Is South African School Rugby the Secret Behind the Springboks' Success? | Boks Office

[@samuelmidzi8240]

I'm happy Jesse had a BIG moment at RWC. That France game yo.

[@mackyj7801]

In SA even if your not playing rugby your supporting the team, war cries are epic. School boy rugby is a way of life

[@2011hwalker]

Best fast twitch athletes in the UK and France go into soccer. Its pretty simple.

[@jacquescoetzee47]

@@2011hwalker I bet those fast twitch muscles come in handy when you need to service your wife’s boyfriend.

[@seanjohnson5893]

@@2011hwalker Yeah it helps with how quickly they can grab their shin and fall to the ground and shed fake tears.

[@2011hwalker]

@@seanjohnson5893 They make 20-50x rugby salaries so whats your point? Its objectively dumb to play rugby if you can make it as professional football player. Rugby is a niche pastime in most of the world.

[@kletshwene88]

Also shout out to Varsity Cup. That has helped retain the schoolboy rugby talent

[@SeanLarkan]

I was fortunate enough to be at Maritzburg College & play 2 years in the 1st XV but what impressed me at the time was the number & depth of teams & how chuffed everyone was to be in any of those teams - I think I’m correct we had A to E teams in every age group and 12 or 15 teams in the open group; as a 1st team player it was traditional to wander around the school & watch parts of as many of the other matches as possible. We had something like 6 or 7 dedicated rugby fields & dedicated coaches for every level. This was replicated all over the country. A powerful cultural & structural building block. Living in Aus now it’s great to see more & more people of colour attending & benefitting from all this but to reiterate what another reader said, nice to see lesser known ‘rugby’ schools producing terrific talent.

[@apeman2981]

As a Saffa staying in the UK the difference is that rugby is a hobby in the UK and in RSA it's a lifestyle... Many rugby players that play at a club level in the UK do not even have the rugby IQ of an U/16 team in RSA.

[@dantewalters5209]

@HuwEvans. Think it's just too tough for the woke generation growing up in Europe. Even in New Zealand, the white boys are now playing the female version of rugby, which is soccer. That is why player numbers are dwindling, even over there. They are still watching rugby, just not playing it.

[@sandorclegane3658]

​@@dantewalters5209they are switching off, and not watching in NZ. The provinces are all losing money and the stadiums are empty.

[@dantewalters5209]

@HuwEvans. Which other sports? Only soccer is more popular. RWC still the 3rd most watched sporting event in the world, after the Olympics and Soccer world cup. Like I said, Europe has gone soft, perhaps with the exception of France. Here in South Africa, rugby will always be very popular. Kids are not as entitled and spoiled, simply because of the financial situation. Kids are tough out here and absolutely love the game of rugby.

[@bwarrior6340]

@HuwEvans. Rugby is tougher and harder than ever. You just sour.

[@dantewalters5209]

@HuwEvans. Nobody? Bit of an exaggeration, don't you think? Record attendance, record television audience for WC 23 certainly does not suggest that.

[@ryanadams8735]

The thing is, as South Africans from childhood our goal is to be good enough to beat New Zealand. Its not hate, just a rivalry based on respect to be the best. One of the reasons both teams perform in tournaments.

[@CG-or1re]

no doubt those two nations are the true rugby heavyweights

[@JohnTerblanche-l1r]

Not everyone as a young player wants to best nz, unless you have a big rugby crazy family that's probably not your goal. Most kids and teenagers play for passion of the game I would say. It is though an inticing thought to one day play against the ab's.

[@pierrembadenhorstt]

100%

[@juudaimehokagesama]

I have to point out that Boys vs Gim isn't the only Derby in Paarl, or even Faure street. Sure, it's not the focus of as much attention and the quality isn't as high, but the week after Boys v Gim, KNSS (school of Springbok hero Chester Williams) vs NOSS happens in the same stadium, and for the people on the other side of the river it's no smaller an occassion, that half of town also gets divided in two. Siya and the Springboks have shown that rugby is for everyone in SA, let's not write those with less privilege and means out of the story

[@andilengwane3372]

He really did workout in the dark in high school, was in boarding school at the same time as him and I remember asking around as to why there was clanging metal at night in the gym and okes told me it's Jesse in gym 😂dude has always been crazy committed to fitness.

[@gregwoolley6105]

Most of all the belief in abilities. There is no question if you can but how far you can go. Every single boy gets a chance. Even the nerds must play. Schoolboy rugby were amazing times.

[@marietjievandermerwe8189]

It takes a village to raise a child! Thanks for showing appreciation Jesse

[@chrismia2402]

What’s been good to see is that it is no longer an old boys club where only players from 8-10 schools make the Bok team. We seeing new school names entering the mix and making our rugby all the better for it.

[@LittleBigMediaCo]

Schoolboy rugby is definitely a big part of our development, but if you look at schoolboy age group international rugby, we aren't any better than the other top rugby playing countries. What sets us apart though, and really prepares our players for the next level is the rise of Varsity Cup rugby. Previously there were a lot more players lost to the game when they finished school, and also the step up from 1st team school rugby to club rugby in my era was a massive leap - not a nice gradual path. I went school to club, and getting hammered by Kobus Wiese, Balie Swart, Ian McDonald, etc at training was intense.

[@jacqloock]

I think you are wrong for the reason the quality in depth resulting from countrywide talent ID and coaching at school level only really shows from the mid-twenties onwards. Because people mature at different rates and what makes a good pro is different from that which makes a good schools player. Shocking to discover how many Boks didn’t even play first team at school or didn’t make Craven week.

[@LittleBigMediaCo]

@@jacqloockThis discussion was weeks ago. You're entitled to your opinion, but I disagree.

[@RedLorryYellowLorry_]

In SA, Rugby is taken seriously at all levels from Schools, Varsity, Semi-Pro, and Provincial. Some of the Schools and semi-pro teams pull more spectator numbers than Provincial teams

[@mikezog1030]

Having travelled pretty extensively and lived in SA, NZ and Australia, I reckon the SA school system is the best. NZ second and Australia a distant third.

[@nathanielb534]

I’m from groote schuur high 10th grade and my school is next to rondobosch and bischops and my coach is trying to join us onto to the super league against the schools u mentioned and I hope one day soon I’ll get a sponsor or a scout so I can join one of these rugby schools I think I worked hard it’s just we are not being recognised one day.

[@gregwoolley6105]

It was compulsory at most boys schools. How can it not be the base?

[@chloevanrooyen1596]

LOVE❤ YOU GUYS 🤗AND VERY GRATEFUL FOR YOU'S ❤❤❤

[@williammthiyane1104]

As a Maritzburg College old boy myself, I remember my first year learning how to play rugby (U14F). 1st team players would come and watch encourages us the same way that we would as a school, when it was their game. It baffled me at first, since in my mind then, I thought only A-Team players associated with 1st Team players like that. It turns out that in rugby, everybody associates with everyone. I've loved rugby ever since.

[@silvertongue3003]

I’m built huge, so when I dared to tell my teacher in grade 8 that I don’t feel like playing rugby anymore, I was simply explained to that only sissies do other sports in front of all the other kids after which I obviously had to change my mind.

[@johanstruwig3815]

I understand the the reasons why they say schoolboy rugby is so strong in South Africa, and that it eventually have an effect senior rugby and the strength of Springbok rugby. But before the 2019 SA dropped to nr 7 in the rankings. The Boks even lost against the AB's at North Harbour stadium 57 - 0. I was there, it was painful to watch. School boy rugby was strong at that stage as well.

[@Infrontheside1]

Allister Coetzee

[@stevenwortrich6014]

The difference between SA schools and the rest of the world, can be summed up in one word " Gees " . Having lived in UK for a decade, I have tried to explain the meaning and its depth within the school philosophy and beyond............Its lost!

[@2011hwalker]

Its also that the best athletes in the UK become focused on football from an early age. Why aspire to play professional rugby for GBP 200,000 a year (if you are very lucky) when you can earn that *per week* as a football player?!?

[@dantewalters5209]

@@2011hwalker think I explained that to you. Rugby remains the superior sport through the eyes of most men. They just don't have the courage to play it. Football is the female version of rugby.

[@2011hwalker]

@@dantewalters5209lol Football is the worlds game-its participants are idolized by billions. You know what is superior in modern society, having a mansion paid in full versus scrounging around for money at 35 as retire from rugby with a broken body

[@dantewalters5209]

@@2011hwalker It's the world's game, because everyone can play it. I don't respect football as a sport, because of it's hooligan fan culture and players who need to cheat for half of the game to get the edge. Each to his own however. I am glad to be a rugby ex player and full-time fan.

[@Faust_ZA]

School rugby is important we have our rivalries like my School Northcliff has it against Randpark thats always the biggest one

[@2011hwalker]

Saffas don't fully grasp that rugby is a second or third tier sport in every other country on the planet apart from NZ and SA. Its quite fringe in most cultures. The top young athletes (the kids who are the fastest, with best coordination or leaping ability) in the UK, France, Argentina etc inevitably become focused on football from an early age. Why aspire to play professional rugby for GBP 200,000 a year (if you are very lucky) when you can earn that *per week* as a football player?!?

[@sivexanga7661]

Well done to our schools Mzantsi.

[@antslim168]

In RSA, rugby is a religion

[@12334ttqtqt]

Jessie still remembering the 🔴⚫⚪.... "Boys of College when we play....

[@johannlee732]

Shimmy is gonna rust...he is drinking too much water...

[@jcgeldenhuys2084]

Where did our friend go saying we use steriods? Can dish but not take?

[@kb8796]

Shimi why are you banned from Uber

[@craigharrison9828]

I have been in uk 22 years. The rugby clubs here do not know how to coach kids. I have been to many clubs and have left. I have offered free coaching at my sons schools and i was askes to produce a UK training certificate. My response was ' your certificates are not worth the ink its printed on. " Coaches here have zero understanding about training kids. As a result, I am relocating to the motherland, i breed men, that need to be in an alpha male 4 x WCR environment. Not a zero discipline schooling, over weight, ipad mind set environment.

[@frederiquecouture3924]

Springfield.

[@joliemome8787]

No !! They just need a good referee, if you see what I mean.

[@lungabiyela9081]

Springbok caps won by Kingswood College Old Boys since 1933? ONE. World Cup titles won by St Andrew's Old Boys? Zero.

[@markwairepo2871]

Because of all the steroid abuse.....?.

[@rianpp3696]

What ?

[@Darren_S]

4 more years of salt 😂😂😂

[@wezvandez]

South Africa has 100s of thousands of registered rugby players, far more than any other country...trying to control any sort of substance abuse is almost impossible, but South Africa DOES TEST, and any schoolboy who tries to get away with it will eventually be found out if they are actually any good. Very few countries actively test because of the high costs involved, in fact New Zealand no longer test because of the costs.

[@markwairepo2871]

@@Darren_S you cant count mate, its less than that, but hey maybe reading is hard for you with the lights out.....

[@Darren_S]

@@markwairepo2871 Ah shame! So you want to get pedantic. Only 3 years and a few months to be salty, okay? 😂

[@Fighting_Irish184]

Drugs

[@rianpp3696]

Huh

[@Davidvx1468]

Stupid

[@Darren_S]

Mr. Quarter Final 😂😂😂

[@MrSocialPirate]

I played at university in the UK, after school boy in SA. Steroid and all manner of PEDs as well as "Party" drugs were rampant within the Rugby program at university without a single drug test in sight throughout the season. Where as at school boy level in SA we got tested at least every three weeks in season.

[@MrSocialPirate]

@HuwEvans. I am aware that my personal experience is anecdotal at best. I would, however, be very surprised if the schools mentioned in this episode are the current offenders. Like I said in my previous reply, we were tested thoroughly - a positive test even for some flu medication would land you in deep trouble. A positive for PED would lead to an expulsion from school.

[@Waywind420]

I think a fair amount of springbok success can also be put down to just good fortune at tournaments. They won two world cup finals without even scoring a try 😆 1995 World cup the all blacks were probably poisoned/ infected 2007 They went through a relatively easy route of Fiji, Argentina and England to win the WC 2019 They went through an even easier route of Japan, Wales and England to win the WC 2023 Barely managed to hold off an All Blacks team with only 14 guys They're always rock solid though and that's what matters, doing everything you can to be in the right place at the right time with the right circumstances.

[@acadoe]

I'm so tired of this idea of lucky Boks being the reason we won. The Boks have won half of the WC's they have competed in..... HALF! That is either ridiculous luck or we are actually just fucking good. Also, look further than the WC and in the history of the sport, only NZ is comparable in overall success of their national team. I guess it was luck that saw us dominate rugby (with NZ) for all those decades past.

[@Waywind420]

​@@acadoe You can hate it all you want but facts are facts. 1995, 2007 and 2019 are all relatively easy runs in terms of the opposition the boks had to deal with. Though I will say beating England in 2019 was very impressive, England was a very good team at that time. They've lost a pool game in the last 3 world cup tournaments but gone on to win 2 of them, it's not like they are dominating from start to finish, they are outlasting the others instead. Do you think the boks would have beat a 15-man All Blacks team in last years final? because 14 all blacks looked a notch above them for most of that game

[@acadoe]

@@Waywind420 easy runs is not a fact, it's an opinion. Also, are you denying that the Boks are historically the strongest rugby nation, together with NZ? Strange that such a strong side is only successful because of luck.

[@nice1256]

​@@Waywind420Wouldn't say a whole notch. Not even half a notch. They just scored a try. So what? It didn't win the match. Point is don't spot the boks pieces in finals. NZ think they are Paul Morphy or something.

[@RealAfricanDude]

Always excuses. You just can't admit that we're good.

[@rbjohmson77]

The secret to the Springbok's success is to play as little rugby as possible. Not a fan.

[@TheThinkingMathematician]

You do realize that was NZ and not the mighty BOKS?

[@Ivan_Botha]

Gay man’s opinion

[@Jamesschlebusch]

Just another sour man. Its like the F1, Vestappen dominating and now its the most boring sport in the world for the UK because their poster boy is nowhere.

[@johanwest391]

Our are though grapes?

[@dantewalters5209]

So defence, the hardest part of the game, is not playing rugby? GTFO!