Historic Overview – Paul Roos vs Paarl Gim 

Saturday 6 May all roads lead to Stellenbosch as two of the giants in SA schoolboy rugby faces off at the Markotter Stadium when neighbours Paarl Gimnasium (Gim) come to visit. They have a score to settle as Paul Roos upset them last year on home turf and won a closely fought game 26-24. Paarl Gim will be out to return the favor and beat Paul Roos on their beloved Markotter in front of the partisan home crowd. The last ten matches have seen Paarl Gim winning seven and Paul Roos three, so the home team would like to make it two-in-a-row for 2023. Both of the two teams come with two good wins at the Wildeklawer tournament and they both seem to hit their straps at the right time.

Paul Roos 2023 season so far:

Paul Roos is currently on a winning streak of five in a row after their loss to Monument at the North-South festival. Having opted not to participate in any Easter Weekend festivals, their team seems to be rejuvenated at Wilderklawer and showed some good form. They suffered a big loss in losing their captain due to injury in the match against DHS and hopefully he will be match fit against Paarl Gim this weekend.

Paarl Gymnasium 2023 Season so Far:

Paarl Gim played eight matches so far and after a close call against Stellenberg, they could not contain the mighty Grey College at the North-South festival. They also opted not to play at the Easter Festivals and it showed in their recent form winning their last five games comfortably.

Results through the Years

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 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 schools rugby.

Paul Roos has to date produced the most South African players to represent their country on a rugby field with Juandre Kruger becoming their 50^th player when he played against England at Kingspark on June 9^th 2012. Their latest Springbok is scrumhalf Herschel Jantjies who became Springbok no 913 in 2019 and Paul Roos’s 54^th player to represent his country.

Willie le Roux, Schalk Brits, Steven Kitshoff, Damian Willemse and Jantjies were also part of the 2019 Springbok rugby squad that won the World Cup in Japan in 2019.

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), Damian Willemse (2018), Herschel Jantjies (2019).

Rugby at Gymnasium

Paarl Gim is without a doubt one of the Big Five rugby schools in South Africa. They have to date produced 25 Springboks of which 23 have been capped in tests for South Africa.

Rugby started at the school in 1902 and during the early years no strict age-groups were defined and the schools operated as a rugby club. The staff frequently turned out in the colours of the school. The headmaster back then, FC Wahl also captained the school’s 1st XV!.

In 2012, while still at school, their captain and pivot Handre Pollard represented South Africa at the u/20 World Cup tournament with aplomb. Called up for the injured Johan Goosen, Pollard played a vital role in SA winning the final against New Zealand. He again represented SA u/20 in 2013 and captained the side in 2014 also became Paarl Gym’s 20th Springbok. Paarl Gym’s latest contribution to the Springbok family is Grant Williams, who was capped in 2022.

Paarl Gim Springboks

Their biggest rivals is Paarl Boys High situated in the Southern Paarl. Their annual Interschools have the unofficial title of “Biggest Interschools” in South Africa.

The netball and rugby derbies will be broadcast live on Saturday, 6 May at 10h40 and  12h55 on SuperSport Schools (channel 216)

The Premier Interschool Magazine Show will broadcast from 3 May at 20h10 on SuperSport Schools (channel 216)

Media release issued by Terras Communications on behalf of Premier Interschools.

For press assistance contact Lauren Terras on +27 82 785 2644 or e-mail [email protected] . For further information on Terras Communications visit www.terrascomms.com