Hurlyvale Primary School celebrates 50 years with historic rugby festival

Hurlyvale Primary School is celebrating its 50th anniversary this year, marking a significant milestone with a memorable event.

As part of the celebrations, the school hosted a historic 15-a-side rugby festival on August 2, the first of its kind in the school’s 20-year rugby history.

This landmark occasion also saw the installation of rugby goalposts for the very first time.

Dee Schoultz, the school principal, expressed her excitement about the milestone.

“We are thrilled to celebrate 50 years as a school. Hosting this rugby festival is a major highlight for us.

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“After recently renovating our fields to accommodate full-size matches, it’s fantastic to welcome seven local schools to join in the festivities. We are proud of this achievement and look forward to making this an annual event.”

She explained that the delay in hosting a full rugby festival was largely due to limited field space.

“Previously, our grounds were not big enough, but after moving the netball courts and removing unused areas, we now have sufficient space to hold proper rugby matches,” she said.

“We’re also planning to develop a second, smaller field for the younger players.”

Kubeshini Reddy, the deputy principal, highlighted the broader impact of the festival:

“This is a celebration of not just our rugby achievements but also our strong community spirit. Our parents’ support has been incredible and vital to our success.

“We’ve also invited local schools, as well as some from outside the immediate area, as part of our rugby federation network.”

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Kubeshini added that the school has talented players who participate in club rugby and have even been selected to represent South Africa internationally.

“We have local boys playing club rugby who have been chosen to compete in Italy, which is a fantastic honour for them and the school.”

Jordan Coetzee, one of Hurlyvale’s heads of sports, gave insight into the preparations for the rugby festival and what it means for the school:

“This is the first full 15-a-side rugby game in the school’s history. Previously, a concrete cricket pitch in the middle of the field limited us to smaller games.

“Over the past few years, we’ve relocated tennis courts and removed the cricket pitch to create a full-sized rugby field. Next year, we’ll add a grass cricket pitch, further improving our facilities.”

He praised the commitment of the staff, parents, and governing body in making the event possible.

“It’s been an uphill battle with many challenges behind the scenes, but seeing it all come together brings immense pride. This is all about giving the boys the best opportunities for their futures in rugby.”

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Hurlyvale aims to establish the rugby festival as an annual event, with plans to expand it to include more age groups and schools from other provinces.

The team behind the festival expressed heartfelt gratitude to all involved, including the parents, staff, and pupils.

“It’s been a tough but rewarding journey. I must thank my family and the school community for their unwavering support. Without them, none of this would be possible,” said Jordan.

Some of the schools that took part included Bedfordview Primary School, Alberview, Edenglen, St Dunstan, Montrose, Wendywood and St Declan.