Paarl Gimnasium Vs Paarl Boys’ High Inter Schools
Paarl Gimnasium Vs Paarl Boys’ High Inter Schools
The Inter Schools between Paarl Gimnasium and Paarl Boys’ High, held every year in August, is the biggest school sporting event in South Africa.
Come the beginning of August the entire town is split in two, with various houses and businesses decorated with either, or both, of the competing team’s colours.
The first Inter Schools was held in 1915, and except for an interruption in 1918 (due to the First World War), has been held every year since.
The event draws supporters from all over the world, all keen to support their Alma Mater.
The highlight of the event is the U/19A rugby match, played at the Faure Street Stadium in front of a crowd of approximately 16 000 spectators, but also broadcast on television as part of the FNB Classic Clashes. As with any event of this nature, there are bands, songs, superstitions and all the regular fanfare.
Paarl Girl’s High competes against Gimnasium’s girls in events such as Netball and Hockey under a banner which includes both Boys’ High and Girl’s High.
To date, 96 matches have been played, with Paarl Gimnasium winning 47, Boys High winning 38 and 11 matches ending in a draw.
Paarl Boys’ High can count 18 Springboks amongst its Old Boys : Boy de Villiers, Hudie Hahn, Louis Louw, Theuns Kruger, Johnny Bester, Champion Myburgh, Boy Louw and his brother Fanie, Manie Geere, Ben du Toit, Ryk van Schoor, Theuns Briers, Piet du Toit, the legendary Mannetjies Roux, Haas Schoeman, Carel du Plessis (who coached the Springboks in 1997), Wium Basson, Corné Krige (captain) and Gurthro Steenkamp. In addition two Springboks have also taught at the school – Dawie Ackermann and Chum Ochse.
The following Old Boys of Paarl Gim have played for South Africa: Boy de Villiers, Steve Joubert, Pietie le Roux, Japie le Roux, Gerald Thompson (who was killed during World War I), Attie van Heerden (who also represented South Africa at the Olympic Games), JC van der Westhuizen, Pierre de Villiers, Manus de Jongh, PK Morkel, Jan Pickard, Hugo van Zyl, Wynand Mans (who later became a top referee), Schalk Burger, Kobus Burger, Kobus Wiese, Balie Swart, Mornay Visser, Pieter and Chris Rossouw, De Wet Barry, Marius Joubert, Jean de Villiers and Schalk Burger Jnr.
Jan Pickard, a great benefactor of the school, became president of the Western Province RFU and served on the committee of the International Rugby Board.
No wonder the Paarl Inter Schools is regarded as one of the top school rugby competitions.
In a 2013 poll on School Sports News, the Paarl Interskole between Paarl Gimnasium and Paarl Boys High was voted the ‘biggest’ schoolboy derby in South Africa.
Come and show your support this year and remember, there is no fence sitting. The question is clear – Is your blood blue or green?