The hierarchy of South African schoolboy rugby has shifted at the Fairtree Rankings to the latest Fairtree First XV Rankings, Stellenberg High School has moved into the number one spot, edging out Paul Roos Gymnasium to lead the pack.
This isn’t a result of luck; it is a clinical climb based on a demanding schedule and high-level execution against quality opposition.
Stellenberg has navigated five matches with the kind of tactical precision required to displace the traditional heavyweights. Their recent 20-10 victory over Paul Roos Gymnasium—after trailing at the break—served as the definitive catalyst for this ascent.
While the big-name schools usually dominate the conversation, the Durbanville outfit has forced the narrative in their direction. These rankings, processed by SA School Sports, move beyond a simple win-loss record. By factoring in strength of schedule and point margins, the data confirms that Stellenberg’s current position is mathematically sound, holding an average of 21.060.
The chasing pack remains within striking distance. Paarl Gim and Paul Roos Gym occupy the second and third spots respectively, both having completed five fixtures.
Grey College currently sits in fourth after six matches, while Garsfontein and DHS remain high in the mix. The Western Cape continues to hold the highest concentration of power in the top ten, but the depth across the country is evident as KZN’s Hilton and Michaelhouse maintain their pressure.
The season is entering its most grueling phase, where depth and consistency will be tested. Stellenberg now carries the target on their back, and with the margin for error virtually zero, the upcoming fixtures will determine if they can consolidate this lead. For now, they are the team to beat.
“What a massive statement from Stellenberg to leapfrog the traditional giants and claim that top spot.” – Jay | JPS
HOW THIS LIST IS COMPILED?
The calculation is widely recognized 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. (‼️ PLEASE NOTE THAT ONLY TEAMS WITH AT LEAST THREE MATCHES ARE INCLUDED.)
These rankings are not a traditional league table. With teams playing varied fixtures across the country, factors such as strength of opposition, match results, and winning margins all play a crucial role in shaping the standings.
TOP 200 1ST XV RANKINGS
| Rank | Team | Played | Points |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | STELLENBERG | 5 | 21.060 |
| 2 | PAARL GIM | 5 | 20.960 |
| 3 | PAUL ROOS GYM | 5 | 19.880 |
| 4 | GREY COLLEGE | 6 | 19.517 |
| 5 | GARSFONTEIN | 4 | 18.225 |
| 6 | DHS | 6 | 18.100 |
| 7 | WESTVILLE | 6 | 18.050 |
| 8 | HILTON COLLEGE | 4 | 17.925 |
| 9 | MICHAELHOUSE | 5 | 17.840 |
| 10 | PAARL BOYS HIGH | 4 | 17.575 |
| 11 | AFFIES | 7 | 17.357 |
| 12 | OUTENIQUA | 6 | 17.350 |
| 13 | MARITZBURG COLLEGE | 4 | 17.350 |
| 14 | RONDEBOSCH | 4 | 16.850 |
| 15 | NORTHWOOD | 5 | 16.680 |
| 16 | OAKDALE | 5 | 16.300 |
| 17 | MONUMENT | 6 | 16.150 |
| 18 | HELPMEKAAR | 7 | 16.043 |
| 19 | DURBANVILLE | 5 | 16.000 |
| 20 | MENLOPARK | 6 | 15.733 |
| 21 | WATERKLOOF | 6 | 15.583 |
| 22 | GRAEME COLLEGE | 5 | 15.440 |
| 23 | KEARSNEY COLLEGE | 4 | 15.175 |
| 24 | KES | 5 | 14.740 |
| 25 | WYNBERG | 4 | 14.650 |
| 26 | JEPPE | 8 | 14.538 |
| 27 | GREY HIGH SCHOOL | 4 | 13.950 |
| 28 | PRETORIA BOYS HIGH | 5 | 13.500 |
| 29 | PEARSON | 5 | 13.460 |
| 30 | HTS DROSTDY | 7 | 13.043 |
| 31 | SACS | 5 | 12.900 |
| 32 | ZWARTKOP | 10 | 12.370 |
| 33 | BISHOPS | 3 | 12.367 |
| 34 | DIAMANTVELD | 6 | 12.233 |
| 35 | KINGSWOOD COLLEGE | 5 | 12.040 |
| 36 | PIETERSBURG | 6 | 12.033 |
| 37 | RUSTENBURG | 8 | 11.838 |
| 38 | QUEENS COLLEGE | 6 | 11.550 |
| 39 | BEN VORSTER | 4 | 11.550 |
| 40 | NOORDHEUWEL | 6 | 11.433 |
| 41 | CHARLIE HOFMEYR | 6 | 11.317 |
| 42 | KEMPTON PARK | 8 | 11.038 |
| 43 | CORNWALL HILL | 6 | 11.017 |
| 44 | KLERKSDORP | 5 | 10.980 |
| 45 | MONTANA PTA | 5 | 10.960 |
| 46 | MIDSTREAM | 5 | 10.900 |
| 47 | FRAMESBY | 8 | 10.825 |
| 48 | BOLAND LANDBOU | 4 | 10.825 |
| 49 | ST JOHNS COLLEGE | 7 | 10.671 |
| 50 | ST STITHIANS | 5 | 10.540 |
| 51 | HEIDELBERG VOLKIES | 6 | 10.517 |
| 52 | HTS MIDDELBURG | 6 | 10.517 |
| 53 | HUDSON PARK | 6 | 10.500 |
| 54 | DALE COLLEGE | 4 | 10.375 |
| 55 | TRIO | 6 | 10.317 |
| 56 | EG JANSEN | 8 | 10.200 |
| 57 | NELSPRUIT | 6 | 10.150 |
| 58 | ROBERTSON | 6 | 10.133 |
| 59 | MIDDELBURG HS | 8 | 9.975 |
| 60 | CENTURION | 7 | 9.943 |
| 61 | GLENWOOD | 8 | 9.863 |
| 62 | PAREL VALLEI | 4 | 9.800 |
| 63 | SELBORNE COLLEGE | 5 | 9.780 |
| 64 | MARLOW | 6 | 9.750 |
| 65 | ST CHARLES COLLEGE | 4 | 9.725 |
| 66 | RANDBURG | 4 | 9.400 |
| 67 | DIE BRANDWAG | 7 | 9.314 |
| 68 | TRANSVALIA | 8 | 9.238 |
| 69 | LINDEN | 3 | 9.200 |
| 70 | WESVALIA | 6 | 9.067 |
| 71 | MILNERTON | 7 | 8.986 |
| 72 | UPLANDS COLLEGE | 4 | 8.950 |
| 73 | LYDENBURG | 3 | 8.933 |
| 74 | BOSMANSDAM | 7 | 8.871 |
| 75 | ST ANDREWS COLLEGE | 4 | 8.850 |
| 76 | WILGERIVIER | 5 | 8.800 |
| 77 | SENTRAAL | 8 | 8.788 |
| 78 | UNION HS | 6 | 8.783 |
| 79 | ST JOHNS ZIM | 4 | 8.725 |
| 80 | LICHTENBURG | 5 | 8.640 |
| 81 | NICO MALAN | 6 | 8.617 |
| 82 | BERGSIG | 4 | 8.550 |
| 83 | SECUNDA | 4 | 8.550 |
| 84 | PETERHOUSE ZIM | 3 | 8.533 |
| 85 | ST ALBANS COLLEGE | 4 | 8.475 |
| 86 | ST DAVIDS INANDA | 6 | 8.467 |
| 87 | MELKBOSSTRAND | 6 | 8.433 |
| 88 | FICHARDTPARK | 6 | 8.433 |
| 89 | DF MALHERBE | 5 | 8.360 |
| 90 | DINAMIKA | 4 | 8.350 |
| 91 | TYGERBERG | 5 | 8.340 |
| 92 | UPINGTON | 5 | 8.320 |
| 93 | MERENSKY | 5 | 8.260 |
| 94 | HUGENOTE WELLINGTON | 5 | 8.200 |
| 95 | JIM FOUCHE | 6 | 8.117 |
| 96 | BRANDWAG | 8 | 8.112 |
| 97 | PARKTOWN | 7 | 8.014 |
| 98 | PORTERVILLE | 5 | 7.960 |
| 99 | KALAHARI | 5 | 7.940 |
| 100 | ST ANDREWS SCHOOL | 4 | 7.900 |
| 101 | OOS-MOOT | 5 | 7.900 |
| 102 | HENTIE CILLIERS | 4 | 7.850 |
| 103 | WAGPOS | 7 | 7.829 |
| 104 | VOLKSKOOL GR | 6 | 7.783 |
| 105 | CLIFTON | 4 | 7.650 |
| 106 | BERGSIG UITENHAGE | 4 | 7.525 |
| 107 | SWARTLAND | 8 | 7.500 |
| 108 | NORTHCLIFF | 4 | 7.500 |
| 109 | POTCH VOLKSKOOL | 5 | 7.460 |
| 110 | STIRLING | 7 | 7.443 |
| 111 | THOMAS MORE COLLEGE | 5 | 7.440 |
| 112 | DUINEVELD | 5 | 7.420 |
| 113 | HUGENOTE SPRINGS | 4 | 7.375 |
| 114 | BERGVLAM | 5 | 7.360 |
| 115 | CURRO HAZELDEAN | 5 | 7.320 |
| 116 | BRACKENFELL | 7 | 7.300 |
| 117 | OTTO DU PLESSIS | 6 | 7.267 |
| 118 | PIET RETIEF | 5 | 7.240 |
| 119 | OVERBERG | 6 | 7.233 |
| 120 | PORT REX | 7 | 7.129 |
| 121 | HTS BELLVILLE | 4 | 7.100 |
| 122 | RIEBEECKSRAND | 3 | 7.033 |
| 123 | BELLVILLE | 6 | 7.033 |
| 124 | ELDORAIGNE | 5 | 7.000 |
| 125 | VREDENDAL | 3 | 6.933 |
| 126 | DANIEL PIENAAR | 6 | 6.883 |
| 127 | MONTAGU | 8 | 6.813 |
| 128 | WELKOM GIM | 7 | 6.800 |
| 129 | SOMERSET COLLEGE | 4 | 6.750 |
| 130 | TOM NAUDE | 8 | 6.675 |
| 131 | POTCH GIM | 5 | 6.660 |
| 132 | ERASMUS | 3 | 6.633 |
| 133 | ST BENEDICTS | 4 | 6.600 |
| 134 | ALEXANDER ROAD | 5 | 6.580 |
| 135 | MARAIS VILJOEN | 5 | 6.540 |
| 136 | GEORGE HS | 4 | 6.500 |
| 137 | OVERKRUIN | 5 | 6.480 |
| 138 | LABORI | 4 | 6.450 |
| 139 | OUDTSHOORN | 9 | 6.367 |
| 140 | ANDREW RABIE | 10 | 6.340 |
| 141 | PRETORIA NOORD | 5 | 6.300 |
| 142 | HOPEFIELD | 6 | 6.283 |
| 143 | HOTTENTOTS HOLLAND | 5 | 6.260 |
| 144 | LANGENHOVEN GIM | 5 | 6.240 |
| 145 | MUIR COLLEGE | 6 | 6.233 |
| 146 | BEN VILJOEN | 5 | 6.220 |
| 147 | ALBERTON HS | 6 | 6.200 |
| 148 | SASOLBURG HS | 5 | 6.180 |
| 149 | HOOGENHOUT | 4 | 6.025 |
| 150 | DF AKADEMIE | 4 | 6.000 |
| 151 | LEEUWENHOF | 7 | 5.943 |
| 152 | VOORTREKKER BETH | 5 | 5.840 |
| 153 | ERMELO | 6 | 5.817 |
| 154 | POINT | 5 | 5.720 |
| 155 | WINDHOEK GIM | 4 | 5.700 |
| 156 | AUGSBURG | 4 | 5.675 |
| 157 | STRAND | 7 | 5.614 |
| 158 | GILL COLLEGE | 5 | 5.580 |
| 159 | HANS STRIJDOM | 3 | 5.467 |
| 160 | ELLISRAS | 5 | 5.440 |
| 161 | BLOEMFONTEIN SS | 3 | 5.400 |
| 162 | HERMANUS | 5 | 5.360 |
| 163 | OOSKUS GIM | 6 | 5.350 |
| 164 | WITTEBERG | 7 | 5.314 |
| 165 | WORCESTER GYM | 5 | 5.300 |
| 166 | BASTION | 3 | 5.267 |
| 167 | DE AAR | 3 | 5.267 |
| 168 | TUINE | 5 | 5.260 |
| 169 | PENRYN COLLEGE | 6 | 5.250 |
| 170 | EDGEMEAD | 4 | 5.200 |
| 171 | SAO BRAS | 3 | 5.133 |
| 172 | GOUDVELD | 5 | 5.060 |
| 173 | CAMBRIDGE | 5 | 5.060 |
| 174 | SPRINGS BOYS | 8 | 5.038 |
| 175 | HOOPSTAD | 7 | 4.871 |
| 176 | KATHU | 3 | 4.867 |
| 177 | HTS WITBANK | 4 | 4.825 |
| 178 | LIGBRON | 4 | 4.700 |
| 179 | JAKES GERWEL | 6 | 4.667 |
| 180 | KNYSNA | 5 | 4.620 |
| 181 | BOTHAVILLE | 7 | 4.600 |
| 182 | FERRUM | 10 | 4.530 |
| 183 | WESTERING | 6 | 4.500 |
| 184 | OOSTERLIG | 5 | 4.420 |
| 185 | LUTZVILLE | 5 | 4.400 |
| 186 | RAND PARK | 6 | 4.300 |
| 187 | ROB FERREIRA | 4 | 4.200 |
| 188 | CURRO HEUWELKRUIN | 4 | 4.150 |
| 189 | GLENWOOD HOUSE | 3 | 4.133 |
| 190 | VRYBURG | 5 | 4.100 |
| 191 | DIE ANKER | 8 | 4.087 |
| 192 | LANDBOUDAL | 5 | 4.020 |
| 193 | CURRO HILLCREST | 7 | 4.000 |
| 194 | WOODRIDGE COLLEGE | 4 | 4.000 |
| 195 | WINTERBERG | 3 | 3.933 |
| 196 | YORK | 5 | 3.920 |
| 197 | HTS LOUIS BOTHA | 3 | 3.767 |
| 198 | GRANTLEIGH | 4 | 3.700 |
| 199 | AHS GERMISTON | 3 | 3.667 |
| 200 | FAIRMONT | 3 | 3.467 |
🎙️ Story by JustPlainSport .com
📸 Images via Paarl Boys High School / Carel Stander / Stellenberg High School
