New leaders have emerged following the latest round of South African schools First XV rugby action.
Last weekend delivered a decisive shake-up at the summit, with a new table-toppers emerging in a fiercely contested season.
Meanwhile, there have been several noteworthy changes throughout the Top 20.
NEW LEADERS EMERGE
Following weeks of pressure, traditional SA School rugby powerhouses Paarl Gimnasium have surged to the top of the latest rankings.
They replace Stellenberg who had dominated for much of the campaign.
Stellenberg remain one of the standout stories of the season, having exceeded expectations as they currently sit in second spot.
ALSO READ – SPRINGBOKS NEW ERA | NEXT COACH: 3 CANDIDATES TO REPLACE RASSIE ERASMUS
TRADITIONAL SA SCHOOL RUGBY GIANTS CLIMBING UP
However, the pressure continues to mount from Paul Roos, who sit third and are closing in rapidly.
With just 0.81 points separating them from Stellenberg, the race for second place is intensifying.
Meanwhile, Grey College occupy fourth position, although they have played more matches (12) than any of the top six contenders.
Thereafter, Hoërskool Garsfontein (fifth) continue to punch while above their weight this season.
Paarl Boys’ High (sixth) remain well-placed despite having played fewer matches than most of their top-10 rivals with just nine.
Rounding out the top 10 are Affies (seventh), Hilton College (eighth), Northwood (ninth) and Oakdale (10th).
MORE MOVEMENT IN THE TOP 20
Elsewhere, several notable shifts have reshaped the broader top 20.
Monument have climbed from 14th to 12th, while Outeniqua have slipped one place to 13th.
Meanwhile, Michaelhouse have dropped to 15th, allowing Rondebosch to edge up to 14th.
In addition, Durban High School and Westville have exchanged positions, reflecting the tight margins that define this segment of the table.
Further down, Graeme College have broken into the top 20, signalling their upward trajectory. They are followed by Waterkloof in 19th and Kearsney College in 20th.
As a result, Helpmekaar and Jeppe have dropped out of the top 20 altogether.
A SEASON STILL WIDE OPEN
While these rankings remain unofficial, they offer as accurate a reflection as any of team performance across the season.
The fluidity within both the top 10 and top 20 highlights just how competitive this year’s schoolboy rugby landscape has become.
SA SCHOOLS FIRST XV RANKINGS – TOP 20
| Rank | School | Points |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Paarl Gim | 21.450 |
| 2 | Stellenberg | 21.291 |
| 3 | Paul Roos | 20.410 |
| 4 | Grey College | 19.383 |
| 5 | Garsfontein | 19.100 |
| 6 | Paarl Boys’ High | 19.100 |
| 7 | Affies | 19.092 |
| 8 | Hilton | 18.033 |
| 9 | Northwood | 17.627 |
| 10 | Oakdale | 17.500 |
| 11 | Maritzburg College | 17.480 |
| 12 | Monument | 17.455 |
| 13 | Outeniqua | 16.890 |
| 14 | Rondebosch | 16.667 |
| 15 | Michaelhouse | 16.580 |
| 16 | DHS | 16.545 |
| 17 | Westville | 16.446 |
| 18 | Graeme College | 15.745 |
| 19 | Waterkloof | 15.667 |
| 20 | Kearsney College | 15.575 |
WHICH SCHOOL DO YOU THINK WILL FINISH TOP OF THE RANKING AT THE END OF THE SEASON?
Let us know in the comments section below …
