KES Easter Rugby Festival returns (video)
The much-anticipated KES Easter Rugby Festival returns from April 2 to 6, bringing together top school teams from across South Africa, and even Australia, for an Easter weekend filled with thrilling rugby and hockey matches.
The sound of whistles, cheering crowds, and thundering boots will once again echo across the fields of King Edward VII School (KES) when the much-loved KES Easter Rugby Festival returns this April.
Now in its 22nd year, the festival will run from April 2 to 6, transforming the Houghton-based school into a vibrant hub of school sport as teams from across South Africa gather for a packed Easter weekend of rugby and hockey.
For many players, the festival represents more than just another fixture on the school calendar.
It is a chance to test themselves against some of the country’s most respected rugby and hockey programmes, while sharing a weekend celebrating the spirit of school sport.
Over four days, spectators can look forward to 19 rugby matches and 36 hockey fixtures, ensuring there will be no shortage of action on and off the field.
The rugby festival, hosted on the iconic Reds Field, will feature a diverse mix of established rugby schools and rising programmes eager to make their mark. Among the newcomers this year is Worcester Gymnasium, and adding an international dimension to the event is Cranbrook School from Sydney, Australia, whose inclusion promises an exciting clash of rugby cultures when they take on South African opposition.
One of the standout fixtures on the provisional schedule will see the hosts face St Andrew’s College on April 4, while their final match of the festival, against Queen’s College on April 6, is expected to draw strong local support.
@caxton.schools CAXTON SCHOOLS | 🏉🏑KES Easter Rugby Festival WATCH: The mighty Reds #KES take on Rondebosch Boys’ High School! #CaxtonSchools #EasterFests #EasterSchoolFests #SchoolSportsFest
Beyond the rugby field, the hockey programme promises equally intense competition. Matches will take place across several days on the Weinberg Astro at KES, with participating schools including Parktown Boys’ High School, Grey College, Glenwood High School, Maritzburg College, Kearsney College, and Selborne College. The festival’s hockey schedule will also feature several highly anticipated clashes, including KES taking on Grey College, and later facing Northwood School.
For players, coaches, and supporters alike, the KES Easter Rugby Festival remains one of Johannesburg’s most anticipated school sporting events. Beyond the scores and results, it continues to offer a platform where young athletes can showcase their talent, build friendships, and experience the camaraderie that makes school sport so special.
