Even in the time when Graaff-Reinet’s sporting activities were at their peak with various clubs for rugby, cricket, tennis etc., Interschools was still the major sporting and social event on the town’s sporting calendar. No other event filled the stands of the Botanical Sports Field with so many people.

After the founding of the Union High School (1919) and Volkskool (1922) respectively, animosity between the parents, pupils and teachers of the two schools was tangible. The two schools, however, decided to play against each other and the first ever sports matches took place soon after the foundation of the schools. Although Union High and Volkskool are not the oldest schools in the former Cape Province, the annual matches between them are of the oldest.

From 1928 to 1969 two Interschools matches were played per annum. As the records show, it often happened that the tables in the second game turned. One of the reasons given by some old Unionites, as to why from 1969 only one match took place, is that it was felt that the school community’s emotions could not be raised like that twice in one year.

Currently the relationship between Union High and Volkskool is very good. There is a strong spirit of cooperation. The friendship does not mean that the one will back down for the other during Interschools. The competition is very tough but is played in the good spirit of sportsmanship. It is also an opportunity for past pupils to return to their Alma Mater for reunions and to experience a taste of the good old days.

PREVIOUS INTERSCHOOLS RESULTS

RUGBY
1922 0 – 0 1954 0 – 12 0 – 0 1980 3 – 18 2006 30 – 3
1926 3 – 53 1955 3 – 6 6 – 9 1981 0 – 4 2007 18 – 16
1928 0 – 15 7 – 22 1956 3 – 12 3 – 0 1982 11 – 11 2008 8 – 31
1931 14 – 6 1957 0 – 0 19 – 5 1983 11 – 13 2009 12 – 12
1932 17 – 12 3 – 0 1958 6 – 0 6 – 0 1984 6 – 14 2010 25 – 15
1933 7 – 15 0 – 3 1959 3 – 0 0 – 9 1985 4 – 16 2011 16 – 6
1934 0 – 8 6 – 12 1960 14 – 9 14 – 3 1986 3 – 6 2012 13 – 8
1935 3 – 12 0 – 0 1961 6 – 13 16 – 8 1987 9 – 6 2013 6 – 6
1936 3 – 14 13 – 8 1962 6 – 5 3 – 3 1988 7 – 22 2014 5 – 5
1937 0 – 6 0 – 6 1963 6 – 19 8 – 6 1989 10 – 9 2015 14 – 15
1938 3 – 3 0 – 17 1964 8 – 8 6 – 6 1990 4 – 6 2016 29 – 6
1939 7 – 3 13 – 3 1965 6 – 6 6 – 14 1991 7 – 9 2017 23 – 20
1940 19 – 3 11 – 0 1966 14 – 0 0 – 16 1992 6 – 15 2018 30 – 17
1941 6 – 8 6 – 0 1967 8 – 3 9 – 0 1993 3 – 23 2019 3 – 22
1942 3 – 0 6 – 0 1968 6 – 0 6 – 11 1994 16 – 31 2020
1943 0 – 8 0 – 18 1969 17 – 3 14 – 6 1995 7 – 22 2021
1944 6 – 38 10 – 21 1970 Cancelled 1996 0 – 35 2022
1945 3 – 20 3 – 12 1971 22 – 0 1997 10 – 3 2023
1946 0 – 14 0 – 8 1972 3 – 4 1998 15 – 18
1947 0 – 31 3 – 14 1973 18 – 6 1999 13 – 10
1948 3 – 3 0 – 3 1974 0 – 10 2000 13 – 10
1949 3 – 8 3 – 6 1975 9 – 6 2001 5 – 18
1950 3 – 3 0 – 3 1976 10 – 6 2002 18 – 19
1951 14 – 14 6 – 3 1977 3 – 31 2003 26 – 14
1952 8 – 8 3 – 3 1978 14 – 3 2004 16 – 16
1953 3 – 8 6 – 9 1979 16 – 16 2005 27 – 32

HOCKEY
1957 – 1962 No scores available
1963 10 – 1 1 – 0 1983 0 – 0 1993 1 – 0 2013 1 – 0
1964 11 – 0 7 – 0 1984 2 – 0 1994 3 – 1 2014 1 – 0
1965 9 – 0 9 – 1 1985 2 – 0 1995 1 – 1 2015 2 – 1
1966 7 – 0 5 – 0 1986 0 – 1 1996 0 – 0 2016 4 – 0
1967 2 – 0 1987 0 – 0 1997 0 – 1 2017 5 – 0
1968 1 – 0 1 – 0 1988 0 – 0 1998 1 – 0 2018 4 – 0
1969 4 – 1 0 – 1 1989 1 – 1 1999 1 – 0 2019 1 – 1
1970 4 – 2 1990 3 – 1 2000 1 – 1 2020
1971 4 – 0 4 – 0 1991 1 – 0 2001 0 – 1 2021
1972 4 – 0 2 – 1 1992 0 – 1 2002 1 – 0 2022
1973 2 – 0 1 – 0 1983 0 – 0 2003 1 – 2 2023
1974 4 – 0 4 – 0 1984 2 – 0 2004 1 – 0
1975 4 – 0 5 – 3 1985 2 – 0 2005 0 – 0
1976 2 – 0 1986 0 – 1 2006 0 – 3
1977 4 – 2 1987 0 – 0 2007 3 – 0
1978 2 – 0 1988 0 – 0 2008 2 – 1
1979 0 – 0 1989 1 – 1 2009 1 – 3
1980 1 – 0 1990 3 – 1 2010 1 – 1
1981 0 – 0 1991 1 – 0 2011 4 – 0
1982 2 – 2 1992 0 – 1 2012 3 – 1