With rugby celebrations across the country, this milestone celebration brings together schoolboy rugby, tradition, and a deep sense of brotherhood that has defined Pretoria Boys High for generations.
Pretoria, South Africa (07 April 2026) – Pretoria Boys High School, one of the oldest schools in Pretoria, is celebrating 125 years of excellence this year. What better way to mark the milestone than with a rugby festival on the hallowed Brooks Field?
Across the country, rugby festivals have become a staple of the school calendar, bringing together some of the best young talent and fiercest rivalries. From one province to the next, they’re about tradition, connection, and a shared love for the game. And in Pretoria, Boys High’s contribution to that landscape carries a legacy of its own.
As the school celebrates 125 years of excellence, its rugby festival becomes more than just a weekend of fixtures. It’s a gathering of history, pride, and a brotherhood that stretches across generations.
For director of rugby Paul Anthony, the real significance lies beyond the touchline.
“I think it’s like a family. The school’s based on the old boys, it’s like a brotherhood. The guys just stick together and go on forever. It’s a massive bond.”
That sense of belonging is something he knows well. Anthony himself walked these fields as a learner in the mid-1970s before returning years later as a coach.
It’s a cycle that extends beyond him. Having coached some of the very figures who now lead the school, and with his own sons having come through the system, his connection to Pretoria Boys High runs deep.
“My sons were right here,” he says. “They’re now overseas, but they’ll be watching, and by four o’clock they’ll be telling me what we did right and wrong. That’s how invested they are.”
While the festival showcases high-level competition, Anthony is quick to emphasise that schoolboy rugby should be about more than just winning.
“People come for the rugby and the competition, but also to catch up with their mates. There’ll be a tent full tonight, just reminiscing. That’s what it’s about.”
As the school celebrates 125 years, Anthony is clear about the kind of legacy it hopes to leave behind.
“The legacy should be to send well-educated, well-mannered young men into the world,” he says. “Men who love this country and want to make a difference.”
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