The 2026 season has entered its most relentless stretch, aptly dubbed “April Madness,” where the true mettle of South Africa’s elite programs is being tested across back-to-back festivals and high-stakes provincial clashes.
In a month that has seen teams cramming up to nine fixtures into a five-week window, the latest movement in the rankings tells a story of survival, conditioning, and significant shifts in the national pecking order.
THE STEADY TOP 5 🔒
The absolute elite tier remains locked this week, showing the incredible consistency of these programs despite a punishing schedule. Stellenberg remains out front, still riding the massive momentum of their historic “triple crown” of victories over Paarl Gim, Grey College, and Paul Roos earlier this month.
MAJOR CLIMBERS 📈
This week belongs to the “Red Black and White.” Maritzburg College is the undisputed story of the Top 10, surging seven places after a display of grit and defensive excellence.
- Maritzburg College: Jumped 7 places from 13th to 6th.
- Outeniqua: A strong climb of 4 places, moving from 12th to 8th.
- Northwood: Gained 2 places, moving from 15th to 13th.
- Oakdale: Moved up 1 spot to 15th.
- Waterkloof: A new entry into the Top 20, jumping into 19th.
THE SLIDERS 📉
The intensity of the Easter festivals and recent inter-school derbies has claimed some casualties, with several traditional giants sliding down the ladder as the margins for error disappear.
- Westville: Suffered the most significant drop at the top end, falling 5 places from 7th to 12th.
- DHS: Dropped 5 places, moving from 6th to 11th.
- Affies: Fell 3 places, sliding from 11th to 14th.
- Rondebosch: Dropped 2 places from 14th to 16th.
- Paarl Boys High and Michaelhouse: Both slipped 1 spot respectively.
- Durbanville: Fell out of the Top 20 entirely (previously 19th).
“Maritzburg College is on fire right now, and welcome to the party, Waterkloof!” – Jay | JPS
With the Easter Festivals at Kearsney, St John’s, and KES now behind us, the focus shifts to the grueling league season and upcoming winter derbies. With depth being tested like never before, these rankings remain a volatile barometer of who can sustain excellence under extreme pressure.
📊 HOW THIS LIST IS COMPILED?
- The calculation is widely recognised as the gold standard in South Africa, providing a realistic reflection of the current field.
- Compiled by the Editor of SA School Sports, the Fairtree rankings use a 20-year-old formula that balances strength of opposition, points scored, match results, and margins.
- Early-season anomalies are natural due to limited fixtures but iron themselves out as more games are played.
📋 THE TOP 200 1ST RUGBY TEAMS | DATE 20 APRIL 2026
| Rank | Team | Played | Points |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | STELLENBERG | 6 | 20.983 |
| 2 | PAARL GIM | 6 | 20.967 |
| 3 | PAUL ROOS GYM | 6 | 19.783 |
| 4 | GREY COLLEGE | 7 | 18.929 |
| 5 | GARSFONTEIN | 5 | 18.660 |
| 6 | MARITZBURG COLLEGE | 5 | 18.000 |
| 7 | HILTON COLLEGE | 4 | 17.925 |
| 8 | OUTENIQUA | 7 | 17.900 |
| 9 | PAARL BOYS HIGH | 5 | 17.880 |
| 10 | MICHAELHOUSE | 5 | 17.840 |
| 11 | DHS | 7 | 17.614 |
| 12 | WESTVILLE | 7 | 17.600 |
| 13 | NORTHWOOD | 6 | 17.283 |
| 14 | AFFIES | 8 | 17.013 |
| 15 | OAKDALE | 6 | 16.650 |
| 16 | RONDEBOSCH | 5 | 16.300 |
| 17 | MONUMENT | 6 | 16.150 |
| 18 | HELPMEKAAR | 7 | 16.043 |
| 19 | WATERKLOOF | 7 | 15.743 |
| 20 | MENLOPARK | 7 | 15.286 |
| 21 | KEARSNEY COLLEGE | 4 | 15.175 |
| 22 | JEPPE | 9 | 15.156 |
| 23 | DURBANVILLE | 6 | 15.133 |
| 24 | GRAEME COLLEGE | 6 | 14.900 |
| 25 | WYNBERG | 5 | 14.700 |
| 26 | GREY HIGH SCHOOL | 5 | 14.100 |
| 27 | SACS | 6 | 13.500 |
| 28 | KES | 6 | 13.433 |
| 29 | HTS DROSTDY | 7 | 13.043 |
| 30 | BOLAND LANDBOU | 5 | 12.840 |
| 31 | ZWARTKOP | 11 | 12.273 |
| 32 | DIAMANTVELD | 7 | 12.257 |
| 33 | NOORDHEUWEL | 7 | 12.243 |
| 34 | PRETORIA BOYS HIGH | 6 | 12.150 |
| 35 | KINGSWOOD COLLEGE | 5 | 12.040 |
| 36 | PEARSON | 6 | 12.017 |
| 37 | RUSTENBURG | 9 | 11.822 |
| 38 | BISHOPS | 4 | 11.650 |
| 39 | CHARLIE HOFMEYR | 7 | 11.543 |
| 40 | PIETERSBURG | 7 | 11.471 |
| 41 | QUEENS COLLEGE | 7 | 11.443 |
| 42 | ST JOHNS COLLEGE | 10 | 11.440 |
| 43 | DALE COLLEGE | 5 | 11.340 |
| 44 | CORNWALL HILL | 6 | 11.017 |
| 45 | MIDSTREAM | 6 | 10.983 |
| 46 | KLERKSDORP | 5 | 10.980 |
| 47 | BEN VORSTER | 5 | 10.960 |
| 48 | SELBORNE COLLEGE | 6 | 10.950 |
| 49 | HTS MIDDELBURG | 7 | 10.914 |
| 50 | KEMPTON PARK | 9 | 10.833 |
| 51 | EG JANSEN | 9 | 10.778 |
| 52 | FRAMESBY | 9 | 10.611 |
| 53 | HEIDELBERG VOLKIES | 7 | 10.600 |
| 54 | ST STITHIANS | 5 | 10.540 |
| 55 | MARLOW | 7 | 10.514 |
| 56 | HUDSON PARK | 7 | 10.271 |
| 57 | TRIO | 7 | 10.229 |
| 58 | MONTANA PTA | 6 | 10.083 |
| 59 | MIDDELBURG HS | 9 | 9.944 |
| 60 | CENTURION | 7 | 9.943 |
| 61 | ROBERTSON | 8 | 9.875 |
| 62 | GLENWOOD | 8 | 9.863 |
| 63 | TRANSVALIA | 9 | 9.744 |
| 64 | ST CHARLES COLLEGE | 4 | 9.725 |
| 65 | PAREL VALLEI | 5 | 9.660 |
| 66 | BOSMANSDAM | 9 | 9.389 |
| 67 | DIE BRANDWAG | 7 | 9.314 |
| 68 | WILGERIVIER | 4 | 9.200 |
| 69 | NELSPRUIT | 7 | 9.200 |
| 70 | LINDEN | 4 | 9.175 |
| 71 | MILNERTON | 8 | 9.000 |
| 72 | ST ANDREWS COLLEGE | 4 | 8.850 |
| 73 | DINAMIKA | 5 | 8.840 |
| 74 | NICO MALAN | 7 | 8.829 |
| 75 | RANDBURG | 5 | 8.780 |
| 76 | UNION HS | 7 | 8.729 |
| 77 | UPLANDS COLLEGE | 4 | 8.725 |
| 78 | ST JOHNS ZIM | 4 | 8.725 |
| 79 | WESVALIA | 7 | 8.614 |
| 80 | SENTRAAL | 9 | 8.556 |
| 81 | BERGSIG | 4 | 8.550 |
| 82 | SECUNDA | 4 | 8.550 |
| 83 | PETERHOUSE ZIM | 3 | 8.533 |
| 84 | ST ALBANS COLLEGE | 4 | 8.475 |
| 85 | ST DAVIDS INANDA | 6 | 8.467 |
| 86 | OOS-MOOT | 6 | 8.333 |
| 87 | MELKBOSSTRAND | 7 | 8.314 |
| 88 | PARKTOWN | 8 | 8.300 |
| 89 | POTCH VOLKSKOOL | 6 | 8.267 |
| 90 | MERENSKY | 5 | 8.260 |
| 91 | PIET RETIEF | 6 | 8.233 |
| 92 | UPINGTON | 6 | 8.200 |
| 93 | JIM FOUCHE | 7 | 8.129 |
| 94 | BRANDWAG | 8 | 8.112 |
| 95 | WAGPOS | 8 | 8.088 |
| 96 | DF MALHERBE | 6 | 8.017 |
| 97 | TYGERBERG | 6 | 8.000 |
| 98 | FICHARDTPARK | 7 | 7.986 |
| 99 | HUGENOTE WELLINGTON | 6 | 7.983 |
| 100 | LICHTENBURG | 6 | 7.983 |
| 101 | ST ANDREWS SCHOOL | 4 | 7.900 |
| 102 | VOLKSKOOL GR | 6 | 7.783 |
| 103 | KALAHARI | 6 | 7.717 |
| 104 | BERGSIG UITENHAGE | 5 | 7.700 |
| 105 | PORTERVILLE | 7 | 7.671 |
| 106 | DANIEL PIENAAR | 7 | 7.657 |
| 107 | CLIFTON | 4 | 7.650 |
| 108 | BRACKENFELL | 8 | 7.525 |
| 109 | HTS BELLVILLE | 6 | 7.500 |
| 110 | SWARTLAND | 8 | 7.500 |
| 111 | OVERBERG | 7 | 7.443 |
| 112 | STIRLING | 7 | 7.443 |
| 113 | POTCH GIM | 6 | 7.417 |
| 114 | HUGENOTE SPRINGS | 4 | 7.375 |
| 115 | BERGVLAM | 5 | 7.360 |
| 116 | BELLVILLE | 7 | 7.329 |
| 117 | LANGENHOVEN GIM | 6 | 7.167 |
| 118 | DUINEVELD | 6 | 7.150 |
| 119 | WELKOM GIM | 8 | 7.150 |
| 120 | NORTHCLIFF | 5 | 7.120 |
| 121 | ALEXANDER ROAD | 6 | 7.100 |
| 122 | RIEBEECKSRAND | 3 | 7.033 |
| 123 | OUDTSHOORN | 10 | 6.920 |
| 124 | OTTO DU PLESSIS | 7 | 6.900 |
| 125 | ANDREW RABIE | 11 | 6.836 |
| 126 | HENTIE CILLIERS | 5 | 6.820 |
| 127 | CURRO HAZELDEAN | 6 | 6.750 |
| 128 | SOMERSET COLLEGE | 4 | 6.750 |
| 129 | TOM NAUDE | 9 | 6.711 |
| 130 | PORT REX | 8 | 6.688 |
| 131 | THOMAS MORE COLLEGE | 6 | 6.683 |
| 132 | ERASMUS | 3 | 6.633 |
| 133 | ST BENEDICTS | 4 | 6.600 |
| 134 | MARAIS VILJOEN | 5 | 6.540 |
| 135 | GEORGE HS | 4 | 6.500 |
| 136 | OVERKRUIN | 5 | 6.480 |
| 137 | CAMPS BAY | 3 | 6.467 |
| 138 | ELDORAIGNE | 6 | 6.467 |
| 139 | LABORI | 5 | 6.420 |
| 140 | HOPEFIELD | 7 | 6.400 |
| 141 | PRETORIA NOORD | 5 | 6.300 |
| 142 | BASTION | 4 | 6.275 |
| 143 | MUIR COLLEGE | 6 | 6.233 |
| 144 | BEN VILJOEN | 5 | 6.220 |
| 145 | ALBERTON HS | 6 | 6.200 |
| 146 | SASOLBURG HS | 6 | 6.183 |
| 147 | MONTAGU | 10 | 6.170 |
| 148 | LEEUWENHOF | 7 | 6.143 |
| 149 | ERMELO | 6 | 6.133 |
| 150 | HOOGENHOUT | 4 | 6.025 |
| 151 | DRIEHOEK | 3 | 6.000 |
| 152 | POINT | 6 | 6.000 |
| 153 | CAMBRIDGE | 6 | 5.950 |
| 154 | DF AKADEMIE | 5 | 5.940 |
| 155 | VOORTREKKER BETH | 6 | 5.933 |
| 156 | BLOEMFONTEIN SS | 4 | 5.850 |
| 157 | VREDENDAL | 4 | 5.850 |
| 158 | AUGSBURG | 5 | 5.840 |
| 159 | HTS WITBANK | 5 | 5.820 |
| 160 | GILL COLLEGE | 6 | 5.767 |
| 161 | WINDHOEK GIM | 4 | 5.700 |
| 162 | WORCESTER GYM | 6 | 5.667 |
| 163 | WITTEBERG | 8 | 5.563 |
| 164 | HANS STRIJDOM | 3 | 5.467 |
| 165 | ELLISRAS | 5 | 5.440 |
| 166 | HOTTENTOTS HOLLAND | 6 | 5.433 |
| 167 | HOOPSTAD | 8 | 5.400 |
| 168 | STRAND | 8 | 5.400 |
| 169 | HERMANUS | 5 | 5.360 |
| 170 | OOSKUS GIM | 7 | 5.343 |
| 171 | ST DECLANS | 3 | 5.267 |
| 172 | DE AAR | 3 | 5.267 |
| 173 | GOUDVELD | 6 | 5.267 |
| 174 | TUINE | 5 | 5.260 |
| 175 | PENRYN COLLEGE | 6 | 5.250 |
| 176 | BOTHAVILLE | 8 | 5.163 |
| 177 | SAO BRAS | 3 | 5.133 |
| 178 | SPRINGS BOYS | 8 | 5.038 |
| 179 | JAKES GERWEL | 7 | 4.957 |
| 180 | WESTERING | 7 | 4.957 |
| 181 | KATHU | 3 | 4.867 |
| 182 | EDGEMEAD | 5 | 4.700 |
| 183 | LIGBRON | 4 | 4.700 |
| 184 | CURRO DURBANVILLE | 3 | 4.667 |
| 185 | KNYSNA | 5 | 4.620 |
| 186 | LUTZVILLE | 6 | 4.567 |
| 187 | WONDERBOOM | 6 | 4.567 |
| 188 | WESSEL MAREE | 3 | 4.533 |
| 189 | FERRUM | 10 | 4.530 |
| 190 | BREDASDORP | 6 | 4.350 |
| 191 | ROB FERREIRA | 5 | 4.320 |
| 192 | VRYBURG | 6 | 4.317 |
| 193 | RAND PARK | 6 | 4.300 |
| 194 | CURRO HEUWELKRUIN | 4 | 4.150 |
| 195 | LANDBOUDAL | 6 | 4.150 |
| 196 | GLENWOOD HOUSE | 3 | 4.133 |
| 197 | DIE ANKER | 8 | 4.087 |
| 198 | WOODRIDGE COLLEGE | 4 | 4.000 |
| 199 | YORK | 5 | 3.920 |
| 200 | DE VILLIERS GRAAFF | 3 | 3.833 |
🔥 WE WANT TO HEAR FROM YOU! 🔥
👇 Drop your personal Top 20 in the comments below!
🗣️ Let’s see who you think is really ruling the turf! 🏉💨
📸 Photos via Ashley Vlotman / Gallo Images
