Rugby Easter Festival Look-back

Pretoria Boys High School marked its 125-year milestone with an Easter Rugby Festival that brought together leading rugby schools, partners and a wider community in a celebration of the game and the school’s enduring legacy.

Over two days at the historic Brooks Field, an estimated 6 000 spectators per day moved through the grounds, creating a vibrant, festive presence that carried throughout the weekend. From early kick-offs to the final whistle, there was a sense that something meaningful was unfolding, not only in the matches being played, but in the people gathered around them.

From the outset, Brooks Field held a strong sense of anticipation, with players, Old Boys, parents, and spectators filling the space and setting the tone for what lay ahead. That sense of occasion found one of its most memorable expressions ahead of Pretoria Boys High’s fixture, the final game of day one. As the team was led onto the field by the school’s pipe band, the atmosphere shifted. The sound carried across a packed field, drawing everyone’s attention.

Following the match, the school song echoed across the grounds. Players, alumni and supporters stood together, many shoulder to shoulder, in a moment that felt both personal and collective. It was not staged or forced. It was simply part of what it means to be part of Pretoria Boys High. A connection between past and present, felt in real time.

Rugby held the crowd

The festival brought together Pretoria Boys High, Afrikaanse Hoër Seunskool, Grey High School, Maritzburg College, Michaelhouse, Selborne College, SACS, Jeppe, Rondebosch and Parktown. A lineup that ensured five quality rugby matches each day, with longstanding rivalries and shared histories adding depth to every fixture.

On the field, rugby delivered.

Pretoria Boys High’s clash against SACS produced one of the most gripping matches of the weekend, with Boys High securing a 35–34 result in a contest that kept the crowd fully engaged until the final whistle.

Among the standout moments across the weekend, Michaelhouse’s win over Affies added to the narrative and reinforced the competitiveness of the festival. Across both days, the rugby was played at a high tempo, with big hits, moments of individual brilliance and periods of desperate defence that kept spectators fully engaged from one match to the next.

While the rugby remained central, the experience beyond the touchline played an equally important role in shaping the weekend. A range of partner activations, of which these are only a few highlights, contributed to a space that felt open, engaging and accessible to all who attended.

FNB and Visa supported a fully cashless environment, while their KOODOO activation area became a natural point of interaction. Families paused, recharged their devices, and spent time together, adding to the festival’s easy, family-friendly atmosphere.

The University of Pretoria, through TuksSport, created opportunities for meaningful engagement with pupils and parents, offering insight into future academic pathways and life beyond school.

Masslift Africa brought a distinctive energy to the grounds. Their space was consistently active, drawing in spectators through a mix of interaction, visual presence and personality. From their Ninja mascot moving through the crowd to bucket hat giveaways and hands-on experiences, their activation became part of the festival’s rhythm, contributing to the atmosphere in a way that felt organic rather than imposed.

USN introduced a world-class recovery area, adding a high-performance dimension to the festival. Designed to support players across a demanding two-day schedule, the space included professional physio assistance, ice baths and tailored nutritional supplementation. It provided players with access to recovery standards typically associated with elite-level environments, reinforcing not only player well-being but also the professional standard of the festival’s delivery.

Curaprox added a creative, engaging element through its rugby-themed competition. Participants tested their accuracy by aiming for targets within a two-minute window, a simple concept that drew steady participation across both days. The opportunity to win tickets to the Springboks versus All Blacks match at Ellis Park added further excitement, with Len Olivier securing the main prize. Additional winners, Kelsey Stone and Renaldo Meyer, were awarded Curaprox Hydrosonic Pro toothbrushes.

OMO’s “Dirtiest Player of the Match” campaign recognised the effort and work rate that often go unseen, acknowledging the players who contributed in the most demanding areas of the game.

Jacaranda FM, together with Jo Man and a Dove Men activation, added to the broader atmosphere, ensuring there was always a sense of movement and engagement across the grounds.

Interview with the headboy and first team captain

Interview with the Headmaster

The festival’s success was perhaps best reflected in the response from those who experienced it firsthand.

Justin Hawker described the weekend as “truly memorable,” noting that the setup is “something to consider for local derbies and/or schools travelling to our great city.”

Greg Palmer highlighted both the standard and the atmosphere, calling it “the BEST of all the Easter Fests… stronger teams and hence better rugby,” adding that “the atmosphere was FANTASTIC… congratulations on a world-class event.”

From a visiting perspective, Jenny Pelser shared her appreciation, saying, “From a visitor from the Cape, thank you for the fantastically well organised festival… what counted the most was we watched a lot of good-spirited schoolboy rugby, with great support all round.”

Lizelle Kies described it as a “spectacular event” with “excellent organisational efforts, great atmosphere and friendly people all around,” while Si’Ann Sadler called it a “phenomenal event… the best rugby festival I have been to.”

Tobie Le Cornu added, “Congratulations PBHS… you can be very proud of the tournament hosted,” and Wayne Esterhuizen reflected the broader sentiment, describing it as “an amazing day out” and “a resounding success.”

These reflections spoke not only to the quality of rugby on display but to the experience created around it.

Nashua’s free public WiFi enabled spectators to stay connected and share their experience as it happened, extending the festival’s reach through personal moments and interactions.

SuperSport Schools carried the matches to a wider audience, broadcasting on Channel 216 on Saturday and Channels 208 and 199 on Monday, ensuring that those not in attendance could still be part of the occasion.

Closing moments.

Saturday afternoon brought a different kind of highlight, as Director of Rugby Mr Paul Anthony took to the stage with his band. It was a relaxed and fitting moment within a busy schedule, adding to the sense that the festival was as much about community as it was about competition.

Throughout the weekend, the voice guiding the experience belonged to MC Mthunzi Mabeta, whose presence added energy, humour and professionalism in equal measure. His ability to read the crowd, keep the programme flowing and build anticipation around each fixture played an important role in shaping the overall atmosphere of the festival.

The event’s success was also made possible by the support of its partners and sponsors, whose contributions extended far beyond mere visibility. Their presence helped create an environment that was engaging, functional and enjoyable for all who attended.

View a short video highlight of the Easter Rugby Festival 2026

Reflecting on the significance of the festival, Headmaster Mr Greg Hassenkamp commented:

“It was a privilege for Pretoria Boys High to host an Easter Rugby Festival this year, in this, the school’s 125th anniversary celebration. It is only the second time the school has done this, after doing so in 2001, during the school’s centenary year. To have these ten quality rugby and traditional boys’ schools join us for this occasion and to see the level of rugby played was inspiring. It was also a privilege for the school to put together a rugby programme of this calibre for both the teams participating and all those who came to support. With the addition of the hospitality area, the food stalls and activation zones as well as the player recovery zones, I believe this was a schoolboy rugby experience that matches any this country has been able to offer in the past.”

Director of Rugby, Mr Paul Anthony, added:

“In commenting on the 125 festival, I will remain absolutely objective. I have attended numerous schoolboy festivals during my years as a teacher and coach. In every aspect — teams attending, quality of rugby, the beautiful landscape and immaculate condition of the fields, and the incredible turnout from the public and supporters, coverage and overall entertainment — this festival stands out as the best one I have ever attended. Congrats to all involved, an absolute cracker and one to be remembered fondly. Finally, the highlight for me was that, although all matches were highly competitive, they had a ‘schoolboy’ feel. Something I haven’t felt in any other festival for some time. Small mercies in the age of win at all costs and chasing school rankings no matter what “

As the festival came to a close, it formed a significant part of Pretoria Boys High’s 125-year celebrations.

The rugby itself delivered moments of intensity, skill and unpredictability across both days, with results that reflected the high standard of competition throughout the festival.

Pretoria Boys High extends its sincere thanks to the players, coaches, parents, supporters, staff and the many individuals who worked tirelessly behind the scenes to ensure the success of the festival. This includes the estate office and ground staff, the finance department, the school’s laundry, Empact in the dining hall, and the three boarding houses, all of whom played an essential role in ensuring the festival ran smoothly from start to finish.

The school also acknowledges the valued contribution of its sponsors, partners, vendors and service providers, whose presence and support enhanced the overall festival experience, as well as the media who covered the event and helped share its story more broadly.

Together, these collective efforts made an event of this scale not only possible but truly memorable.

More than that, the weekend served as a reminder of what schoolboy sport can represent when brought together with purpose. A shared experience, built on tradition, strengthened by community, and remembered long after the final whistle.