The biggest interschool rugby match in South Africa is returned after a two-year break caused by the Covid-19 pandemic!
On Saturday, July 30, Paarl Gimnasium (Gim) and Paarl Boys’ High will face off in a Premier Interschools matchup to renew their rivalry.
North against. South in The Bloedworse versus The Galpille.
The 104th game between the two schools is scheduled to begin at 16:00 at Paarl’s Faure Street Stadium.
In the inaugural game, played in 1915, masters, schoolchildren, and older boys all participated.
This was the format up until 1927, when it was agreed that only schoolboys should participate in interschool games.
The format as it is used today formally debuted in 1929.
Prior to the forced two-year break, the interschools were only stopped for one year, in 1928, when the derby was cancelled for an unknown reason.
The average winning margin between the two schools in the over 100 games played reflects the competitive character of the derby and is barely 5 points.
There have been 11 draws between them, and the last one was in 1986.
Three of those draws had 0-0 scores. Both teams will compete for the win and the honor of representing Paarl.
There will be events and get-togethers throughout the week when former coworkers and enemies can reminisce about the good old days.
On Wednesday night, the two Old Boy sides will square off in what can only be characterized as a friendly but intense match, marking the start of the rugby season.
The “Goffels” and “Hommels” (G and H teams) play their particular kind of rugby on Thursday afternoon.
As the weekend’s main event begins, Friday morning is filled with excitement and expectation.
War cries and the “Big Brag” will be heard loud and clear in the hallways of both campuses.
The rugby and hockey players who have been selected to play for their respective first teams on Saturday are unveiled at this time and are given caps.
The U14A game on Friday afternoon and the third team game, dubbed “Chiefs against Chippies” by locals, are the highlights of the day.
On Saturdays, just four games are played.
The U15A match kicks off the matches at roughly 12:00, followed by the U16A’s, Seccies (Second team), and finally the First XV.
Results of matches between Paarl Boys’ High and Paarl Gimnasium across time
| 1915: PBHS won 10-0 |
| 1916: Gim won 7-5 |
| 1917: Gim won 3-0 |
| 1918: Gim won 3-0 |
| 1919: Gim won 9-0 |
| 1920: Gim won 20-0 |
| 1921: Draw 6-6 |
| 1922: Draw 3-3 |
| 1923: PBHS won 3-0 |
| 1924: PBHS won 13-5 |
| 1925: PBHS won 7-3 |
| 1926: PBHS won 6-5 |
| 1927: Gim won 5-3 |
| 1928: No match |
| 1929: Draw 3-3 |
| 1930: PBHS won 5-3 |
| 1931: Gim won 6-0 |
| 1932: Gim won 7-3 |
| 1933: PBHS won 3-0 |
| 1934: PBHS won 5-4 |
| 1935: Draw 0-0 |
| 1936: Gim won 11-6 |
| 1937: Gim won 5-3 |
| 1938: Gim won 5-3 |
| 1939: Gim won 9-8 |
| 1940: Draw 3-3 |
| 1941: Gim won 6-0 |
| 1942: Draw 0-0 |
| 1943: Gim won 9-6 |
| 1944: PBHS won 6-0 |
| 1945: PBHS won 14-6 |
| 1946: Draw 3-3 |
| 1947: PBHS won 8-3 |
| 1948: Draw 3-3 |
| 1949: Gim won 9-3 |
| 1950: PBHS won 6-3 |
| 1951: PBHS won 6-0 |
| 1952: PBHS won 11-0 |
| 1953: PBHS won 6-5 |
| 1956: Gim won 6-3 |
| 1957: Gim won 5-3 |
| 1958: Gim won 11-0 |
| 1959: PBHS won 11-3 |
| 1960: Gim won 9-3 |
| 1961: PBHS won 6-0 |
| 1962: PBHS won 6-0 |
| 1963: PBHS won 8-0 |
| 1964: Gim won 9-8 |
| 1965: Gim won 11-0 |
| 1966: Gim won 8-0 |
| 1967: Gim won 8-6 |
| 1968: Gim won 3-0 |
| 1969: PBHS won 8-5 |
| 1970: Gim won 19-8 |
| 1971: PBHS won 11-6 |
| 1972: PBHS won 6-3 |
| 1973: PBHS won 19-6 |
| 1974: Gim won 9-3 |
| 1975: PBHS won 3-0 |
| 1976: Gim won 8-6 |
| 1977: PBHS won 15-6 |
| 1978: Gim won 13-10 |
| 1979: Gim won 12-6 |
| 1980: Gim won 9-3 |
| 1981: Gim won 12-0 |
| 1982: PBHS won 16-15 |
| 1983: Gim won 15-6 |
| 1984: Gim won 10-4 |
| 1985: PBHS won 16-6 |
| 1986: Draw 0-0 |
| 1987: PBHS won 15-7 |
| 1988: Draw 6-6 |
| 1989: Gim won 15-4 |
| 1990: PBHS won 10-6 |
| 1991: PBHS won 8-4 |
| 1992: Gim won 20-15 |
| 1993: PBHS won 19-17 |
| 1994: PBHS won 11-6 |
| 1995: PBHS won 17-3 |
| 1996: Gim won 18-16 |
| 1997: Gim won 13-10 |
| 1998: PBHS won 16-5 |
| 1999: Gim won 13-6 |
| 2000: PBHS won 15-7 |
| 2001: PBHS won12-3 |
| 2002: Gim won 15-0 |
| 2003: PBHS won 25-6 |
| 2004: Gim won 13-3 |
| 2005: Gim won 22-10 |
| 2006: Gim won 23-17 |
| 2007: Gim won 10-0 |
| 2008: Gim won 35-8 |
| 2009: PBHS won 24-12 |
| 2010: Draw 19-19 |
| 2011: Gim won 22-19 |
| 2012: Gim won 16-9
2013: Gim won 37-26 2014: Gim won 16-15 2015: PBHS won 16-12 2016: PBHS won 26-25 2017: PBHS won 18-13 2018: PBHS won 24-21 2019: Gim won 18-17 |
Season 2022 of the Paarl Boys:
At the Noord-Suid competition, Paarl Boys began their campaign by winning their first game and drawing the next one against a very capable Garsfontein team.
They struggled against a strong Rondebosch squad, but they recovered to triumph in both of their Wildeklawer matches against Monument and Maritzburg College.
A week later, they found themselves in Bloemfontein against a rampant Grey College team.
Despite leading at the break, they were unable to keep up with the Bloem boys and lost that game as a result of Grey’s intense second-half play.
They once more recovered with victories over Bishops and Paul Roos, maintaining their excellent form and demonstrating an upward trend going into the interschools derby.
With their present performance, their players were well-compensated; seven of them were named to the Western Province Craven Week team, and another four were named to the WP XV team.
Matthew Fick, Thurlon Williams, Jameel de Jongh, and Shah-Jehaan de Jongh were four of these players that were a part of the SA Schools and SA Schools ‘A’ squads.
The siblings making these teams is something the De Jongh family can be proud of.
Results thus far:
| Date | Opp | For | Against |
| 2022/03/25 | Menlopark | 31 | 6 |
| 2022/03/28 | Garsfontein | 19 | 19 |
| 2022/04/09 | Oakdale | 22 | 15 |
| 2022/04/14 | Lions Inv | 83 | 0 |
| 2022/04/16 | Helpmekaar | 32 | 16 |
| 2022/04/18 | Hilton | 14 | 5 |
| 2022/04/23 | Rondebosch | 18 | 22 |
| 2022/04/30 | Maritzburg College | 38 | 3 |
| 2022/05/02 | Monument | 27 | 3 |
| 2022/05/14 | Grey College | 12 | 21 |
| 2022/05/21 | Paul Roos | 35 | 15 |
| 2022/05/28 | Bishops | 29 | 7 |
| 2022/06/04 | Wynberg BHS | 42 | 24 |
| 2022/06/11 | Boland Landbou | 48 | 22 |
| 2022/07/23 | SACS | 33 | 11 |
Paarl Gymnasium 2022 season:
Paarl Gim is having a stellar season so far and have only lost two games against Affies and Paul Roos.
Both these losses came as somewhat of an upset, but the games were so close that it could have gone either way.
The Gim team looks fast and slick yet again with a massive pack of forwards and quick backline well directed by their flyhalf, Liam Koen.
They won against a very strong Grey College team and have put 50 points past five of their opponents during the season, they enjoy scoring tries and to keep them from doing so will need a huge defensive effort.
Paarl Gim had five players representing Western Province at Craven Week with a further four being selected for the WP XV. Luca Bakkes, Emrique Liederman, Keanu Coetzee and Daniel Botha all made SA Schools and SA Schools ‘A’ teams.
Results to date:
| Date | Opp | For | Against |
| 2022/03/18 | Stellenberg | 12 | 6 |
| 2022/03/26 | Monument | 42 | 19 |
| 2022/03/29 | Glenwood | 64 | 17 |
| 2022/04/09 | Wynberg BHS | 33 | 14 |
| 2022/04/23 | Affies | 26 | 29 |
| 2022/04/29 | Helpmekaar | 59 | 12 |
| 2022/05/02 | Grey College | 22 | 17 |
| 2022/05/07 | Paul Roos | 24 | 26 |
| 2022/05/14 | Rondebosch | 52 | 21 |
| 2022/05/21 | Boland Landbou | 26 | 21 |
| 2022/06/04 | SACS | 66 | 13 |
| 2022/06/11 | Oakdale | 42 | 10 |
| 2022/07/23 | Bishops | 57 | 26 |
Paarl Boys’ High School plays rugby
The style of life of the Paarl Boys revolves around rugby. Although winning is vital, it shouldn’t be the main goal.
A sportsman may never be mistreated in order to benefit a team.
For both players and coaches, fun must be the main goal at Paarl Boys’ High.
They believe that winning entails more than just putting points on the board, despite the renowned Vince Lombardi’s famous quote, “Winning isn’t everything; it’s the only thing.
“Winning is related to one’s principles, dedication, and desire of excellence.
Since 1906, PBHS has produced 21 players, 19 of whom have earned Test caps for South Africa.
Some of the most well-known Springbok rugby players that have ever donned the green and gold came from them. Oom “Boy” and Fanie Louw, Piet “Spiere” du Toit, Mannetjies Roux, Ryk van Schoor, Carel Du Plessis, and Corné Krige are some examples of players.
Lock Salmaan Moerat, who led the school’s first squad in 2016, and No. 8 Evan Roos, who played for the team in 2018 and scored a memorable try during the interschools match, are their most recent contributors.
Springsboks from Paarl Boys’ High.
| Bok No | Name |
| 112 | Dirkie de Villiers |
| 113 | Cocky Hahn |
| 147 | *Louis Louw |
| 182 | Champion Myburgh |
| 186 | Jack Bester |
| 207 | Boy Louw |
| 222 | Fanie Louw |
| 227 | Manie Geere |
| 247 | Johnny Bester |
| 253 | Ben du Toit |
| 278 | Ryk van Schoor |
| 313 | Theuns Briers |
| 332 | Piet du Toit |
| 367 | Mannetjies Roux |
| 391 | Haas Schoeman |
| 523 | Carel du Plessis |
| 661 | *Wium Basson |
| 676 | Corne Krige |
| 764 | Gurthro Steenkamp |
| 841 | Francois Malherbe |
| 901 | Thomas du Toit |
| 923 | Salmaan Moerat |
| 924 | Evan Roos |
The Springboks also had the legendary “Oom” Boy Louw and Carel du Plessis as coaches.
The only SA Schools captain to also lead the Springboks is still Corné Krige.
Sports at Gim
Unquestionably one of South Africa’s top five rugby academies is Paarl Gim.
Grant Williams is the most recent of the 25 Springboks they have produced to far, out of which 23 have received Test caps for South Africa.
The school introduced rugby in 1902, and in the early years there were no clear age divisions and the program was run like a rugby club, with staff members frequently sporting school uniforms.
The school’s first XV was led by FC Wahl, the headmaster at the time.
Springboks of Paarl Gim
| Bok No | Name |
| 94 | *Japie le Roux |
| 103 | Pietie le Roux |
| 110 | Steve Joubert |
| 195 | Pierre de Villiers |
| 203 | JC van der Westhuizen |
| 301 | Jan Pickard |
| 340 | Hugo van Zyl |
| 398 | Wynand Mans |
| 535 | Schalk Burger snr |
| 552 | Kobus Burger |
| 585 | Kobus Wiese |
| 595 | Balie Swart |
| 625 | Mornay Visser |
| 652 | Pieter Rossouw |
| 690 | De Wet Barry |
| 693 | Louis Koen |
| 699 | *Chris Rossouw |
| 711 | Marius Joubert |
| 735 | Jean de Villiers |
| 754 | Schalk Burger jnr |
| 810 | Ashley Johnson |
| 853 | Lourens Adriaanse |
| 857 | Handré Pollard |
| 891 | Louis Schreuder |
| 929 | Grant Williams |