St Benedict's College unveils revamped sporting changerooms

St Benedict’s College marked a milestone in its sporting history with the unveiling and blessing of its revamped changerooms on October 5.

The occasion represented the closing of a chapter, the preservation of a legacy and the beginning of a new era for Bennies sport. St Benedict’s head of marketing, communications and admissions, Mpumi Motsabi, shared details of the proceedings.

For decades, the school’s changerooms have been familiar territory for generations of boys who have represented the school in soccer, cricket and rugby. They have been places of preparation, camaraderie, team talks, nerves and triumphs — spaces where friendships were forged and school pride was lived out.

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Now, as the old gives way to the new, that history will not be forgotten.

The names of boys who have represented St Benedict’s across all three sporting codes will be proudly displayed on honours boards within the new changerooms, ensuring that the achievements of past generations remain a source of inspiration for those who follow.

Motsabi said the redevelopment transformed both the home changerooms and those used by visiting teams, reflecting the college’s commitment to its own boys and the sporting community it welcomes onto its grounds. A message on the wall captures this spirit: ‘Welcome to our home. Different badges, same passion!’ It is a reminder that, while teams may wear different colours, a shared love of sport unites them.

The new facilities were blessed by the school chaplain, Father Thabo Mothiba, during a special gathering attended by members of the Board, the school executive, parents of current and incoming captains across soccer, cricket and rugby, their sons and Old Boys of the college.

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The blessing brought together members of the Bennies community across generations, united in celebrating a project that looks firmly towards the future while paying tribute to the past.

For some Old Boys, Motsabi noted the unveiling offered a poignant opportunity to reflect on the college’s progress.

During Homecoming Week, 30 alumni from the Class of 1986 returned to walk the school grounds and view the transformation of what was once a small school into one of South Africa’s well-resourced educational institutions.

They were also among the fortunate few to catch an early glimpse of the new changerooms, a reminder of the journey the college has travelled over the decades.

Among the Old Boys who joined in celebrating the occasion was Jarred Taylor, from the Class of 2003, who holds a special place in Bennies sporting history as the school’s first Craven Week rugby player.

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Standing proudly beside his number, Taylor beamed as he took in what the college has become.

His presence was a symbol of the enduring connection between the boys who came before and those who now carry the Bennies name forward.

A proud Bennies boy, he embodied the spirit of a school whose legacy continues to grow.

“Walking through the new Bennies rugby change rooms and tunnel, 23 years after my own playing days, I felt a deep sense of yearning and gratitude,” said Taylor.

“As boys, we seldom realise how much the places, spaces and faces around us will shape our lives. Our changerooms were simple, but we loved them.

Standing in the new facility, I could still feel the gees, hear the encouragement of coaches and teammates, and imagine the chant from the stands: ‘Here we go, Bennies—here we go!’ I’m incredibly grateful that today’s boys will enjoy these facilities and build memories of their own. Perhaps, 23 years from now, they will return with that same longing and thankfulness.

“God bless the players who use these changerooms. May this place strengthen them and remind them that they are Bennies boys, part of a brotherhood they will carry throughout their lives.”

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For Andrew Barnes, the current head of sport, the opening was an especially emotional occasion. The project had been a couple of years in the making, requiring time, commitment and a shared vision to bring it to life. To finally see the dream realised was a moment of immense pride — not only in the finished facilities, but in what they represent for the generations of boys who will use them.

At the heart of the redevelopment is a message that speaks directly to every boy who represents the college. Emblazoned on the wall are the words ‘Leave nothing undared’, an excerpt from a quote by the school’s founding father, St Eugene de Mazenod.

These words serve as more than a decorative feature, Motsabi reflected. They are a challenge and a reminder to every Bennies boy who enters the changerooms: give your all, embrace the challenge, play with courage and represent your school with pride.

Whether stepping onto the field for the first time or carrying the hopes of the college in a major sporting fixture, each boy is called to leave nothing undared.

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As the doors open to a new generation, the changerooms will become the setting for countless future memories, achievements and friendships.

The honours boards will preserve the names of those who have gone before, while the boys who walk through the doors today will have the opportunity to add their own chapters to the story.

The blessing and opening of the new changerooms at St Benedict’s College was therefore about far more than bricks, fittings and improved facilities. It was a celebration of tradition, community, sporting excellence and the values that continue to shape the Bennies experience.

The old changerooms may have served generations of boys, but their spirit will live on — in the names remembered, the badges proudly worn and the determination of every boy who steps onto the field.