Paul Roos Overpowers Affies in High-Stakes Stellenbosch Encounter to Claim Early Season Dominance

Paul Roos Gimnasium secures a dominant win over Affies, while Grey College remains unbeaten and Drostdy scores a major upset against Wynberg.

By: AXL Media

Published: Mar 23, 2026, 9:34 AM EDT

Source: Information for this report was sourced from Rugby365

Paul Roos Asserts Authority at Home

In the first visit to Stellenbosch by Affies in over a decade, Paul Roos demonstrated why they are considered a frontrunner for the unofficial number one national ranking. While the match remained balanced for much of the first half, the hosts accelerated their scoring either side of the interval. A critical turning point occurred late in the first stanza when flyhalf Travis Pheiffer intercepted a wayward pass, racing 70 meters to score. Pheiffer’s clinical performance, which included two tries and multiple successful conversions, earned him the Player of the Match honors.

Grey College and Monument Showcase Elite Talent

In Bloemfontein, Grey College maintained their unbeaten streak with a 31–15 victory over Monument. Despite the loss, the visitors made headlines through an audacious drop goal from flyhalf Jaydon Viljoen, struck from well inside his own half. Viljoen’s technical proficiency has been linked to his work with French kicking coach Vlok Cilliers, reflecting the professional-grade coaching currently influencing the top tier of South African school rugby. Grey College remains a primary rival to Paul Roos in the race for seasonal supremacy.

Upsets and Resilience Across the Provinces

The weekend was marked by several notable upsets, particularly the 35–14 away victory by Drostdy over Wynberg. This result confirmed preseason predictions by Paul Roos coach Corné Uys, who identified the Worcester-based side as a team to watch in 2026. In KwaZulu-Natal, Michaelhouse secured a surprise 28–14 win against Northwood, while Westville overcame torrential conditions to defeat Maritzburg College 26–10. These results suggest a highly competitive year ahead with no single team establishing absolute dominance outside the top three.