Every year, the quiet Western Cape town of Paarl transforms into a whirlwind of colour, noise, and tradition as two of South Africa’s most iconic rugby schools — Paarl Boys’ High (Boishaai) and Paarl Gimnasium (Gimmies) — meet in what is widely regarded as the country’s most celebrated school sports derby.
The match doesn’t just dominate school headlines — it brings the entire town to a standstill. For a full week, Paarl splits into North and South as the community rallies behind their respective teams, turning the derby into a cultural event that extends far beyond the pitch.
One of the World’s Biggest School Rugby Derbies
The annual First XV clash draws between 20,000 and 25,000 spectators, making it one of the largest schoolboy rugby derbies in the world. The rivalry is famous for its intensity: only one of the past ten meetings has ended with a margin greater than five points.
This competitive balance was on full display in their latest encounter, where Paarl Boys’ High mounted a dramatic late comeback to win 35–33.
A Rivalry Dating Back Over 100 Years
Boishaai (est. 1868) and Gimmies (est. 1858) first faced each other in 1915. Early editions uniquely featured students, teachers, and old boys playing together, a tradition that lasted until 1929 when the derby shifted to schoolboy-only competition.
Since the first match, the derby has only been cancelled three times: 1928, 2020, and 2021.
Across 107 meetings, Gimmies have won 52, Boishaai have won 44 and 11 have ended in draws, including three 0–0 stalemates, the last in 1986.
All matches are played at the neutral Faure Street Stadium, avoiding arguments about home advantage.
A Week-Long Celebration of School Rugby
Derby Week in Paarl is a full celebration of rugby culture that spans several days.
It begins on Wednesday with the traditional Old Boys’ match — a fiercely competitive fixture that honours the derby’s earliest days.
On Thursday, the action shifts to the younger teams as the U19 G and H sides meet, officially launching the derby programme.
Friday’s highlights include the U14A match and the much-anticipated third-team clash known as “Chiefs vs Chippies.”
The week reaches its climax on Saturday, when the U15A, U16A, Second XV and First XV teams take the field.
These matches determine the year’s bragging rights, which last until the sides meet again the following year.
A Proven Pathway to National Team Success
From a school sport perspective, the Paarl derby is far more than a rivalry — it is a blueprint for how strong school programmes feed national sporting success.
Between them, the two schools have produced 58 Springboks, making Paarl one of the most influential rugby development hubs in the country.
Notable alumni from Paarl Gimnasium (32 Springboks) include Handré Pollard, Schalk Burger, Jean de Villiers and Grant Williams.
Paarl Boys’ High (26 Springboks) has produced talents such as Frans Malherbe, Evan Roos, Thomas du Toit and Salmaan Moerat.
The wider Drakenstein region has also produced current national players, including Kurt-Lee Arendse (Paulus Joubert Secondary School) and Canan Moodie, who began at Boishaai before moving to Boland Landbou.
Why This Derby Matters for School Sport
The Paarl derby highlights the immense value of school sport in shaping national athletic pathways. Strong coaching, competitive environments, and a deeply embedded rugby culture help transform school athletes into elite performers.
But its importance goes beyond talent development. The derby unites a community, builds intergenerational identity, and shows how school sport can cultivate discipline, resilience, leadership, and pride.
With over a century of tradition, massive attendance, and national-team impact, the Paarl derby stands as one of the world’s clearest examples of how school sport can influence a country’s sporting ecosystem from the ground up.
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