With 16 sporting codes on offer, PBHS boasts excellent facilities and dedicated coaches.
Our commitment to physical education and competition is rooted in the belief that the lessons learned on the field, court, or pool extend far beyond the final whistle. Whether it’s on the rugby field, in the swimming pool, or on the athletics track, we compete with a fierce determination to not just win but to uphold the values of teamwork, integrity, and respect.
Our coaches are not just trainers; they are mentors who inspire our boys to strive for greatness in every practice and every game. They instil a mindset that mirrors the ethos of our school—one that values hard work, resilience, and the understanding that victory is earned through dedication and effort.
PBHS offers the following sports
- Athletics
- Basketball
- Climbing
- Cricket
- Cross country
- Fencing
- Golf
- Hockey
- Mountain biking
- Rugby
- Soccer
- Squash
- Swimming
- Table tennis
- Tennis
- Water polo
Athletics, one of the oldest organised sports, developed out of the most basic of human activities. Even so, the sport requires several skills in order succeed. Divided into track and field events, the participants require hand-eye coordination, balance, strength, speed, endurance, agility, reaction time and tactical awareness. We have several coaches who specialise in certain events, and boys have the opportunity to train and hone their skills at the many summer league meetings in which the team participates.
The school’s athletics’ season takes place in the third term but there are several opportunities throughout the year for boys who wish to participate at a higher level. The school also competes against Johannesburg boys’ schools, and our top athletes compete in various categories at inter-provincial tournaments.
Master-in-Charge: Mr L. Keeton / Lkeeton@boyshigh.com
Basketball is run in the first, second and fourth term. Every year the school undertakes a tour to KwaZulu Natal in order to compete in an inter-provincial festival. During the first and fourth terms, the boys play against several boys’ schools from Pretoria and Johannesburg with all teams competing in the Pretoria League in the third term.
Master-in-Charge: Mr L. Gerdes / Lgerdes@boyshigh.com
We incorporate a mixture of bouldering and climbing with both facilities at the school. The boys often venture out to the Bouldering Cave or The Climbing Barn on a weekly basis. The weekends often see the boys visiting some of the crags in and around Pretoria, however, the highlights are the adventures out to Waterval Boven, Bronkhorstspruit and Swinburne.
Our climbers take part in several competitions. These consist of the Bouldering League; a Lead Climbing Competition over 6-8 weeks; and for those who qualify, Gauteng representation at The National Bouldering and Lead Climbing Competitions later in the year.
Master in Charge: Mr W. Truter / Wtruter@boyshigh.com
PBHS’ Cricket fraternity is strong, active and highly skilled. Our campus boasts six cricket field all with turf wickets, 11 artificial nets, and two sets of turf practice nets. Our main cricket oval is arguably the best school field in South Africa. We generally have between 12 and 15 cricket teams playing in a season.
During the first and fourth terms, we compete in home and away matches against several boys’ schools in Gauteng, including Affies, KES, Jeppe, and St. Alban’s. Additionally, we participate in an annual exchange with Grey College.
During the third term our 1st, 2nd, U15A and U14A teams play in the Titans Schools A leagues/Pretoria League. Our cricket boys take part in some of the best Festivals around the country. These include the Peninsula Cricket Festival (1st and U15 A teams), Oppenheimer Michaelmas Cricket Week (1st team), Michaelhouse U17 Cricket Festival and Charl van Rooyen U14 Cricket Festival. We also host the Sommerville U15 Cricket Festival every year.
Director of Cricket: Mr D. Jefferson / Djefferson@boyshigh.com
The sport is seen by many top athletes and coaches as an excellent platform on which to build a high level of stamina for track athletes and speed for road runners. Our boys train on the natural terrain of our beautiful, diverse estate with ample opportunity to hone their craft. Our team is split into a junior team and a senior team, and both compete in several competitions and friendly meets throughout the year.
Two of the larger competitions are the Johannesburg League against all the large boys’ schools, and the Pretoria League which consists of the co-ed schools in Pretoria. During the school’s first term, there are many internal cross-country events, the largest of which is the annual school cross-country race in which more than 1400 boys and staff participate.
Master in Charge: Mr. L Keeton / Lkeeton@boyshigh.com
Fencing at PBHS is a year-round sport and although there are no official leagues, the fencing team takes part in the Johannesburg Men’s Competition. There are no individual age group teams, only a “senior team”, but anyone may take part in the practices and competitions. The fencing team has a professional coach that comes in weekly to assist the boys with their form, strategy and techniques.
Master-In-Charge: Mr I. van Vollenhoven / Ivanvollenhoven@boyshigh.com
Competitively, our boys take part in several festivals throughout the year, such as the Woodlands Junior Masters, the Johannesburg League, the Links Festival and others.
Master-In-Charge: Mr G. Botha / Gbotha@boyshigh.com
Hockey is one of the two major winter sports at Pretoria Boys High. Whether played on an astroturf or a grass field, hockey is a challenging sport that requires significant technical skill and physical fitness.
PBHS is home to four grass fields, as well as a state-of-the art artificial astroturf for the top ranked teams. The school can cater for up to sixteen teams and the boys have ample opportunities to play against some of the top hockey schools in South Africa. In addition to the weekly fixtures, the school attends three “Nomads” Festivals for the different age groups annually. These are hosted in different parts of South Africa. PBHS has a strong hockey fraternity, producing a number of national players, at both junior and senior levels.
Director of Hockey: Mr C. Fielding / Cfielding@boyshigh.com
Mountain Biking is a relatively new sport that has been introduced to our school. Despite this late introduction, it was met with great enthusiasm from our boys and Mountain Biking has become a much loved sport. Our boys train on our beautiful campus in the afternoons, offering them an incredibly diverse and scenic route. Our track has been voted the best in the School Series for 2023.
Our Mountain Bikers compete in several races against local schools throughout the year which culminates in our biggest event – the 24 Hour MTB Challenge held annually in September. This event is open to all and we have teams of all ages attending from all over the country. An event not to be missed!
Master-In-Charge: Mr H. Pretorius / Hpretorius@boyshigh.com
One of the two major winter sports, and probably the most loved and revered, the school has 28 rugby sides. The sport is actually quite complex and requires participants to learn a number of individual and team skills. No matter what size, age or shape a boy is, our coaches will ensure that they are properly trained and supported.
PBHS is home to eight rugby fields, and each of our teams practice at least three times a week. Teams undertake several tours for different age groups around South Africa during the April school holidays. Outside of the province, the school plays Maritzburg College, Hilton and Michaelhouse annually.
Director of Rugby: Mr P. Anthony / Rugby@boyshigh.com
Our first team also embarks on a tour outside of the province in the September/October holidays. The soccer season kicks off in the third term with professional student coaches coming in to train the boys.
Master-In-Charge: Mr P Franken / Pfranken@boyshigh.com
PBHS is the premier squash school in South Africa. Some of our achievements include: Nine-time National Top Schools’ Champions; consistently receiving the award for Best Squash School in Pretoria; school with the most South African representatives at the World Junior Men’s’ Championships; consistently producing SA Schools rank. PBHS has also produced a large number of Old Boys who go on to represent the Northern Gauteng Men’s Team at the prestigious Jarvis Cup Inter-provincial Tournament.
Aside from these achievements, we are very proud of the quality of the average player that we produce. This is attributed to the excellent squash culture that we have at the School, where we focus on improving playing standards while never losing sight of the most important aspect: enjoying the game! Many of our players only started playing squash upon their arrival at Boys High. However, with the support of excellent coaches and conditioning managers, all boys learn to play well and have a great love of the game.
Master-In-Charge: Mr C. Stephens / CStephens@boyshigh.com
Swimming is a seasonal sport which takes place in the first and fourth term. Various swimming teams attend the Alan Burt Gala annually contested by the top five swimming schools in Gauteng along with the top swimming schools in KwaZulu Natal.
Master-In-Charge: Ms A. Bolduc / Abolduc@boyshigh.com
An outside coach is employed to coach both teams and boys new to the game are also encouraged to join. This sport takes place throughout the year.
Master-In-Charge: Mr C. Davies / Cdavies@boyshigh.com
PBHS is home to seven tennis courts and boys are therefore provided with ample space to perfect their skills. Tennis is played throughout the year with a professional tennis coach employed to coach the First Team. He is also available to provide private lessons.
There are two age groups which take part in the Johannesburg and Pretoria Leagues. These age groups are Open (U17, U18 and U19) and Junior (U14, U15 and U16). The senior A-Team undertakes annual tours to Paul Roos and Grey College.
Master-In-Charge: Mr G. Stoffberg / Gstoffberg@boyshigh.com
Water Polo has become one of the most popular sports that the school offers. On any given Saturday, more than sixteen teams take part in fixtures, using both pools situated on the grounds. Offering a unique blend of physical, mental and social benefits, the boys are trained by both internal and outside coaches in order to develop their skill. Our teams are invited to attend festivals all over South Africa and Boys High hosts no less than two festivals annually.
Director of Water Polo: Mr F. Louw / Flouw@boyshigh.com
