan Toweel, 9 Jack Fleck, 8 Jack Venter, 7 Ethan Venter, 6 Connor Clark, 5 Blake Gallie, 4 Dan Coetzee, 3 Jarred Kowen, 2 Joe Lanning, 1 Jack Hibling.
Hoërskool Charlie Hofmeyr: 15 Shandley Burrouws, 14 Zephnith Sass, 13 Chris-Will du Toit, 12 Charl du Toit, 11 Henry Willemse, 10 Randall Muller, 9 Ashley Reitz, 8 Joshua Selders, 7 Frans Geldenhuys, 6 Louis Rynolds, 5 Heinrich Fourie, 4 Hendré Kotze, 3 Joshua Swarts, 2 Lourens Nels, 1 Dewald Jaars.
Hoërskool Hugenote (Wellington): No information provided by Hugenote.
Hoërskool Melkbosstrand (likely): 15 Calvin Farelo, 14 Enrique Kastoor, 13 Craig Solomons, 12 Arno Visser, 11 Reese Jooste, 10 Alzano Vigeland, 9 Cole Japhta, 8 Ethan Loncq, 7 Beuran Geduld, 6 Leslie Smyth, 5 Kevin Wessels, 4 O’Ryan Crouse, 3 Jorden Lewis, 2 Darius G. Prinsloo, 1 Joshua Cloete.
Hoërskool Parel Vallei: 15 Shudley Rhoda, 14 Aydin February, 13 Owen Cockroft, 12 Bradley Brown, 11 Raphael von Loeper, 10 Stephan Niemann, 9 Shaan Varnfield, 8 Riley Capes, 7 Marcé Els, 6 Ethan Ramos, 5 Keaton Baird, 4 Herman Kriel, 3 Cayden Rautenbach, 2 Luke Terblanche, 1 Bjan Theron.
