Paarl Boys’ coach Sean Erasmus believes Stellenberg’s remarkable rise to the top of the schoolboy rugby rankings is rooted in years of hard work.
Stellenberg have emerged as the story of the season, winning 11 of their first 12 matches and beating traditional heavyweights Paarl Gim, Grey College and Paul Roos.
The Jade Brigade face another major test on Saturday when they travel to Brug Street to take on Boishaai.
“Schoolboy rugby has become a lot more professional,” Erasmus told Rugby365. “The amount of time and effort that goes into preparing the boys has changed a great deal.”
He credited Stellenberg’s leadership team, including head of sport Andras Molnar and coach Divan Batt, for building a sustainable rugby programme.
“Stellenberg have done that really well,” said Erasmus. “Andras, Divan Batt and others in that system have put a great deal of thought into their structures, and how they’ve wanted to put Stellenberg on the map.”
“They’ve been putting in the hard yards over the years.”
MORE: Stellenberg breakthrough 20 years in the making
While Boishaai have endured an inconsistent campaign, Erasmus believes his young side is improving at the right time.
“There are similarities between 2024 and 2026,” he said. “There have been some improvements since the start of the season, and I’ve also been impressed by the character the team has shown.”
Photo: Stellenberg Facebook
