2020 Schools Day at Newlands

It is presumably the last time there will be a Schools Day at Newlands. Let's hope the schools provide again the exciting rugby that has been a feature of Schools Day, even though it is a sad farewell to glory.

This farewell to Newlands will take place on 10 March 2020, the 17th Schools Day in the present series.

Schools played their part in the very founding of Newlands. The first match in fact played on the ground was between SACS and Bishops, a trial to see if the ground could stand up to match play. It did, and a week later the ground was officially opened.

From 1898 till 1931, schools played at Newlands for shields. Then schools on the Western Province gave up playing for trophies. In 1932, a Schools Day was introduced at Newlands which lasted till 1950 when it was stopped for becoming too competitive.

In 2004 the Western Province Rugby Football Union came with a new form of Schools Day, where schools were invited to play in shortened (20 minutes a side) matches with no kicks at goal. This will be the last of such days.

The gates of the gresat old ground will open at 13.00 and close at 21.30 after nine matches involving the 1st XVs of 18 schoolks..

Fixtures

14.00: Scottsdene High vs Gordon High

14.46: SK Walmers RFC vs Busy Bee RFC

15.32: Milnerton High vs Melkbosstrand High

16.18: Brackenfell High vs Durbanville High

17.04: Bellville High vs Stellenberg High

17.50: SACS vs Boland Landbou

18.36: Wynberg Boys' High vs Paul Roos Gim

19.22: Rondebosch Boys' High vs Paarl Boys' High

20.08: Paarl Gim vs Bishops