SA Schools: The unofficial 'official' top 20 rankings
In South Africa, rugby is a tradition as deeply embedded in our history as braais.
It is an honour to get into any of our top rugby schools such as Paarl Gimnasium, Affies, Grey College, Affies and Paarl Boys amongst many others. So, it is an even bigger honour to represent the first team in an age-old SA Schools rugby derby.
Let's take a look at the SA Schools who are on top of the unofficial 'official' SA Schoolboy rugby rankings (based on first team fixtures in 2025). Ranking School Province 1 Paarl Boys Western Cape 2 Paarl Gim Western Cape 3 Grey College Free State 4 Affies Gauteng 5 Paul Roos Western Cape 6 DHS Western Cape 7 Westville Gauteng 8 Oakdale KwaZulu-Natal 9 Garsfontein KwaZulu-Natal 10 Hilton College Gauteng 12 Wynberg KwaZulu-Natal 13 Grey High School Western Cape 14 Stellenberg Western Cape 15 Helpmekaar Gauteng 16 Noordheuwel Western Cape 17 Northwood KwaZulu-Natal 18 Queens College Eastern Cape 19 Boland Landbou Gauteng 20 Jeppe Gauteng
* As reported on The South African , you should take these rankings with a pinch of salt because each school has different fixtures. Meaning, each school faces different schools and no school faces each school home and away.
These rankings are based off the recent results on the 9 August 2025.
The 2025 SA Schools rugby season is coming to a close.
'The 2025 school rugby season nears its final chapter, the last few clashes of the year are being fought with all the pride, passion, and determination that makes South African schoolboy rugby so special. While the rankings are almost set in stone, there are still those final, fiercely contested fixtures that can sway positions and settle bragging rights before the curtain falls,' SASchoolSport confirmed.
Therefore, there are a few fixtures left to determine the final schoolboy rugby rankings of the year.
'With only a handful of fixtures left on the calendar, the 2025 Fairtree First XV Rankings are edging toward their final shape. It's been a season of spectacular tries, dramatic comebacks, and unforgettable rivalries—and while the end is in sight, there's still rugby to be played, moments to be made, and hearts to be lifted before the ultimate whistle blows,' they concluded.
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