Rob Ferreira High School is all set to host the annual Danie Rossouw Rugby Week, kicking of this week on Saturday, March 29.

This year will mark the 14th hosting of this event, which has become an institution on the rugby calendar for local schools.

Lowvelder will play a big role in this year’s edition, too, having come on board as the main sponsor.

ALSO READ: Stunning schoolboy rugby at Danie Rossouw Week

The dates for the 2025 Danie Rossouw Rugby Week are a bit later than usual, as the teams are set to arrive on Friday, March 28 and the first matches to kick on the Saturday.

A total of 15 schools will participate this year with no fewer than 44 teams set to descend on the town of White River for another week of fine rugby action. Joining hosts Rob Ferreira, Hoërskool Nelspruit and Hoërskool Bergvlam as participating Lowveld schools this year are Penryn College, Hoërskool Barberton and Lowveld High School.

This makes up more than a third of the participating schools, which ensures that a healthy Lowveld contingent will take part and showcase some of the best rugby the region has to offer.

Roughly 1 000 young players are due to participate this year, and help keep the Danie Rossouw Rugby Week’s status as one of the largest events in this sport in the country.

The competition will be played across four age groups – U14, U15, U16 and U18s (which include first and second teams).

The first day of matches is due to be played on the Saturday, followed by the second on Monday, March 31 and the third on Wednesday, April 2, allowing teams to enjoy rest days in between to soak up the beauty of the Lowveld.

On day one the hosts’ U14A side will face Wonderboom, the U14B team will take on Penryn’s U14s, and Rob’s U15s will play against HTS John Vorster.

The first team will line up against Marlow Landbou in the final fixture of the day.

The fixtures for the second and third days will be determined on the fly, based on teams’ performances during the week, ensuring the teams play one another on a strength-by-strength basis. Parents who wish to attend, but don’t know what to do with their littlest young ones, can rest assured knowing that Rob Ferreira will have fun areas for all age groups to enjoy.

This year’s Danie Rossouw Rugby Week promises to showcase some fine talent, and is definitely not to be missed.

The programme for the first day is as follows:

A field:
• 09:40: Birchleigh 2 vs Barberton 1 • 10:50: HTS Witbank 2 vs Randpark High 1 • 12:15: Lowveld High 1 vs Benoni 1 • 13:40: Nelspruit 2 vs Wonderboom 2 • 15:05: Bergvlam 1 vs Birchleigh 1 • 16:15: Hoogenhout 1 vs HTS John Vorster 1 • 17:40: HTS Witbank 1 vs Tom Naudé 1• 19:30: Rob Ferreira 1 vs Marlow 1.

B field:
• 10:00: HTS Witbank U16 vs Birchleigh U16 • 11:10: Lowveld U16 vs Rob U16B • 12:20: Penryn U16 vs Benoni U16 • 13:30: Bergvlam U16 vs Wonderboom U16 • 14:40: Tom Naudé U16 vs Nelspruit U16 • 15:50: Rob Ferreira U16 vs HTS John Vorster U16.

C field:
• 09:00: Rob U14B vs Penryn U14 • 10:00: Bergvlam U14 vs Birchleigh U14 • 11:00: Rob Ferreira U14 vs WonderboomU14 • 12:00: HTS Witbank U14 vs HTS John Vorster U1 4 • 13:00: Bergvlam U15 vs HTS Witbank U15 • 14:00: Penryn U15 vs Birchleigh U1 5 • 15:00: Nelspruit U15 vs Wonderboom U15 • 16:00: Rob Ferreira U15 vs HTS John Vorster U15.