Paul Roos 1stXV have not won a match against their local rivals, Paarl Gim and Paarl Boishaai since their brilliant year in 2018. Admittingly in 2020, they did not play any rugby while in 2021 they did not play against Paarl Boishaai.
Although Paul Roos has beaten most of their opponents the losses against their Paarl rivals did not go down that well with their supporters.
At the end of 2021, it was announced that Corné Uys was appointed as the new Head of Rugby at Paul Roos after an extensive process. It is "expected" from the faithful that Uys must turn around Paul Roos rugby. I am sure many coaches would give their left n&( to "only" lose to two of the best rugby schools in South Africa, so the need for rescue seems a bit silly.
However' it is Stellenbosch and only the best will do, which in itself there is nothing wrong with that attitude.
Paul Roos once again do not have much of a pre-season and their first games will be at the Noord/Suid festival hosted at Affies. Two tough games against Affies and a very dangerous Helpmekaar will wait for Paul Roos in Pretoria.
A trip to Grey High School should not pose too many questions whereafter Paul Roos travel to Johannesburg to attend the St John's Festival. Paul Roos will play Welkom Gim and Nelspruit on Thursday and Saturday respectively. Both opponents should test the men in Maroon but will not be a serious threat.
At the Wildeklawer Festival, Paul Roos will play Glenwood and Garsfontein with Garsfontein the toughest of the two scheduled matches in Kimberley.
Thereafter, the Western Cape's normal suspects await with weekend after weekend of extremely tough opposition with Paarl Gim expected to be the toughest test..
The highlight of the season will be the last game of the season at the Markotter Stadium when Grey College visits. Grey College is said to be the only school that "can" challenge Paarl Gim in 2022.
A tough season awaits Paul Roos' 1stXV of which not much is talked about or expected. However, they could and will surprise many.
1stXV Provisional Fixtures (Home team 1st)
26/03/2022 Affies vs Paul Roos (Noord/Suid)
29/03/2022 Helpmekaar vs Paul Roos (Noord/Suid)
09/04/2022 Grey High School vs Paul Roos
14/04/2022 Paul Roos vs Welkom Gim (St Johns Festival)
16/04/2022 Paul Roos vs Nelspruit (St Johns Festival)
23/04/2022 Paul Roos vs Bishops
30/04/2022 Paul Roos vs Glenwood (Wildeklawer)
02/05/2022 Paul Roos vs Garsfontein (Wildeklawer)
07/05/2022 Paarl Gim vs Paul Roos
14/05/2022 SACS vs Paul Roos
21/05/2022 Paul Roos vs Paarl Boishaai
04/06/2022 Paul Roos vs Rondebosch
23/07/2022 Paul Roos vs Wynberg
30/07/2022 Oakdale vs Paul Roos
13/08/2022 Paul Roos vs Boland Landbou
20/08/2022 Paul Roos vs Grey College
Other important dates:
18-21/03/2022 Wynberg Festival u/14AB, u/15AB and u/16AB
25-30/03/2022 u/14A Kwagga Week (Outeniqua)
25-30/03/2022 u/15A Paarl Boishaai Week
25-30/03/2022 u/16A Jean de Villiers Rugby Week (Paarl Gim)
02-02/09/2022 Schalk Brits u/12 10's (Paul Roos)
23-24/09/2022 Inter-provincial u/12 Festival (Paul Roos)