Highveld Park High School has solidified its reputation as a rising powerhouse in school sports after its U14 girls rugby team was crowned the 2026 Mpumalanga Girls League Champions on May 2, at Hoërskool Patriot in Witbank.

The road to the title was elite; only eight schools from eight regions across the Lowveld and Highveld qualified for the top eight spots in this prestigious tournament.

The qualifying schools were: Highveld Park High School, Lowveld High School, Steelcrest High School, Northern Academy, Bushwillow Private Academy, Hoërskool Patriot, Lovunya Secondary School and Inkululeko Primary School.

Highveld Park’s young athletes rose to the occasion with a display of “true grit and discipline,” according to school representatives.

The path to glory:
The champions remained clinical throughout the knockout stages, keeping clean sheets in their first two encounters:

Quarterfinal: A dominant 10–0 victory over Bushwillow Academy. Semifinal: A hard-fought 5–0 win against Steelcrest to punch their ticket to the finale.

The final: In a high-stakes clash against Lowveld High, the girls showed their offensive prowess, securing the title with a convincing 24–10 win.

Caitleen Mthembu scored the most tries of the season with six tries scored during the quarter final and final. Her 10 tries over the season earned her the woman of the season for the U14s.

The school extended its deepest gratitude to the coaching staff and teachers Stanley Nong, Nelly Mubi, coach Feeby Sibanyoni, and coach Blessing Sibande, whose guidance was instrumental in this historic run.

The victory was made even sweeter with the announcement that several players have been selected for the Gert Sibande Regional Teams.