Boishaaier 2025

Rugby

1st XV Rugby

Sean Erasmus

After a challenging 2024 season, the team enjoyed a good off season followed by a UK Tour in December. This tour afforded us the opportunity to have an extended preseason period and spend more time as a group preparing for the 2025 season. The tour was a huge success for us not only on the field but, more importantly, off the field. Team culture and relationships were strengthened, and strong bonds were forged. The new season started with Joshua 1:9 as our inspiration for the year: “Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go.” The three pillars of the team have always been Faith, Familia and Team, and it is most important first to make sure we are aligned before we can focus on the rugby. The team had a preseason camp where we discussed our goals for the season. We felt we needed to be better as a team in effort and focus as well as the way in which we serve one another and the Boys’ High family. We appreciate the contribution of each of the following people: · We are proud to welcome Neil de Bruin into the Boys’ High family as the director of rugby and assistant coach of the 1st and 2nd teams. Neil looked after the attack, and the team really did well, scoring over 100 tries! · Casper Oelofsen was always welcomed into the management as mental toughness coach and did a wonderful job with regard to the team and management of the team. · George Earle joined the team as the forward coach. He has a great work ethic and did amazing work with the pack. · Old Boy Janro van Niekerk also joined the management team as a scrum coach. The boys had a 100% success rate at scrum time and dominated that area of the game. · David Sadie, who has been part of the management team for some time and has had great success, was responsible for the backs. He assisted Neil with attack, and he also did great work with our transition attack, bringing out the best in our backs. David has accepted another opportunity next year and we will miss having him as part of the team. David is a passionate Old Boy who has served Boys’ High with pride and passion. Thank you for all that you have done for the school, the boys and the Boys’ High community, David. We wish you and Robyn all the best going forward. God bless! · Teams are not successful without being able to play at high tempo, being fit and stronger than their opposition, and staying injury free. Our success in this is thanks to our great S&C and medical team. Ryno Rust puts in many hours preparing the team and is one of the best S&C coaches in rugby. He is passionate and always puts the team first. Physically, the team have always been ready to perform.

· Anzél Brink or “Tannie”, as she is affectionately known to the boys, spends hours at Kuehne+Nagel Brugstraat medical facility, making sure the team is and stays injury free; niggles and bumps are dealt with immediately and nothing is overlooked. Anzél is a top-class physio who cares not only for muscles but also for hearts. Nothing is ever too much for her. This is her final year with us; she is moving on to focus on her new practice and we cannot thank her or honour her enough for what she has done for Paarl Boys’ High. We will miss you, Anzél; you will always be part of Paarl Boys’ High! We wish you and Lee all the best. God bless! · Dr Kobus Uys has served Paarl Boys’ High not only as team doctor but also as a friend and Old Boy. He is always unselfishly prepared to squeeze one of the boys into his busy schedule and help in any possible way. The well being and health of the team have always been priority. Thank you, Doc, for everything you do for Boys’ High! · Dr Barno Pieters also started to help us this year and we are extremely grateful for his passion and commitment to the team. We look forward to his involvement next season. · Vicus Kruger is not only the team manager but also a mentor to the team. He guides and supports the team while being one of the leaders of his church. Vicus is always positive and ready to support in any way the team needs him. We are very grateful to have him as part of this team. · Oom Johnny continues to feed the players jelly babies at half-time and to give pep talks that are much needed. His energy and passion for the boys and school are never-ending. He is a true Boys’ Higher. Our statistics read as follows: · The 1st team played 17 games in 2025 and won 16. We scored 731 points and conceded only 231 points, finishing 2025 with an average score of 43 – 14, scoring 6,1 tries per game and conceding only 1,8 tries per game – a 94%-win percentage. The top points scorer for the 1st team was Iwan Jordaan with 150 points. Top try scorer was Jayden Joubert with 12 tries. · The 2nd team played 14 games, winning 12 and losing only two games, scoring 545 points and conceding only 126 points with an average score of 39 – 9, scoring on average 5,8 tries per game and conceding only one try per game – an 86%-win percentage. · We had 18 Western Province U18 provincial representatives this season and five SA Schools players. Western Province won the final game at Craven Week and the SA Schools teams were successful during their international campaign. · Many of our 1st and 2nd team players have accepted opportunities to continue playing rugby for top overseas teams, top South African franchises and top universities after school.

152 BOISHAAI 157 YEARS