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, reports Highway Mail.

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 take place over three action-packed days during the Easter weekend which started yesterday and will continue tomorrow and Monday.

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).

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.

KZN’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.

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 and Girls U16 teams

Saturday

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 vs Ohlange High

13:00: Glenwood High vs ‘Hoërskool Framesby

14:20: Kearsney College vs ‘Hoërskool Transvalia

15:40: Westville Boys vs Helpmekaar Kollege

Monday

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 vs 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 Fiel – Boys prep and girls U16 teams

Saturday

08:00: Westville vs Northlands

 09:00: KZN Ibutho vs Winston Park

10:00: Chelsea vs Peterhouse

11:00: Hillcrest vs Atholl Heights

12:00: Grosvenor Girls High vs Mowat Park High

13:00: Umhlali vs Kloof

14:00: Highbury vs Ashton Ballito

Monday

08:00: Westville vs KZN Ibutho

09:00: Chelsea vs Umhlali

10:00: Northlands vs Kloof

11:00: Atholl Heights vs Peterhouse

12:00: Grosvenor Girls High vs Ohlange High

13:00 :Ashton Ballito vs Hillcrest

 14:00: Highbury vs Winston Park

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