Category: Rugby

On Tuesday afternoon, 24 June, Union High School’s senior 𝗥𝗨𝗚𝗕𝗬 sides took to the field in a series of matches against Hoërskool Swellendam and Asherville Secondary.

The 𝘂/𝟭𝟰𝗔 and 𝘂/𝟭𝟱𝗔 teams both secured solid victories over Asherville, with scores of 21–0 and 10–0 respectively. The 𝘂/𝟭𝟲𝗔 team went down 19-32 in a well-contested match. Our 𝟮𝗻𝗱 𝗫𝗩 came up against Asherville’s 1st team and, though the scoreboard reflected a 0–24 result, the team showed resilience and heart throughout.

The 𝟭𝘀𝘁 𝗫𝗩 capped off the afternoon with a 76–0 win over Hoërskool Swellendam.

Union High School’s 1st XV delivered an emphatic performance against Hoërskool Swellendam, securing a 76-0 win in a one-sided encounter that showcased teamwork, versatility, and flair.

The boys in white got off to a flying start, with Elvandre Meyer—playing at flank instead of what has become his usual inside centre role—scoring the opening try in just the 4th minute. Yaaseen Kazi followed up shortly with a powerful maul try, and further tries from Yonela Wana and Peter-Daniel Clegg pushed the lead to 24-0.

A sharp break by captain Kyle Liebenberg set up Siba Mbutye, who had switched from wing to centre, for another five-pointer. Wana added his second soon after following slick interplay between Meyer and Makukhanye de Beer. Despite some missed opportunities before the break due to handling errors, Union managed to add two more tries—one from Liebenberg and another from Kazi, bringing his tally to two. Union entered halftime with a commanding 48-0 lead. The second half began slower on the scoreboard but not in intensity. Eventually, Trystan Hulleman crossed over to score his first try for the 1st XV in his second year with the team. Athi Mahlati, Union’s hardworking loosehead prop, earned a well-deserved try, followed by Tafadzwa Munzvenga, who powered through the midfield after a brilliant break. Similo Mvandaba capped off the day’s scoring, sealing a 76-0 win in a match that underlined Union’s depth and cohesion.

𝗪𝗲 𝗲𝘅𝘁𝗲𝗻𝗱 𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝘀𝗶𝗻𝗰𝗲𝗿𝗲 𝘁𝗵𝗮𝗻𝗸𝘀 𝘁𝗼 𝗯𝗼𝘁𝗵 𝘃𝗶𝘀𝗶𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘀𝗰𝗵𝗼𝗼𝗹𝘀 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝘀𝗽𝗶𝗿𝗶𝘁 𝗶𝗻 𝘄𝗵𝗶𝗰𝗵 𝗮𝗹𝗹 𝗺𝗮𝘁𝗰𝗵𝗲𝘀 𝘄𝗲𝗿𝗲 𝗽𝗹𝗮𝘆𝗲𝗱.

Union High School Clinches Victory Over Graeme College

On Saturday, 21 June, Union High School’s 1st XV delivered a performance to remember as they hosted Graeme College from Makhanda in a closely fought rugby encounter.

𝗣𝗹𝗮𝘆𝗲𝗱 𝗶𝗻 𝗮 𝘀𝗽𝗶𝗿𝗶𝘁𝗲𝗱 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗰𝗼𝗺𝗽𝗲𝘁𝗶𝘁𝗶𝘃𝗲 𝗮𝘁𝗺𝗼𝘀𝗽𝗵𝗲𝗿𝗲, 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗺𝗮𝘁𝗰𝗵 𝘀𝗵𝗼𝘄𝗰𝗮𝘀𝗲𝗱 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝘃𝗲𝗿𝘆 𝗯𝗲𝘀𝘁 𝗼𝗳 𝘀𝗰𝗵𝗼𝗼𝗹𝗯𝗼𝘆 𝗿𝘂𝗴𝗯𝘆 – 𝗿𝗲𝘀𝗶𝗹𝗶𝗲𝗻𝗰𝗲, 𝘀𝗸𝗶𝗹𝗹 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝘀𝗽𝗼𝗿𝘁𝘀𝗺𝗮𝗻𝘀𝗵𝗶𝗽.

Union struck early in the contest after a series of well-orchestrated phases, with Yonela Wana finishing a flowing move to open the scoring. 𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗳𝗶𝗿𝘀𝘁 𝗵𝗮𝗹𝗳 𝘄𝗮𝘀 𝗮 𝘁𝗶𝗴𝗵𝘁𝗹𝘆 𝗰𝗼𝗻𝘁𝗲𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗱 𝗯𝗮𝘁𝘁𝗹𝗲, marked by committed defence from both sides and Union carried a slender 5-0 advantage into the halftime break.

𝘎𝘳𝘢𝘦𝘮𝘦 𝘊𝘰𝘭𝘭𝘦𝘨𝘦, 𝘸𝘪𝘵𝘩 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘪𝘳 𝘱𝘳𝘰𝘶𝘥 𝘳𝘶𝘨𝘣𝘺 𝘵𝘳𝘢𝘥𝘪𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯, 𝘤𝘢𝘮𝘦 𝘰𝘶𝘵 𝘴𝘵𝘳𝘰𝘯𝘨 𝘪𝘯 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘴𝘦𝘤𝘰𝘯𝘥 𝘩𝘢𝘭𝘧 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘸𝘦𝘳𝘦 𝘲𝘶𝘪𝘤𝘬 𝘵𝘰 𝘢𝘴𝘴𝘦𝘳𝘵 𝘱𝘳𝘦𝘴𝘴𝘶𝘳𝘦, 𝘴𝘤𝘰𝘳𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘢 𝘤𝘰𝘯𝘷𝘦𝘳𝘵𝘦𝘥 𝘵𝘳𝘺 𝘵𝘰 𝘵𝘢𝘬𝘦 𝘢 5-7 𝘭𝘦𝘢𝘥. 𝘜𝘯𝘪𝘰𝘯 𝘳𝘦𝘴𝘱𝘰𝘯𝘥𝘦𝘥 𝘸𝘪𝘵𝘩 𝘨𝘳𝘪𝘵, 𝘢𝘴 𝘑𝘢𝘺𝘥𝘦𝘯 𝘖𝘥𝘦𝘯𝘥𝘢𝘢𝘭 𝘤𝘳𝘰𝘴𝘴𝘦𝘥 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘭𝘪𝘯𝘦 𝘵𝘰 𝘳𝘦𝘤𝘭𝘢𝘪𝘮 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘢𝘥𝘷𝘢𝘯𝘵𝘢𝘨𝘦. 𝘏𝘰𝘸𝘦𝘷𝘦𝘳, 𝘎𝘳𝘢𝘦𝘮𝘦, 𝘶𝘯𝘥𝘦𝘵𝘦𝘳𝘳𝘦𝘥, 𝘰𝘯𝘤𝘦 𝘢𝘨𝘢𝘪𝘯 𝘦𝘥𝘨𝘦𝘥 𝘢𝘩𝘦𝘢𝘥, 𝘮𝘢𝘬𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘪𝘵 12-14 𝘩𝘦𝘢𝘥𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘪𝘯𝘵𝘰 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘧𝘪𝘯𝘢𝘭 𝘴𝘵𝘢𝘨𝘦𝘴.

𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗰𝗹𝗼𝘀𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗺𝗼𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁𝘀 𝗯𝗿𝗼𝘂𝗴𝗵𝘁 𝗵𝗶𝗴𝗵 𝗱𝗿𝗮𝗺𝗮 as Union’s Elvandre Meyer powered his way over the try line, sealing a dramatic 19-14 win for the home team. It was a game defined by passion and determination on both sides and Union’s ability to dig deep in the final minutes ultimately earned them a well-deserved victory.

As noted by SA School Sports in their latest rankings article, “𝘉𝘶𝘵 𝘱𝘦𝘳𝘩𝘢𝘱𝘴 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘣𝘪𝘨𝘨𝘦𝘴𝘵 𝘴𝘩𝘰𝘤𝘬 𝘰𝘧 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘸𝘦𝘦𝘬𝘦𝘯𝘥 𝘤𝘢𝘮𝘦 𝘪𝘯 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘌𝘢𝘴𝘵𝘦𝘳𝘯 𝘊𝘢𝘱𝘦, 𝘸𝘩𝘦𝘳𝘦 𝘜𝘯𝘪𝘰𝘯 𝘏𝘪𝘨𝘩 𝘥𝘦𝘭𝘪𝘷𝘦𝘳𝘦𝘥 𝘰𝘯𝘦 𝘰𝘧 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘪𝘳 𝘧𝘪𝘯𝘦𝘴𝘵 𝘱𝘦𝘳𝘧𝘰𝘳𝘮𝘢𝘯𝘤𝘦𝘴 𝘪𝘯 𝘳𝘦𝘤𝘦𝘯𝘵 𝘮𝘦𝘮𝘰𝘳𝘺, 𝘰𝘶𝘵𝘱𝘭𝘢𝘺𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘎𝘳𝘢𝘦𝘮𝘦 𝘊𝘰𝘭𝘭𝘦𝘨𝘦 19-14 𝘪𝘯 𝘢 𝘳𝘦𝘴𝘶𝘭𝘵 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘸𝘪𝘭𝘭 𝘣𝘦 𝘤𝘦𝘭𝘦𝘣𝘳𝘢𝘵𝘦𝘥 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘺𝘦𝘢𝘳𝘴 𝘵𝘰 𝘤𝘰𝘮𝘦.”

While Union celebrates a memorable win, 𝗶𝗺𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘀𝗲 𝗰𝗿𝗲𝗱𝗶𝘁 𝗺𝘂𝘀𝘁 𝗴𝗼 𝘁𝗼 𝗚𝗿𝗮𝗲𝗺𝗲 𝗖𝗼𝗹𝗹𝗲𝗴𝗲 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗶𝗿 𝗽𝗮𝗿𝘁 𝗶𝗻 𝗮 𝗴𝗿𝗶𝗽𝗽𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗺𝗮𝘁𝗰𝗵 𝘁𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗵𝗼𝗻𝗼𝘂𝗿𝗲𝗱 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝘁𝗿𝗮𝗱𝗶𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝘀 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗰𝗼𝗺𝗽𝗲𝘁𝗶𝘁𝗶𝘃𝗲 𝘀𝗽𝗶𝗿𝗶𝘁 𝗼𝗳 𝘀𝗰𝗵𝗼𝗼𝗹𝗯𝗼𝘆 𝗿𝘂𝗴𝗯𝘆. Encounters like this serve as a reminder of the values the sport instils – respect, perseverance and camaraderie.

The day featured a full programme of fixtures between the two schools, with Graeme College demonstrating their depth and quality across the age groups. 𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗿𝗲𝘀𝘂𝗹𝘁𝘀 𝘄𝗲𝗿𝗲 𝗮𝘀 𝗳𝗼𝗹𝗹𝗼𝘄𝘀:

u/13A: 19 – 22
u/13B: 0 – 50
u/14A: 3 – 41
u/15A: 0 – 61
u/16A: 9 – 20
2nd XV: 13 – 43

𝘋𝘦𝘴𝘱𝘪𝘵𝘦 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘴𝘤𝘰𝘳𝘦𝘣𝘰𝘢𝘳𝘥 𝘪𝘯 𝘮𝘢𝘯𝘺 𝘰𝘧 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘧𝘪𝘹𝘵𝘶𝘳𝘦𝘴, 𝘜𝘯𝘪𝘰𝘯’𝘴 𝘱𝘭𝘢𝘺𝘦𝘳𝘴 𝘥𝘪𝘴𝘱𝘭𝘢𝘺𝘦𝘥 𝘵𝘳𝘦𝘮𝘦𝘯𝘥𝘰𝘶𝘴 𝘩𝘦𝘢𝘳𝘵 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘤𝘩𝘢𝘳𝘢𝘤𝘵𝘦𝘳 𝘵𝘩𝘳𝘰𝘶𝘨𝘩𝘰𝘶𝘵 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘥𝘢𝘺, 𝘸𝘪𝘵𝘩 𝘵𝘩𝘦 1𝘴𝘵 𝘟𝘝’𝘴 𝘷𝘪𝘤𝘵𝘰𝘳𝘺 𝘴𝘵𝘢𝘯𝘥𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘢𝘴 𝘢 𝘱𝘳𝘰𝘶𝘥 𝘮𝘰𝘮𝘦𝘯𝘵 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘴𝘤𝘩𝘰𝘰𝘭. 𝘛𝘩𝘦 𝘥𝘢𝘺 𝘰𝘧 𝘳𝘶𝘨𝘣𝘺 𝘸𝘢𝘴 𝘢 𝘤𝘦𝘭𝘦𝘣𝘳𝘢𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯 𝘰𝘧 𝘴𝘤𝘩𝘰𝘰𝘭 𝘴𝘱𝘰𝘳𝘵, 𝘳𝘪𝘤𝘩 𝘸𝘪𝘵𝘩 𝘭𝘦𝘢𝘳𝘯𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘮𝘰𝘮𝘦𝘯𝘵𝘴, 𝘮𝘶𝘵𝘶𝘢𝘭 𝘳𝘦𝘴𝘱𝘦𝘤𝘵 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘴𝘩𝘢𝘳𝘦𝘥 𝘱𝘢𝘴𝘴𝘪𝘰𝘯 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘨𝘢𝘮𝘦.

Match Report: U/13A
Despite missing several key players, the U/13A boys put up a brave fight against Queens but ultimately went down 21-43. The team showed great spirit and determination, battling hard right until the final whistle. A gutsy performance under tough circumstances.

Other Results
7A lost 5-10
U/7B lost 0-20
U/9A lost 12-24
U/9B lost 0-31
U/11A lost 0-12
U/11B lost 0-50
U/13A lost 21-43
U/13B lost 0-53

1st XV Report

Union High School’s 1st XV Narrowly Defeated in Thrilling Encounter Against Andrew Rabie Hoërskool.

Union High School’s 1st XV rugby team put on a valiant display in a closely contested match against Andrew Rabie Hoërskool from Gqeberha, ultimately falling short with a final score of 21–29.

The game kicked off with Union immediately applying pressure by sending the opening kick deep into the opposition’s 22m area. However, early handling errors and missed tackles allowed Andrew Rabie to gain the upper hand. They capitalized on Union’s inability to control the ball in contact, crossing the try line twice—converting one of those tries—to take a 0–12 lead.

Despite showing signs of promise late in the first half with a strong attacking phase in the opposition’s 22, Union’s efforts were cut short when an intercepted pass led to another Andrew Rabie try. The teams went into the halftime break with Union trailing 0–22.

The second half began in similar fashion, with Andrew Rabie scoring yet again to extend their lead to 0–29, seemingly putting the match out of reach. However, the Union boys dug deep and showed tremendous heart, launching a spirited comeback.

Tries from Siba Mbutye, Yaaseen Kazi (Union’s leading try scorer for the season), and Jayden Odendaal, who dotted down right at the final whistle, brought the home side within reach of a dramatic comeback. Despite the late surge, time ran out and Union fell just short with the final score standing at 21–29.

While the result didn’t go their way, the Union 1st XV can be proud of their second-half fightback and the character shown on the field. The experience will no doubt serve as valuable preparation for the matches to come.

Other Results (UHS Scores first):
2nd: 14 – 12
U16A: 22 – 29
U15: 3 – 7
U14: 21 – 24

U/11A won 32-19
U/13A won 52-5

U/13A Match Report vs Kroonvale on Wednesday 28/05/25

The U/13A team put on a brilliant display, playing as a united and focused side. Lukhona Bulembu starred with a superb hattrick, while Noël Shakane added two goals. A great team effort and a well-deserved win!

𝗖𝗢𝗡𝗚𝗥𝗔𝗧𝗨𝗟𝗔𝗧𝗜𝗢𝗡𝗦 to Union High School’s u/13A rugby captain, 𝗟𝘂𝗸𝗵𝗼𝗻𝗮 𝗕𝘂𝗹𝗲𝗺𝗯𝘂, on his well-deserved selection to the U13 Craven Week team.

This is a remarkable achievement and we are incredibly proud that he will be representing the Eastern Province Rugby Union at the upcoming SARU National Youth Week being hosted by Selborne College from 30 June to 4 July.

𝘞𝘦 𝘸𝘪𝘴𝘩 𝘩𝘪𝘮 𝘢𝘭𝘭 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘣𝘦𝘴𝘵 𝘢𝘴 𝘩𝘦 𝘵𝘢𝘬𝘦𝘴 𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘦𝘹𝘤𝘪𝘵𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘯𝘦𝘹𝘵 𝘴𝘵𝘦𝘱 𝘪𝘯 𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘳𝘶𝘨𝘣𝘺 𝘫𝘰𝘶𝘳𝘯𝘦𝘺!

Union High School’s senior rugby players travelled to Komani for a much-anticipated clash against Hangklip High School this past Saturday.

𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝟭𝘀𝘁 𝘁𝗲𝗮𝗺 𝗴𝗮𝗺𝗲 𝘀𝗮𝘄 𝗨𝗻𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗰𝗼𝗺𝗲 𝗼𝘂𝘁 𝘀𝘁𝗿𝗼𝗻𝗴, 𝗱𝗼𝗺𝗶𝗻𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗽𝗼𝘀𝘀𝗲𝘀𝘀𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗲𝗮𝗿𝗹𝘆 𝗼𝗻.

After several missed chances, Liso Booi finally broke the deadlock with a well-earned try, confidently converted by Makukhanye de Beer, who remained flawless with the boot all game.

Hangklip quickly answered back, taking advantage of Union’s struggles to secure restarts. De Beer responded with a try of his own, only for Hangklip to once again bounce back.

A brilliant run by De Beer then opened the way for Athi Mahlati to score, 𝗴𝗶𝘃𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗨𝗻𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗮 𝟮𝟭-𝟭𝟮 𝗹𝗲𝗮𝗱 𝗮𝘁 𝗵𝗮𝗹𝗳𝘁𝗶𝗺𝗲.

Union extended the lead after the break with a try from Xavier Barlow – again converted by the reliable De Beer – to make it 28-12. But 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗴𝗮𝗺𝗲 𝘁𝗼𝗼𝗸 𝗮 𝗱𝗿𝗮𝗺𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗰 𝘁𝘂𝗿𝗻 𝗶𝗻 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗳𝗶𝗻𝗮𝗹 𝘀𝘁𝗮𝗴𝗲𝘀 as Hangklip clawed their way back with three unanswered tries, ultimately snatching a 29-28 victory in the dying moments.

𝗢𝗧𝗛𝗘𝗥 𝗥𝗘𝗦𝗨𝗟𝗧𝗦:
• u/14A: Lost 10 – 38
• u/15A: Lost 17 – 29
• u/16A: Won 26 – 14
• 2nd XV: Won 14 – 10

𝘈 𝘥𝘢𝘺 𝘰𝘧 𝘩𝘢𝘳𝘥 𝘭𝘦𝘴𝘴𝘰𝘯𝘴 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘱𝘳𝘰𝘮𝘪𝘴𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘱𝘦𝘳𝘧𝘰𝘳𝘮𝘢𝘯𝘤𝘦𝘴 – 𝘸𝘦𝘭𝘭 𝘥𝘰𝘯𝘦 𝘵𝘰 𝘢𝘭𝘭 𝘰𝘶𝘳 𝘱𝘭𝘢𝘺𝘦𝘳𝘴!