Countdown has started for exciting Graeme rugby showpiece!
The countdown has begun to one of the Eastern Cape’s showpiece schoolboy rugby occasions as Graeme College prepares to host the Wildeklawer 2026 festival at the school campus in Makhanda from March 19 to 21.
Set against the backdrop of one of South Africa’s most traditional rugby schools, the annual gathering promises three days of high-quality action, fierce rivalries and the celebration of schoolboy camaraderie that has become synonymous with the event.
Founded in 1873, Graeme have long been a proud contributor to Eastern Cape rugby, and the festival has grown into a key fixture on the early-season calendar.
Each year it attracts leading rugby schools from the Eastern Cape, providing a platform for established stars and emerging talent to test themselves against top opposition.
The 2026 edition is expected to be no different.
With schools travelling from around the region, the festival offers an invaluable opportunity for teams to measure their pre-season preparations.
For coaches, it is a chance to fine-tune combinations and build squad depth. For players, it is an early statement of intent in front of peers, parents and talent scouts.
Importantly, the festival is about more than just results. While the matches are fiercely contested, the emphasis remains on sportsmanship, respect and the shared experience that defines school rugby in South Africa.
Over the years, the event has helped forge lasting relationships between schools and created memories that extend well beyond the final whistle.
Graeme’s own first XV will enter the event eager to make a strong impression on home soil when they take on Marlow Agricultural in the festival finale on the Saturday.
Playing in front of a passionate Makhanda crowd always brings added expectation, but it also provides significant motivation. The home side will be keen to set the tone early and showcase the depth of talent coming through the ranks.
Spectators can expect a festival atmosphere throughout the weekend. With multiple fixtures scheduled across the age-groups, there will be no shortage of action as junior and senior teams alike take to the field.
The format ensures a steady stream of matches, allowing supporters to settle in for a full day of rugby.
The festival also plays a vital role in the broader Eastern Cape rugby landscape. Events of this nature contribute to the development pipeline by exposing young players to different styles of play and higher levels of intensity. In doing so, they help prepare the next generation for provincial and, potentially, national honours.
As anticipation builds, excitement is spreading through school corridors and rugby communities alike.
The Wildeklawer Graeme Rugby Festival has become a marker of the season’s arrival — a signal that long afternoons on the training field are about to give way to meaningful competition.
When the first whistle blows in 2026, it will once again usher in a celebration of schoolboy ruby tradition, pride and passion — values that remain at the heart of Graeme College.
The first team matches will be played on the Somerset Field, while age-group games will take place on the Marais fields.
Thursday, March 19th
U13 Festival, with matches taking place on the Somerset and Marais A and B fields.
The first team programme on Somerset Field is:
Friday, March 20th
9:00 — Mzansi Academy vs PJ Olivier
10:15 — Woodridge vs Mary Waters
11:30 — Port Rex Tech vs Union High
12:45 — Dale vs Brandwag
14:00 — Grey High vs Hudson Park
15:15 — Queen’s vs Nico Malan
Saturday, March 21st
08:30 — Port Alfred vs Ndzondelelo
09:45 — Otto du Plessis vs Muir
11:00 — Daniel Pienaar vs Stirling
12:15 — Kingswood vs Cambridge
13:30 — Selborne vs Framesby
14:45 — St Andrew’s vs Pearson
16:00 — Graeme vs Marlow Agricultural
RELEASED BY:
Neale Emslie Cell: 071 850 0865 Email: [email protected]
On behalf of: Graeme College
