The Springboks are in the planning and preparation stage of their 2024 Test rugby campaign, while the schools rugby season is already in full swing.
The newly crowned double World Cup winners will begin their season with a Test against Wales at Twickenham on 22 June, followed by a two-Test series against the second best side in the world, Ireland, on home soil in July. The Springboks will then round off their mid-year schedule with a Test against Portugal in Bloemfontein on 20 July.
Meanwhile, the schools rugby season is already in full swing. But with the always popular Easter festivals taking place across three days this week (Thursday, Saturday and Monday), we thought it best to shine a spotlight on which schools boast bragging rights in terms of most Springbok representatives.
According to popular online source Genslin, Paul Roos Gymnasium lead the way with 54, followed by Grey College (46) and Bishops (42). SACS (32) and Paarl Gymnasium (30) round off the top five schools in terms of Springbok players produced and they are also the only institutions with 30 or more capped players.
*Disclaimer: The table below only lists schools that boast 10 or more Test capped Springboks.
SCHOOLS WITH THE MOST SPRINGBOKS
School | Springboks produced | Rank |
Paul Roos | 53 | 1st |
Grey College | 46 | 2nd |
Bishops | 42 | 3rd |
SACS | 32 | 4th |
Paarl Gymnasium | 30 | 5th |
Kimberley Boys’ High | 23 | Joint 6th |
Paarl Boys’ High | 23 | Joint 6th |
Rondebosch | 21 | 7th |
Grey High School | 17 | Joint 8th |
Maritzburg College | 17 | Joint 8th |
Wynberg | 16 | 9th |
Dale College | 13 | 10th |
St Andrews (Grahamstown) | 12 | 11th |
Affies | 11 | Joint 12th |
Hottentots-Holland | 11 | Joint 12th |
SOUTH AFRICA’S TEST FIXTURES FOR 2024:
- Saturday, 22 June: Springboks vs Wales (Twickenham, London)
- Saturday, 6 July: SA vs Ireland (Loftus Versfeld, Pretoria)
- Saturday, 13 July: Springboks vs Ireland (Hollywoodbets Kings Park, Durban)
- Saturday, 20 July: SA vs Portugal (Toyota Stadium, Bloemfontein)
- Saturday, 10 August: Australia vs Springboks (Suncorp Stadium, Brisbane)
- Saturday, 17 August: Australia vs SA (Optus Stadium, Perth)
- Saturday, 31 August: Springboks vs New Zealand (Emirates Airline Park, Johannesburg)
- Saturday, 7 September: SA v New Zealand (DHL Stadium, Cape Town)
- Saturday, 21 September: Argentina v Springboks (venue TBC)
- Saturday, 28 September: SA v Argentina (Mbombela Stadium, Nelspruit)
- Saturday, 10 November: Springboks v Scotland (Murrayfield, Edinburgh)
- 16/17 November: England v SA (Twickenham, London – date TBC)
*A report from French media outlet Midi Olympique has suggested France will face South Africa on 2 November.