The Springbok starting lineup to face the All Blacks features 15 players from 15 different high schools, breaking away from traditional rugby powerhouse dominance. Picture: RODGER BOSCH / AFP
Image: RODGER BOSCH / AFP
While Springbok selection usually favours continuity—especially during an intense four-match series against the All Blacks—Saturday’s starting lineup brings a remarkable twist: all 15 players hail from completely different high schools.
South Africa's elite schoolboy rugby landscape is traditionally dominated by a select group of powerhouse institutions, often referred to as the "Big Five," alongside a handful of regional giants. These traditional rugby factories consistently top national rankings and supply the bulk of international talent.
The "Big Five" typically includes Grey College (Bloemfontein), Paul Roos Gimnasium (Stellenbosch), Paarl Boys’ High (Paarl), Paarl Gimnasium (Paarl), and Afrikaanse Hoër Seunskool (Pretoria).
Yet, Saturday's team features only a single player from these historic strongholds: scrumhalf Cobus Reinach, an alumnus of Grey College.
Hooker Malcolm Marx represents King Edward VII School (KES), an institution frequently listed just outside that elite top tier.
The remainder of the squad highlights the incredible depth across South African rugby, featuring stars from schools not traditionally known as national powerhouse factories—such as Cheslin Kolbe (Brackenfell High School), Damian de Allende (Milnerton High School), and Jasper Wiese (Upington High School).
