ALL the Easter rugby festival fixtures and results

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It’s not just a four-day long Easter weekend with copious amounts of chocolate – there are FOUR Easter rugby school festivals to look forward to!

Easter festivals in Johannesburg and at Kearsney in KwaZulu-Natal should provide South Africa’s leading rugby schools – and a couple of dark horses – to make a statement.

KEARSNEY FESTIVAL

Durban High School (DHS) were the top side in KwaZulu-Natal last season, and have already won five matches on the trot this season.

Monument have blown hot and cold, but are coming off a 70-24 win against Jeppe.

The clash between the two sides on Saturday should be the best of the weekend.

Thursday, 17 April

Milnerton vs Peterhouse (Zimbabwe)
Dale vs Durbanville
DHS vs Rustenburg
Kearsney vs EG Jansen
Monument vs Glenwood
Framesby vs Westville

Saturday, 19 April

Durbanville vs Rustenburg
Framesby vs Peterhouse (Zimbabwe)
Glenwood vs Milnerton
Westville vs EG Jansen
Kearsney vs Dale
DHS vs Monument

Monday, 21 April

Monument vs Milnerton
Dale vs Glenwood
Framesby vs EG Jansen
DHS vs Durbanville
Rustenburg vs Westville
Kearsney vs Peterhouse (Zimbabwe)

KES FESTIVAL

The hosts will have plenty to prove, following their 102-0 defeat to Paarl Gym at the North-South tournament earlier this season.

That said, Rondebosch and Northwood will go into the games against KES as favourites.

Noordheuwel have held their own against some of the best in South Africa in recent months, losing to Paul Roos by seven points, Grey College by two and Garsfontein by six.

Saturday, 19 April

Northwood vs Pearson
Eldoraigne vs Hudson Park
Queen’s College vs Parktown
Affies vs Noordheuwel
Jeppe vs Selborne
KES vs Rondebosch

Monday, 21 April

Eldoraigne vs Pearson
Rondebosch vs Queen’s College
Affies vs Selborne
Parktown vs Hudson Park
Jeppe vs Noordheuwel
KES vs Northwood

ST JOHN’S FESTIVAL

SACS pushed Boland Landbou close last week, and will expect to pick up wins against St Davids and Voortrekker Bethlehem when they head to St Johns.

This year’s big teams in Houghton include Hilton, Pretoria Boys and Graeme College.

As the festival has evolved, so has the imperative of competition on all three playing days.

Although junior teams will compete on Easter Monday, the senior teams will not, St John’s having consulted widely to establish the appetite of back-to-back rugby.

Thursday, 17 April

Kingswood vs Randburg
Graeme vs Voortrekker Bethlehem
Golden Lions XV vs Maritzburg College
SACS vs St Davids
Welkom Gym vs Nelspruit
Pretoria Boys vs Diamantveld
St John’s vs Hilton

Saturday, 19 April

St Davids vs Golden Lions XV
Welkom Gym vs Diamantveld
SACS vs Voortrekker Bethlehem
Graeme vs Pretoria Boys
St John’s vs Randburg
Kingswood vs Hilton
Nelspruit vs Maritzburg College

ST STITHIANS FESTIVAL

St Stithians will host the 41st edition of their festival.

The great gathering has taken on a life of its own since inception in 1984 and now includes several other sports, making it one of the largest school sport gatherings in South Africa.

If the players have as much energy as the organising committee, fans are in for a sumptuous treat.

Many Springboks have spoken of their experience at the Saints festival chiefly because it is always so enjoyable and unlike any other fixtures.

Two big Cape schools (Wynberg and Bishops) top the entries with Joburg team Helpmekaar always worth a side bet or two.

Thursday, 17 April

St Stithians vs Clifton
Northcliff vs Marais Viljoen
Michaelhouse vs St John’s (Zimbabwe)
St Charles vs Windhoek (Namibia)
Wynberg vs Hartpury College (England)
Helpmekaar vs Bishops

Saturday, 19 April

Clifton vs Windhoek (Namibia)
Northcliff vs St Johns (Zimbabwe)
St Andrews vs St Charles
Bishops vs Hartpury College (England)
Helpmekaar vs Wynberg
St Stithians vs Michaelhouse