Only two of South Africa’s high schools – Paul Roos and Tygerberg – contributed more than one player to the 33-man Springbok squad for the World Cup.
The majority of players who will be playing for the Springboks in France attended schools outside of South Africa’s traditional rugby powerhouses of Paul Roos, Grey College and Bishops.
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Stellenbosch’s Paul Roos is the school that is best represented in the World Cup squad, contributing three players: fullback Willie le Roux, utility back Damian Willemse and loosehead prop Steven Kitshoff.
Tyberberg High is the next-best represented school, with the two locks Eben Etzebeth and Marvin Orie.
The remaining high schools have all contributed just one player each, with a wide spread, from Limpopo’s Pietersburg High (Deon Fourie) to Randburg’s Linden High (Jean Kleyn) and Paarl’s Paulus Joubert Secondary School (Kurt-Lee Arendse).
Springboks 2023 Rugby World Cup squad:
Forwards
Props:
Steven Kitshoff (Paul Roos)
Vincent Koch (Huguenot High)
Frans Malherbe (Paarl Boys)
Ox Nche (HTS Louis Botha)
Trevor Nyakane (Ben Vorster)
Hookers:
Bongi Mbonambi (St Alban’s)
Malcolm Marx (KES)
Locks:
Eben Etzebeth (Tygerberg High)
Jean Kleyn (Linden High)
Marvin Orie (Tygerberg High)
RG Snyman (Affies)
Loose Forwards:
Pieter-Steph du Toit (Swartland)
Siya Kolisi (Grey High)
Kwagga Smith (HTS Middelburg)
Marco van Staden (Hoerskool Bekker)
Duane Vermeulen (Nelspruit High)
Jasper Wiese (Upington High)
Utility Forwards:
Deon Fourie (Hoerskool Pietersburg)
Franco Mostert (Brits High)
Backs
Scrumhalves:
Faf de Klerk (Waterkloof)
Jaden Hendrikse (Glenwood)
Cobus Reinach (Grey College)
Grant Williams (Paarl Gimnasium)
Flyhalves:
Manie Libbok (Outeniqua)
Damian Willemse (Paul Roos)
Centres:
Damian de Allende (Milnerton)
Andre Esterhuizen (Hoerskool Klerksdorp)
Jesse Kriel (Maritzburg College)
Outside Backs:
Kurt-Lee Arendse (Paulus Joubert Secondary)
Cheslin Kolbe (Hoerskool Brackenfell)
Willie le Roux (Paul Roos)
Makazole Mapimpi (Jim Mvabaza Senior Secondary)
Canan Moodie (Boland Landbou)
Photo: Grant Pitcher/Gallo Images