The 2026 Independent Schools Rugby Festival (ISRF), brought to you by Absa, kicked off in chilly early morning conditions at St David’s Marist Inanda on Saturday.
More than 1200 players and 300 coaches were in action, with, for the first time, the prep festival and all three college-age categories: U14, U15 and U17 taking place at the same venue. It’s an ambitious undertaking.
There will be 168 games played in all at the end of it, and the players will have had the opportunity to test themselves against strong opposition while reinforcing the values of respect, camaraderie and sportsmanship that are the cornerstone of rugby at the Independent Schools Festival.
The air temperature didn’t rise by much as the day progressed, but there was plenty of red-hot passion from the players, and some stirring performances across all the game groups.
ISRF is, foremost, a festival. The results and scorelines are not the most important thing; it’s an end-of-season celebration and early preparation for next year.
Having said that, the teams are here to compete, and several of them were pretty impressive. Among the U17S, Bishops and Michaelhouse stood out, and the teams meeting them in their next two outings will have their work cut out for them.
St Andrew’s School was the only school to notch up wins in all three college-age groups. St John’s College also had a good opening day; their U17S and U15S beat Kingswood.
The prep schools will be in action again on Sunday and Monday, while the college teams take a rest ahead of full days of action on Monday and Wednesday.
Day one results
Under 13
Waterkloof House 35-10 The Ridge
St Peter’s 29-17 St Stithians
St David’s 15-14 Higbury
Woodridge 14-12 St John’s
Bishops 28-17 St Peter’s
WP Prep 14-12 Waterkloof House
Woodridge 47-07 St Stithians
Highbury 31-07 St John’s
WP Prep 35-10 The Ridge
Bishops 19-19 St David’s
Under 14
St Andrew’s 47-07 St Benedict’s
St Charles 28-14 St John’s
St Stithians 39-12 Cornwall Hill
St David’s 53-00 Somerset College
St David’s White 27-17 CBC Boksburg
Under 15
St Benedict’s 73-05 Lions XV
St Charles 31-00 Alex Wolves
St John’s 42-33 Kingswood
Michaelhouse 59-00 Somerset College
St Andrew’s 24-10 St David’s
Under 17
St Benedict’s 17-12 Cornwall Hill
St Alban’s 21-19 Lions XV
St John’s 35-07 Kingswood
Michaelhouse 43-10 Eton
Bishops 71-12 St David’s
St Andrew’s 2824 St Charles
St Stithians 33-05 Somerset College
St David’s II 19-10 Eton II
St Andrew’s Barbarians 31-07 CBC Boksburg