Selborne College rose to the occasion where it mattered most – on the field of play – to register a notable win over the previously unbeaten Graeme College in a cracking encounter in East London on Saturday.
It was a game which was typical of the outstanding school derbies in the Eastern Cape, with each side having their moments, and a score of 19-19 with 20 minutes to go, before Selborne finally pulled away to win 34-26.
Jake White and Selborne College have thrashed out their differences, and the former Springbok coach will continue working as the school’s rugby consultant.
School Governing Body chairman Angus Pringle released a statement early on Friday evening, saying that the differences between White and the school had been resolved.
During the week, a letter from 2007 World Cup-winning mentor White sparked wide discussion on social media platforms.
In the letter, White expressed his discontent with the school’s management of rugby-related matters.
He accused the school’s headmaster, Andrew Dewar, of a lack of support in rugby activities compared to other sporting codes and meddling in the appointment of coaches and allocation of training sessions.
He said those decisions were for the school’s director of rugby, not the headmaster.
In the letter, White said he had to wait two months to get a letter out to the parents.
White said he sent Dewar an email with serious issues, but received no reply.
The letter claimed Dewar avoided discussing any crucial issues.
The letter also claimed that while the headmaster had continually asked for communication, conversations with him were “always far off the pressing issues”.
On Friday, Pringle said that the matter was settled.
“The school is pleased to confirm that the internal issues have been amicably resolved and that it will continue to work in partnership with Jake White in strengthening and advancing its rugby programme,” Pringle said.
“We extend our gratitude to Jake for his continued support and involvement. This partnership reflects a unified commitment to aligning goals and establishing a clear, combined vision that supports excellence both on and off the playing field,” he said.
The director of rugby at the school, Derek Page, who had left his role for similar reasons as White, did not return to the position.
Derek Page subsequently cleared the air regarding his involvement.
“In light of ongoing media enquiries and public speculation, I believe it is necessary to clarify my position factually and respectfully.
”I was originally approached by the Selborne Foundation Trust to serve as Director of Rugby as part of a proposed long-term rugby development programme intended to strengthen and advance rugby structures at the school.”
“During my period of involvement, it became evident that there were differing views regarding the implementation, management structures, and strategic direction of the programme.”
“In particular, it became clear that several of the proposed rugby structures and operational approaches were not aligned with the expectations and preferred governance approach of the headmaster and broader school leadership.
“Following various communications and engagements regarding these matters, I communicated my intention to step away from the role until such time as there was clarity and alignment regarding the way forward.
“Accordingly, I confirm that I have not operated in the role of Director of Rugby at Selborne College since 4 March 2026.
“Subsequent to the public circulation of the Jake White correspondence and the resulting media attention, meetings were held between relevant stakeholders regarding the future direction of the rugby programme.
“It was ultimately communicated that the school would proceed with its own internally managed long-term rugby strategy under the direction of the headmaster and existing governance structures, and that there would no longer be a requirement for the Director of Rugby role as previously envisaged,” Page said.
According to sources, the decision to reinstate White was reached in a meeting on Friday morning between members of the Old Selbornian Association, the Selborne Trust, White, Page and Dewar.
White also released a statement, apologising for the negativity created on social media by the leaked letter.
“The Headmaster is the person who runs the school. I agree with that 100%. I respect that too,” White said.
“Selborne is 153 years old. I was really happy to assist Selborne Rugby for free. Gratis.
“Why? Because I love rugby. I was excited about associating myself with a traditional rugby school.
“I believe in SA that rugby in schools is very important. It should be the most important investment for a school. It gives the best returns.
“I believe that the 1st XV rugby team are your marketing team. Again, rightly or wrongly. They influence your recruitment, sponsorship, old boy involvement and a lot more.
“Successful teams are a must.
“My only objective was to assist Selborne Rugby. My intention was pure.
“A leaked letter has now unfortunately turned a situation that was supposed to be positive into something negative. For that to all Selbornians, I am sincerely sorry.
“My letter was merely to explain that if the Headmaster of a school and my old boy philosophy are not aligned, then I’m not your guy.
“Please respect that.”
“It’s important to everyone linked to Selborne for Selborne to do well. Now more than ever. Selborne is and will always be a valued school in our country.
Going forward, I will always be supportive of any of the schools’ rugby needs. I will definitely not turn my back on them. Rugby teaches you that, too.“
• This story was update on May 12, 2026 to include a statement from Selborne’s former director of rugby Derek Page.
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With lock Travis Enslin and centre Iviwe Kabale the standout players for Selborne, the home side put Graeme under sustained pressure from the start, and this allowed them to build a handy 12-0 lead through two tries.
But Graeme showed why they are so highly rated this season, particularly when they are on the attack.
With No 9 Luke Doyle calling the shots from the base of the scrum, and fullback Lucritia Magau a constant menace at the back, they bounced back with three tries to go ahead 19-12.
It was then that the Selborne side showed their character by levelling the score, and although Graeme scored once more, the East London side capitalised on their chances to kick a penalty and score their fifth try to complete a week which will be remembered for many different reasons.
Hudson Park were pushed hard by Cambridge for large parts of their schools rugby clash at Hudson on Saturday before establishing their supremacy in the second half to transform a 10-7 halftime deficit into a 36-12 victory.
Using the tactic of turning their opponents with contestable kicks in the first half, Cambridge stayed in the game and showed their intent by crossing for the first try through Sivuyise Salman as they capitalised on a Hudson error.
They were able to add a second try by Sibabalwe Salman after a breakout from their own 22 by Teagan Hardnick, but Hudson gradually began to impose themselves on the game.
Keeping the ball in hand, they forced Cambridge onto the defensive and this allowed them to find their rhythm as they finally ran out as convincing winners.
In Gqeberha, Pearson made it a match to remember in their 100th anniversary year when they registered a rare win over a tough Selborne College outfit in their clash on the Hannes Strydom Field at Pearson on Saturday.
It was a game of missed chances for the visitors, who did not have the precision to finish off some moves close to their opponents’ line. Pearson, however, must take full credit for a committed defence, which saw them register their fourth straight victory this year.
In contrast, their ability to attack when deep in Selborne territory paid off handsomely as they won 22-5 after leading 15-5 at the break.
The East London team were first to cross the whitewash when Iviwe Kabale scored a try in the corner, only for Pearson to bounce back soon afterwards when some classy distribution in the backline saw big centre Henrico Ferreira dummy his way through the defence to crash over.
Pearson underlined their determination to build pressure when they took the lead (8-5) through a penalty by Keano Beling.
Then came a flash of quick thinking by nuggety scrumhalf Kadin Kretzmann, when he took a tap from a five-metre penalty and darted over for a crucial score five minutes before half-time. Beling added the conversion to make it 15-5.
It was followed by a period when Selborne should have capitalised, camping on the Pearson line for several minutes before the break, but being unable to get through.
In the second half, the visitors continued to challenge the Pearson defence, especially when the home side were down to 13 men through two yellow cards at one stage. But commitment in the tackle and a few Selborne errors — they were over the line twice but the referee ruled knock-ons — saw Pearson hold out.
Eventually Pearson put further space between the two sides when flank Henrico Bodenstein charged through for a try under the posts that virtually sealed the victory with just over 10 minutes remaining.
The in-form Graeme College side continued to impress, with a runaway victory against Port Rex in East London, with wing Asakhe Ranuga scoring a hat-trick as they crossed for eight tries overall.
The Graemians set the tone early on by scoring from the first play of the game and, while Port Rex were full of fight throughout, they were unable to contain the slick running of the visiting team. Graeme led 24-10 at the break.
At Stirling, Queen’s produced a solid performance to defeat the home side 27-17.
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Selborne’s tries came from Sabelo Vuso (2), Enslin, Kabale and Reece Rasmussen, with Riley Hansel kicking three conversions and a penalty.
Tries for Graeme came from Doyle (2), Asakhe Ranuga and Lucritia Magau, with Erin Nelson kicking three conversions.
Meanwhile in Gqeberha, Paul Roos Gym held off a spirited fightback from Grey High to triumph 28-15 in their King Price Derby Series clash on the Kolisi field.
After leading 14-0 at halftime and then 21-5 six minutes into the second half, the visitors saw Grey fight back to within six points of their tally before they used their forwards to rumble upfield and eventually pulled away late in the game for a deserved victory.
Grey were guilty of some defensive lapses in the first half and a burst of two tries by big centre Jean Hamman, who fought his way through several defenders to the line, and speedy wing Cadynn Samuels saw them shoot into a 14-0 lead after 13 minutes.
Eight-year-old KuGompo City athlete Zizikazi Mbuqe made her province proud by capturing gold in the U9 category at the 49th SA Biathlon National Championships in Oudtshoorn last weekend. The young star also earned the title of Junior Victrix Ludorum.
The Stirling Primary School Grade 2 pupil was one of 22 athletes representing Border at the championships.
Biathlon sees athletes competing in swimming and running while accumulating points in each sport.
In the U9 category, Mbuqe collected a total of 2149.88 points, ahead of her rivals on 2140.01 and 2111 points respectively.
Mbuqe started her swimming journey in 2024 at V’s Swimming School under Tazlin Birch’s guidance and then went on to join Harlequins Aquatics Club, which is managed by Birch.
Besides swimming with her club, she is also part of her school’s gala group and recently excelled at the Border Top 8 competition.
Border Biathlon’s Michael Forbes said Mbuqe did her first time-trial last year in September when she ran her first 400m race in 1:24:73 and her first 50m swim in 44:16 seconds, taking her straight to the top ranking with a total of 2103.74 points.
He added that in her first interprovincial championship in November in Gqeberha, Mbuqe won in her age-group and received the award for Junior Victrix Ludorum with 2103.32 points.
Mbuqe said participating in the national championships had been nerve-racking for her, but she found comfort in having her family with her.
“My mom always tells me that being nervous is good and all I wanted was to get gold,” she said.
Swimming is her favourite sport, and she was confident that she would do well in it.
She added that she was grateful for her parents and brother, Ame, who were always cheering her on.
Club coach Birch said Mbuqe was an attentive, hard-working swimmer and always willing to push beyond her limits.
“Her commitment and positive attitude make her stand out, and her achievements are well deserved,” Birch said.
Parents Anathi and Bomkazi Mbuqe said they were incredibly proud of their daughter and were committed to supporting her as she continued to grow in the sport.
Bomkazi said they were also focused on ensuring she would have a good balance in having fun as a child while also instilling discipline and commitment to all her sports endeavours.
The 49th SA Biathlon Championships saw a total of 862 athletes from across the country compete in a test of endurance and versatility.
Other East London schools represented were Hangklip Junior, Lilyfontein Primary, Cambridge Primary, Clarendon Primary, Selborne Primary and College and Stirling High.
In the U19 age-group, Selborne’s Wyl Wright came third to earn the bronze medal. - Poliswa Sejosing
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Samuels took his chance when Grey failed to manage a kick ahead by scrumhalf Tristan Armitage, and the ball bounced kindly for the left wing as he outpaced the Grey defence in 50-metre dash for the line.
Kyle Snyers was on song with his boot for Paul Roos in windy conditions, slotting both conversions.
Grey High got onto the board in the 40th minute when a series of drives from the forwards saw prop Daniel Naude go over for a try.
That was quickly cancelled out as No 8 Werner du Bruin got onto the end of a pass from a quick tap close to the Grey line, and there was no stopping him for the visitors’ third try.
Then came Grey’s brightest period of the match. This time it was Paul Roos who made a basic error with a dropped pass, which saw wing Sikhu Xego snap up possession near the halfway mark to race to the tryline.
That was followed 10 minutes later by an excellent backline move as Grey quickly moved the ball through the hands and right wing Noah Mbizi used nifty footwork to evade a few defenders for their third try.
Eastern Cape schoolboy rugby teams will once again take centre stage during the annual Easter festival circuit, with several sides travelling across the country to test themselves against top opposition in a series of high-profile fixtures.
At the Pretoria Boys’ High festival in Pretoria, Grey High and Selborne College will fly the provincial flag in a demanding programme.
Grey High open their campaign against Parktown on Saturday before facing the formidable Affies outfit on Monday, a clash that traditionally provides a stern benchmark for any side. With their structured approach and physical pack, Grey will be eager to measure their progress against one of the country’s powerhouses.
Selborne, meanwhile, come up against Rondebosch on Saturday in what should be a fast-paced encounter, before taking on Parktown. Known for their flair and attacking intent, the East London outfit will look to impose their tempo and make a strong early-season statement.
In Durban, Framesby are set for a busy schedule at the prestigious Kearsney Festival.
They begin on Thursday against Zimbabwe’s Peterhouse Boys’ High, offering a different challenge against SA’s neighbouring opposition.
Across all four festivals, the Eastern Cape teams will be eager not only to secure results but also to build combinations and momentum for the season ahead
The Gqeberha team then tackle Glenwood, one of KwaZulu-Natal’s traditional rugby strongholds, before wrapping up against Helpmekaar, another tough outfit, on Monday.
With three matches in quick succession, squad depth and conditioning will be crucial, but Framesby’s reputation for physicality and discipline should stand them in good stead.
The KES Festival in Johannesburg features a strong Eastern Cape contingent, with Hudson Park, Pearson, Marlow, St Andrew’s, Queen’s and Dale College all in action.
Hudson Park face Worcester Gymnasium before taking on Eldoraigne, two fixtures that will test their defensive organisation and ability to adapt.
Pearson meet Eldoraigne first and then Cranbrook, providing an opportunity for the Gqeberha side to showcase their development against varied opposition.
Marlow, known for their forward-oriented game, will come up against Northwood and later Noordheuwel, where their set-piece strength could prove decisive.
St Andrew’s play the feature match against hosts KES on the Saturday, while Queen’s will be well tested by Noordheuwel.
Dale, one of the Eastern Cape’s proud rugby nurseries, tackle Cranbrook and Worcester Gymnasium, fixtures that should offer a balance between physical confrontation and open play.
At the St John’s Festival, also in Johannesburg, Graeme College and Kingswood College will represent the province. Graeme open against St Benedict’s before a marquee clash with Bishops, a match that traditionally delivers high-quality rugby. Kingswood, meanwhile, face St David’s and Monument, two sides known for their structured and disciplined approach.
Across all four festivals, the Eastern Cape teams will be eager not only to secure results but also to build combinations and momentum for the season ahead. These fixtures provide invaluable exposure to different playing styles and high-pressure environments, allowing coaches to assess depth and refine strategies.
With a proud rugby heritage in the region, expectations will be high that the Eastern Cape representatives can make a strong impression. If early-season preparation is anything to go by, they have the talent and determination to do just that on one of school rugby’s biggest stages.
Easter Festival fixtures
Pretoria Boys’ High in Pretoria
April 4:
9am: Grey High v Parktown,
10.30: Rondebosch v Selborne.
April 6:
9am: Selborne v Parktown,
12.00: Grey High v Affies.
Kearsney Festival in Durban
April 2: 9.20am: Framesby v Peterhouse Boys’ High (Zimbabwe),
April 4: 1pm: Framesby v Glenwood,
April 6: 8am: Helpmekaar v Framesby.
KES Festival in Johannesburg
April 4:
Hudson Park v Worcester Gym,
Eldoraigne v Pearson,
Northwood v Marlow,
Dale v Cranbrook,
Noordheuwel v Queen’s,
KES v St Andrew’s College.
April 6:
Eldoraigne v Hudson Park,
Dale v Worcester Gym,
Pearson v Cranbrook,
Marlow v Noordheuwel,
Northwood v St Andrew’s College,
KES v Queen’s.
St John’s Festival in Johannesburg
April 2:
St Benedict’s v Graeme,
Kingswood v St David’s.
April 4:
Graeme v Bishops,
Kingswood v Monument.
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A scoreline of 21-15 with 19 minutes left had made it interesting, but Paul Roos quickly tightened things up.
Although they missed a penalty, they took control through their forwards, and a 25-metre maul from the halfway line underpinned their intentions.
They managed to stay in the right areas of the field, and the constant pressure eventually told when flank Christian le Roux burst over for their final try, converted by Snyers to complete the scoring.
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