Easter feast for schoolboy rugby
The Sharks Academy will offer full bursaries for 2017 to three selected players.
YOU can expect exciting, fast-paced action from some of the country’s notable rugby-playing schools in the ninth annual Kearsney Easter Rugby Festival. Ten South African school teams renowned for their rugby pedigrees will participate over the three play days – Thursday, 24 March, Saturday, 26 and Monday, 28 March – on the Kearsney College campus in Botha’s Hill.
This year, two schools will be participating for the first time: Maritzburg College and Hoërskool Noord-Kaap from Kimberley. They will join Boksburg’s Dr EG Jansen; HTS Middelburg; the Eastern Cape’s Selborne College (East London); Dale College (King William’s Town); Hoërskool Framesby (Port Elizabeth); SACS from Cape Town; as well as Glenwood High School and hosts, Kearsney College from KwaZulu-Natal.
The festival is sure to once again provide exciting, highly entertaining action, with five senior first XV fixtures on each play day. Kicking off each day will be a match between primary school teams, Highbury Preparatory, Pelham Senior Primary, Umhlali Preparatory and the KZNRU IBUTHO/Mark Godefroy U13 development team.
Speaking at the launch of the 2016 edition of the festival, Kearsney headmaster, Elwyn van den Aardweg, said the school was celebrating its 95th anniversary this year and was gearing up to welcome the capacity crowds which the festival always attracts.
The Sharks CEO, John Smit, said they were delighted with their ongoing association with the prestigious festival, which continued to evolve each year and was a highlight on the school calendar. He said the Sharks Academy would again be on hand to award bursaries to deserving recipients.
The Sharks Academy will offer full bursaries for 2017 to three selected players. These bursaries will include a contract with the Sharks Academy, accommodation and a tuition bursary with one of its reputable education partners.
Van den Aardweg thanked the festival sponsors, whose valued support had enabled the festival to grow over the years. Standard Bank has been headline sponsor for four years, the Sharks and Sharks Academy have supported the festival since its inception, while Nashua Durban remained a valued sponsor, together with several other partners and companies, he said.
This year’s festival will include a KidZone for the first time, offering a number of exciting rides for little ones to enjoy.
The ‘Boots and Balls’ outreach initiative, which was started in 2015, was also being extended this year, he said. Participating players and the public are requested to leave new or good condition second-hand rugby kit and clothing in designated collection bins at the main field. Contributions will be handed over to the KZNRU Development Programme during the closing ceremony. They will sort, refurbish and distribute all donated goods to development teams throughout the province.
Gate entrance to the festival is R50 per vehicle or R20 for pedestrians, which includes a glossy souvenir brochure with player statistics. Ample secure parking will be available, as well as food and refreshment outlets for those wanting to enjoy a full day of entertaining rugby.
Fixtures and festival information are available on www.kearsney.com.
