THIS year the popular Kearsney Easter Rugby Festival (KERF) will include a girls’ U16 division.

In its 16th edition, a record number of 28 teams will be participating. The line-up of competitive teams includes 12 boys’ high school sides, 12 primary school teams and, for the first time, a girls’ U16 division.

Durban High School (DHS), Westville Boys’ High, Glenwood and hosts Kearsney College will represent KwaZulu-Natal in the senior boys’ division; and a touring Zimbabwean team from Peterhouse Boys’ School will demonstrate their special brand of rugby.

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They will be joined by perennial powerhouse teams from Gauteng, Hoërskool Dr EG Jansen (Boksburg) and Hoërskool Monument (Krugersdorp); the exciting Eastern Cape teams Hoërskool Framesby (Gqeberha) and Dale College (Qonce), as well as Hoërskool Rustenburg (North West). Newcomers at this year’s festival are Hoërskool Durbanville and Milnerton High School from the Western Cape, who will add another dimension to the action.

Play days over the Easter weekend are Thursday, April17, Saturday, April 19 and Monday, April 21.

Announcing this year’s participating teams, Kearsney headmaster Patrick Lees said he was delighted that a girls’ component had been added to this year’s festival.

“It highlighted the invaluable role in the development of SA’s school rugby culture and growth since the inaugural KERF in 2008.”

Lees acknowledged the immense contribution of festival sponsors, whose support has assisted the event to grow each year.

John Plumtree, head coach of The Sharks, said boys who were chosen to represent their schools at the festival should realise that talent alone isn’t enough for them to succeed in rugby.

“It takes an enormous amount of discipline, hard work and effort once these boys leave school, if they want to take their rugby further.”

Bringing a new dimension to this year’s festival, four U16 girls’ teams will play during lunchtime slots. They are Adams College from Amanzimtoti, Mowat Park in Montclair, George Campbell School of Technology in Durban, and Richards Bay High.

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Twelve primary school teams will also enjoy the excitement and challenges of playing on a full-sized field in front of large crowds.

Joining a junior Zimbabwean club team, Harare Lions, will be local teams from Chelsea Prep, Glenwood Prep, Hillcrest Primary, Highbury, Kloof Senior Primary, Penzance Primary, Umhlali Prep, Westville Senior Primary and Winston Park; as well as the uThukela team from Bergville and KZN Ibutho Development side.

There will be ample parking, numerous food outlets and a refreshment tent, as well as a fun KidZone for children, to ensure spectators can fully enjoy KERF in a family-friendly atmosphere on Kearsney’s campus.

For those unable to attend, games will be live-streamed on the SuperSport Schools app.

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