2023 KEARSNEY EASTER RUGBY FESTIVAL

The 2023 Kearsney Easter Rugby Festival is set to once again thrill supporters of exciting and fast-paced schoolboy rugby.

The three play days - Thursday 6, Saturday 8 and Monday 10 April – promise mouthwatering clashes between some of the country’s top-ranked rugby schools. The festival will take place in the magnificent grounds of Kearsney College, halfway between Durban and Pietermaritzburg.

Powerhouse teams Hoërskool Monument from Krugersdorp, Hoërskool Dr EG Jansen from Boksburg and Hoërskool Noord-Kaap from Kimberley, will be joined by the Eastern Cape’s Dale College, Hoërskool Framesby and Hoër Landbouskool Marlow (from Cradock), as well as Worcester Gimnasium from the Western Cape. Also participating will be four prominent KwaZulu-Natal teams, Glenwood, Westville Boys’ High, Durban High School and hosts Kearsney College; together with Hartpury College from the United Kingdom, the ACE League champions.

The Kearsney Easter Rugby Festival has established itself as one of the country’s premier schoolboy rugby events and is one of the most highly-anticipated events on the schoolboy rugby calendar. The continued participation of this calibre of team highlights the festival’s prestigious status amongst players, coaches and supporters.

Four primary school teams and an U13 development team have also been invited to be a part of the action, playing the curtain-raiser on each day. They are Highbury Prep, Hillcrest Senior Primary, Westville Senior Primary and Umhlali Prep, as well as the KZNRU Ibutho /Mark Godefroy team.

The festival is again brought to you by Standard Bank, with incredible support from The Sharks and Halfway Ford.

Numerous food outlets, a refreshment tent, an extensive KidZone and ample parking ensure that spectators can fully enjoy the wonderful rugby on display and the special family atmosphere on Botha’s Hill.

Major Matchup Buthelezi V Vermeulen

It is captain versus captain at No 8 today.

At only 23 years of age, Phepsi Buthelezi is 13 years younger than Duane Vermeulen, his direct opposite, yet the Cell C Sharks No 8 has, since his introduction to the big stage four years ago, consistently performed with the same dedication and drive as his illustrious Ulster and Springbok counterpart. This has backed up the view that Buthelezi is destined to attain great heights in the game.

The Hluhluwe-born prodigy has knuckled down to perform so effectively in the Cell C Sharks back row, every week without exception, that he is regularly entrusted with the reins of captain, and his leadership capability has come shining through on each occasion.

Duane Vermeulen is not nicknamed ‘Thor’ for nothing. Like the Marvel Comics superhero, portrayed by the Duane Vermeulen-looking Chris Hemsworth, the Ulster and Bok No 8 has for the past decade performed heroic acts of massive proportions on the rugby paddocks of the world. His powerful, thrustful carries during the RWC final of 2019 in Japan earned him the Man of the Match award as South Africa surged to a comprehensive 32-12 win against England.

Having scooped a second SA Player of the Year award in 2020, this Bok bruiser has accumulated 65 test caps, at 36 years of age, and is regarded as a key member of the Ulster pack.