Growth of Girls’ Rugby High School League in the Northern Suburbs

Viaan Jonker
5 minutes ago
3 min read

Line out contest between DF Akademie and Curro Delft.
DF Akademie jumper: Magriet de Klerk.

Girls’ rugby at school level is often said to be limited — but in the Northern Suburbs of Cape Town, that perception is being challenged.

The 2026 Northern Region Girls Rugby League marks the second consecutive year of structured competition for schoolgirls in the region. This season introduces a significant step forward, expanding from a single division into two dedicated age groups: U16 and U19.

The league, facilitated by Up and Under in its role as custodians of the Western Province Rugby Football Union (WPRFU) Northern Region for girls’ rugby, brings together a growing network of schools across the region. Participating schools in 2026 include Bellville South High School, Bellville Technical High School, Bosmansdam High School, Curro Delft, Curro Durbanville, DF Akademie, Edgemead High School, Elsies River High School, Excelsior Secondary School, Fairmont High School, Parow High School, and President High School.

According to the official fixture schedule, the league runs from April through to August, with each school playing a series of matches across both divisions . Matches are primarily played in a 10-a-side format, allowing for increased involvement, skill development, and accessibility as participation continues to grow.

New Entrants Reflect Continued Growth

The 2026 season has also seen the inclusion of new schools, further highlighting the upward trajectory of girls’ rugby in the region. Fairmont High School and Curro Durbanville have both joined the league this year.

For Fairmont High School, the milestone is particularly significant. The school officially launched its girls’ rugby programme in February 2026 and took to the field for its first-ever match on 11 April against President High School. The occasion marked not only a debut fixture, but the beginning of a new chapter for the school’s sporting landscape.

Fairmont High School’s girls’ first team during their debut fixture against President High School, with Zoey Jordaan in possession.

A Structured Pathway to Provincial Rugby

Beyond weekly fixtures, the league forms part of a broader Western Province pathway. The Northern Region is formally recognised within the WPRFU system, serving as a key step between school rugby and provincial selection.

This structure is already producing results, with players from Northern Suburbs schools progressing to Western Province representation and national platforms such as SA Rugby’s FNB Youth Weeks for girls at U16 and U18 level.

Players who have progressed through this system include:

DF Malan (DF Akademie): Megan Abrahams, Mia Kanka, Magriet de Klerk, Jessie Schoeman, Carla Esterhuysen
Fairbairn College: Lucia Chu, Laghan de Jongh
Edgemead High School: Eyam Mgwebile
Bellville Technical High School: Shanelia Heugh
Bosmansdam High School: Nommah Sandifolo
Bellville South High School: Danica Pypers
Kasselsvlei Comprehensive High School: Zoë Antonie

Their progression reflects the effectiveness of a system designed not only to introduce players to the sport, but to support their long-term development.

Northern Region players who have progressed through to Western Province under-16 and under-18 selectio in 2025. Along with Coach Regan Petersen from the Northern Region, who was apointed as the girls under-16 assistant coach.

Changing the School Rugby Landscape

The expansion into two divisions highlights both increased participation and a more structured approach to competition. It also addresses a longstanding challenge in girls’ rugby: the lack of consistent, organised match opportunities at school level.

What is becoming clear is that the question is no longer whether girls’ rugby exists in schools, but how it is being structured and supported. In the Northern Suburbs, that structure is now firmly in place.

As the 2026 season continues, the Northern Region Girls Rugby League stands as a clear indication that girls’ rugby at school level is not only present, but steadily growing.

Some of the results from the opening round of the league so far include:

Under-19: