Historic Overview Grey College vs Selborne College since 1930

Stats: Played 35 | Won 27 | Drew 2| Lost 6

Last Result: Grey COllege 41 vs 0 Selborne College (6 May 2023)

Rugby at Selborne College

Selborne began playing rugby in 1892 when it met Dale College of King William’s Town, in what remains an enthusiastic fixture to this day. As with most schools in South Africa, early rugby opponents were men’s teams and in the early days soccer had a grip on the imagination until rugby finally took over in 1912.

Now Selborne plays teams all over South Africa as one of the country’s best known schools, not only for its strength but also for the expansive game it plays and its spirit of sportsmanship.

In 1930 Selborne first played Grey College, which has become today a yearly regular Interschools derby between these two giants in school rugby.

In 1992 Selborne hosted a festival which included teams from England and Zimbabwe, as well as touring the UK. In 2002 a nationwide rugby competition for schools was introduced by Media24 and Selborne became the first winners when they beat Paarl Gim 11-10 in the final.

Dale College, of nearby King William’s Town, are rivals in chief, but there are also big matches with Grey High, Queen’s College in Queenstown and Grey College in Bloemfontein.

The following Old Boys have played for South Africa: Bernard Duffy, Innes Froneman, André de Wet, Ray Carlson, Keith and Mark Andrews, André Vos and Brent Russell.

Duffy also swam and played water polo for Border and was later the president of the Border Rugby Union. His brother Aubrey also played for Border.

The Andrews family, from up in the magnificent foothills of the Drakensberg, have had a big impact on Selborne rugby. Keith’s father, Kenny, captained Selborne in 1953, Keith in 1980.

Kenny’s brother Fish played for Selborne and had three sons who captained the college: Gary in 1981, Murray in 1983 and Mark in 1990. Mark was at one stage South Africa’s most capped Springbok of all time.

Springboks produced by Selborne College

1. Bernie Duffy
2. André de Wet
3. Ray Carlson
4. Keith Andrews
5. Mark Andrews
6. André Vos
7. Brent Russell

Rugby at Grey College

Grey has served Bloemfontein, the Free State, South Africa and the world well over the past 150 years. Grey has been able to make adjustments and remain relevant in a changing environment in which it has developed, grown and excelled. The brand is known and revered throughout South Africa and even internationally and the products of the school make a positive difference wherever they are. Parallel medium education, tolerance, respect for others and loyalty to the school are not only traditions, but firm foundations in a global village. Grey is structured on these foundations and it is constantly adapting to new developments. The wave of change washing over our country confirms the value of Grey’s traditions.

Grey College had two Grey boys in Ruben Kruger & Naka Drotske in Springbok team of Kitch Kristie that beat All Blacks at 1995 Rugby World Cup final.

Grey College Recent Springbok Accomplishments There were five Old Grey College’s in the 1999 World Cup squad, Ollie le Roux, Naka Drotské, Ruben Kruger, Werner “Smiley” Swanepoel and Pieter Müller.

In the 2007 winning World Cup team there were again five Old Grey College’s, CJ van der Linde, Jannie and Bismarck du Plessis, Ruan Pienaar and Francois Steyn.

In the 2010 season Grey had eight representatives in the Springbok squad, Deon Stegmann, Adriaan Strauss, CJ van der Linde, Jannie Du Plessis, Bismarck Du Plessis, Flip vd Merwe, Ruan Pienaar en Franscois Steyn.

Grey College had six representatives in the 2011 Rugby World Cup Springbok team in New Zealand – Jannie du Plessis, Bismarck du Plessis, Frans Steyn, Ruan Pienaar, Heinrich Brussow, and CJ van der Linde.

Eight Grey College Old Boys in the starting Springbok line-up versus Scotland in 2008 at Murrayfield – Deon Stegmann, Adriaan Strauss, CJ vd Linde, Jannie du Plessis, Bismarck du Plessis, Flip vd Merwe, Ruan Pienaar and Frans Steyn.

Grey College also now boasts with 100 SA Schools players with addition of their latest 3 SA Schools players in 2018, followed in second position is Paarl Gimnasium that has produced 38, only Blue Bulls with 101 & Western Province with 165 SA Schools players has produced more to date.

Grey College also produced 45 Springboks, only Paul Roos Gymnasium has produced more Springboks 48. Post World War 2, Grey has produced most Boks to date.

View Grey College Springboks here https://www.tommix.co.za/springboks

View Grey College SA Schools Players here https://vivelagrey.co.za/sa-schools-players/

CREDIT: Stats & Results compiled by Nelio de Sa www.instagram.com/neliodesa

31 May 2018