KEARSNEY College was a hive of activity as final preparations were completed ahead of this weekend’s highly anticipated 2026 Kearsney Easter Rugby Festival (KERF), one of South Africa’s premier schoolboy rugby showcases.

Now in its 17th year, the festival has built a reputation for delivering top-tier school rugby, offering spectators an exciting mix of playing styles and some of the country’s most promising young talent.

Matches will take place over three action-packed days during the Easter weekend: Thursday April 2, Saturday April 4 and Monday April 6.

This year’s festival will feature 12 competitive 1st XV boys high school teams, complemented by four U16 girls’ teams who will take to the field during lunchtime fixtures, and 12 primary school teams competing on an adjacent field.

A strong contingent of Gauteng schools will add plenty of firepower, namely ‘Hoërskool Dr EG Jansen (Boksburg), and KERF newcomers ‘Hoërskool Zwartkop (Centurion), ‘Hoërskool Transvalia (Vanderbijlpark) and Helpmekaar Kollege (Braamfontein).

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They will be joined by Hoërskool Rustenburg (North West), Hoërskool Framesby (Gqeberha), Milnerton High School (Cape Town), and Zimbabwe’s Peterhouse Boys’ School, returning for their second appearance at the festival.

KwaZulu-Natal’s proud rugby tradition will be represented by Durban High School (DHS), Westville Boys’ High, Glenwood High School and hosts Kearsney College.

The festival also highlights the growth of the girls’ game, with U16 teams from Mowat Park High (Montclair), Grosvenor Girls’ High (Bluff), Ohlange High School (Inanda) and Ogwini Comprehensive Technical High School (Umlazi) set to showcase their skills.

Adding to the festive atmosphere, 12 primary school teams will experience the thrill of festival rugby in front of enthusiastic crowds. Alongside touring Peterhouse College’s U13 side from Zimbabwe, participating teams are from Ashton Ballito, Atholl Heights Primary, Chelsea Prep, Highbury Prep, Hillcrest Primary, Kloof Senior Primary, Northlands Primary, Umhlali Prep, Westville Senior Primary, Winston Park Primary and the KZN Ibutho Development team.

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Spectators can look forward to more than just rugby, with a variety of food outlets, a refreshment tent, and a dedicated KidZone, ensuring entertainment for the whole family. Ample on-site parking will be available.

To avoid queues, tickets can be purchased online via Quicket.

For those unable to attend, all matches will be live-streamed on the SuperSport Schools app. Additional information, including fixtures, results, match reports and photographs, will be available throughout the festival on the Kearsney College website.

KERF 2026 FIXTURES

STOTT FIELD – BOYS HIGH & GIRLS U16 TEAMS

Day One, Thursday 2 April

08:00 Helpmekaar Kollege vs Glenwood High; 09:20 ‘Hoërskool Transvalia vs Peterhouse Boys; 10:40 Westville Boys vs ‘Hoërskool Framesby; 12:00 Ogwini Comprehensive v Grosvenor Girls High; 13:00 Kearsney College vs ‘Hoërskool Rustenburg; 14:20 Milnerton High vs Dr EG Jansen; 15:40 Durban High School vs ‘Hoërskool Zwartkop

Day Two, Saturday 4 April

08:00 Peterhouse Boys vs Milnerton High; 09:20 Durban High School vs ‘Hoërskool Rustenburg; 10:40 ‘Hoërskool Zwartkop vs Dr EG Jansen; 12:00 Ogwini Comprehensive v Ohlange High; 13:00 Glenwood High vs ‘Hoërskool Framesby; 14:20 Kearsney College vs ‘Hoërskool Transvalia; 15:40 Westville Boys vs Helpmekaar Kollege

Day Three, Monday 6 April

08:00 ‘Hoërskool Transvalia vs Hoerskool Framesby; 09:20 Glenwood High vs Dr EG Jansen; 10:40 Peterhouse Boys vs ‘Hoërskool Rustenburg; 12:00 Ogwini Comprehensive v Mowat Park High; 12:50 Closing ceremony; 13:00 Westville Boys vs Milnerton High; 14:20 Durban High School vs Helpmekaar Kollege; 15:40 Kearsney College vs ‘Hoërskool Zwartkop

ROBERTS FIELD – BOYS PREP & GIRLS U16 TEAMS

Day One, Thursday 2 April

08:00 Chelsea v Northlands; 09:00 Highbury v Peterhouse; 10:00 Hillcrest v Umhlali; 11:00 KZN Ibuto v Kloof; 12:00 Ohlange High v Mowat Park High; 13:00 Ashton Ballito v Westville; 14:00 Atholl Heights v Winston Park

Day Two, Saturday 4 April

08:00 Westville v Northlands; 09:00 KZN Ibutho v Winston Park; 10:00 Chelsea v Peterhouse; 11:00 Hillcrest v Atholl Heights; 12:00 Grosvenor Girls High v Mowat Park High; 13:00 Umhlali v Kloof; 14:00 Highbury v Ashton Ballito

Day Three, Monday 6 April

08:00 Westville v KZN Ibutho; 09:00 Chelsea v Umhlali; 10:00 Northlands v Kloof; 11:00 Atholl Heights v Peterhouse; 12:00 Grosvenor Girls High v Ohlange High; 13:00 Ashton Ballito v Hillcrest; 14h00 Highbury v Winston Park

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