Welcome from the
Executive Headmaster
There is a particular kind of energy that descends on St John’s College at Easter. A sense of occasion, of community, of something genuinely special about to unfold. As I welcome you to the 29th edition of our Easter Rugby Festival, my first as Executive Headmaster, I find myself reflecting not just on the rugby ahead, but on what it means to gather like this. Schools, families, coaches, and supporters from across South Africa and beyond, united by a shared love of this game.
To each and every one of you, welcome to our school, our home.
This year’s festival is truly international. We are honoured to welcome St Joseph’s Nudgee College from Australia and Westlake Boys’ High School from New Zealand alongside our outstanding South African schools. The fact that teams travel halfway around the world to be part of this tells you everything about what this festival has become.
I believe deeply that the lessons learned outside the classroom are every bit as important as those within it. Rugby, when played the right way, teaches young men precisely those lessons. Courage under pressure, selflessness, the ability to pick yourself up and go again. There are no league tables here, no trophies, no medals. What there is, and what there has always been, is rugby in its purest form, school spirit in abundance, and the kind of memories that stay with a young man for the rest of his life.
This year’s programme runs across Thursday 2 April, Saturday 4 April, and Monday 6 April. The traditional U19 and U13 competition is joined on Monday by our U16 sides, before we close the festival with Westlake Boys’ 1st XV taking on Hoërskool Randburg’s 1st XV, a finale I am very much looking forward to, not least because it will be my first time watching it.
A festival of this scale requires exceptional partners, and I want to acknowledge each of them with genuine gratitude. To our title sponsor, Standard Bank, your loyalty since 2012 has been foundational to everything we have built here. To SuperSport Schools, our media partner, your work ensures that no family or friend anywhere in the world need miss a moment of the action. To Energade, our official hydration partner, keeping athletes performing at their best is no small thing, and we are grateful. To Busamed, our clinic partner, the wellbeing of every player on these fields is our first priority, and your presence gives us all peace of mind. And to The Courier Guy, our official delivery partner, thank you for your support of this festival.
My sincere appreciation goes to Mr Gavin Houlston, Chairman of the Festival Organising Committee, and his team for the enormous care and effort they pour into this event every year. To our sports masters, Mr Alan Lion-Cachet, Mr Adrian Norris, Mr Khwezi Mqomboti, and Mr Grant Harrison, and to every coach and manager involved: thank you. The work you do in developing young men of character is what this school is about.
To our estate staff, medical teams, catering and boarding personnel, our marketing team and our Media Club students who capture and share the story of this festival so brilliantly, and the many teachers and parents who give so generously of their time, this festival does not happen without you, and that is worth saying plainly.
To the players: you are the reason we are all here. Go onto that field and give everything you have. Respect your opponents and your referees. And enjoy every moment, because these days pass more quickly than you think.
Easter is a season of renewal and of coming together. That is exactly what this weekend is.
Play hard. Play fair. Play with joy.
Welcome to St John’s College.
Dale Jackson
Executive Headmaster
St John’s College
Welcome from Standard Bank
Standard Bank is proud to once again partner with St John’s College to host another exciting Easter Rugby Festival. As a bank heavily invested in education in South Africa, we also equally recognise the critical role that sport plays in a well-rounded education and the development of strong character.
Aligned with our core purpose, Africa is our home. We drive her growth. Our role in the festival reflects our deep dedication to the growth of our continent and its people, most importantly, our youth.
We believe this platform not only nurtures the young people who participate in it but also shapes them to be responsible, resilient, and inspired future leaders. That is why we are so passionate about supporting youth development.
Through our collaboration with St John’s College, an institution renowned for its distinguished history of excellence, we also recognise that growth is not always easy – it is not linear, but is built through discipline, sacrifice, resilience, and moments of self-belief. And it is strengthened by challenges and carried forward by purpose.
We know that when one young person grows, families grow, communities grow, and our country grows. As we continue to support festivals like this one, we see ourselves as more than just a bank, but a committed partner in a child’s journey to greatness.
Our goal is to unlock opportunities by building strong relationships that enable collective success. Our partnership with St John’s College is therefore grounded in a shared belief in excellence, empowerment, and opportunity. This spirit of teamwork and cooperation defines our commitment to you.
To the parents, we want to say to you, thank you for continuously encouraging and supporting your children to be the best they can be in a forever-changing world. To the learners, play with passion, lead with integrity, but most importantly, have fun on the field. Know that every match is a chance for you to grow.
We look forward to an incredible festival of growth and excellence.
Thank you.
Tshiamo Molanda
Head, Youth and Mass Market Personal and Private Banking, Standard Bank South Africa