Kearsney's Simo Mnqokoyi scored against Zimbabwe school Peterhouse in last year's final game of the Kearsney Easter Rugby Festival.
Image: Supplied
Believe it or not, the outbreak of war between the USA and Iran has impacted the Kearsney Easter Rugby Festival (KERF), with Dublin's Catholic University School no longer able to make it to Botha's Hill because their flight to South Africa was scheduled to pass through Dubai.
The festival kicks off on April 2 and concludes on April 6.
Hoērskool Transvalia, from Vanderbijlpark, fills in for the Irish side. They run out onto Stott Field for the first time at 9.20am on Thursday, when they take on Zimbabwe’s Peterhouse. They also face an exciting Kearsney College outfit in a prime slot, 2.20pm, on Saturday, and complete their assignments against Gqeberha’s Framesby in Monday’s first game.
They’re a formidable side based on their 2025 record, which included wins over fellow KERF participants, Dr EG Jansen and Rustenburg, as well as a draw with Noordheuwel, and a narrow 41-43 defeat to Garsfontein.
The three festival play days over Easter weekend are Thursday 2nd, Saturday 4th, and Monday 6th April.
Four U16 girls’ teams will play during lunchtime slots, and 12 primary school teams will also enjoy the excitement of playing festival rugby in front of large crowds on an adjacent field.
As a result of Catholic University School’s withdrawal, some tweaks have been made to the fixture list, including handing one of the newcomers, Helpmekaar Kollege, three tough assignments. They kick off the event at 8am on Thursday, 2 April, against Glenwood High. Then, on Saturday, they tackle Westville Boys' High at 3:40pm in a mouthwatering showdown. Finally, Helpies wrap up their challenge with another big test against Durban High School (DHS) on Easter Monday at 2:20pm.
Both Westville and DHS were unbeaten at KERF in 2025, and they went on to finish as the top two teams in KwaZulu-Natal. Both will be in the running for that accolade in 2026. The hosts have one of the most intriguing teams in the province. They’ve played a couple of games thus far, beating St Charles 60-19with a thrilling display of running rugby before outlasting Glenwood 18-10 in a wet and misty affair in Botha’s Hill.
In flyhalf Daniel Miskey, who guided the Sharks U16 side to the Grant Khomo Week title in 2025 with a beautifully balanced performance, they have one of the most exciting playmakers in the game. But they are far from a one-man band, with plenty of players capable of making a splash.
DHS will be aiming for a third consecutive unbeaten record at KERF. They have become a consistent challenger for the title of top 1st XV in KZN. In 2025, they were second-best to Westville’s unbeaten team, but they were number one in 2024. They are a formidable side with no obvious weaknesses.
Zwartkop are another newcomer. They produced one of the best seasons of any school in South Africa last year, recording 19 victories in 20 matches. They’re a rising power, and their squad includes many players from last year’s successful side.
It will be interesting to see how the participation of five KERF competitors — Zwartkop, EG Jansen, Transvalia, Rustenburg, and Helpmekaar — at the North/South Tournament impacts their performance over the Easter weekend.
A couple of years ago, DHS coach Peter Engledow opted out of the North/South. That decision made a world of difference, keeping his players fresh, fit, and focused. But it could work either way, depending on the team. Those two extra games together could prove to be valuable fine-tuning outings. It’s a fine line that they tread.
KERF 2026 FIXTURES
Day One, Thursday, 2 April
8am: Helpmekaar Kollege vs Glenwood; 9.20am: Transvalia vs Peterhouse; 10.40am: Westville Boys vs Framesby; 1pm: Kearsney College vs Hoērskool Rustenburg; 2.20pm Milnerton vs EG Jansen; 3.40pm Durban High School vs Zwartkop
Day Two, Saturday, 4 April
8am: Peterhouse vs Milnerton; 9.20am: Durban High School vs Hoērskool Rustenburg; 10.40am: Zwartkop vs EG Jansen; 1pm Glenwood vs Framesby; 2.20pm Kearsney vs Transvalia; 3.40pm Westville Boys vs Helpmekaar Kollege
Day Three, Monday, 6 April
8am: Transvalia vs Framesby; 9.20am: Glenwood High vs EG Jansen; 10.40am: Peterhouse vs Rustenburg; 12:50pm: Closing ceremony; 1pm Westville Boys vs Milnerton; 2.20pm: Durban High School vs Helpmekaar Kollege; 3.40pm Kearsney vs Zwartkop