We laud some schools for developing rugby and producing quality players like a conveyor belt, well Grey College boasts 9 players in the Springbok touring squad and 8 out of 22 in the match 22 for the Springboks against Scotland! Amazing.
That is ONE THIRD of the total Bokke squad of 27 players, as it currently stands.
Bismarck Du Plessis, Jannie du Plessis, CJ van der Linde, Adriaan Strauss, Flip van der Merwe, Frans Steyn, Deon Stegmann, Ruan Pienaar and Coenie Oosthuizen all call Grey College their Alma Mater.
Grey College has been the No 1 Rugby School now for years and the big names roll off the tongue… Morne du Plessis, Ruben Kruger, Theuns Stoffberg, Heinrich Brussow… hell far too many to mention.
College sets the benchmark and has now surpassed Bishops in CapeTown for the number of Springboks produced by one school, but it must be mentioned that Bishops rides on it’s early history for producing Springboks.
- Grey College has produced 37 capped Springboks and one uncapped Bok currently on Tour (Coenie Oosthuizen).
- Bishops has produced 35 Springboks.
- Paul Roos has produced 34 Springboks.
Since South African re-admission into International Rugby circles in 1992, Grey College has produced 22 Springboks.
Amongst our Provincial sides more Grey College names abound, there is probably not one who does not feature an Old Grey boy.
Folks, this is not taking away from the other fine schools in South Africa, Affies in Pretoria, Waterkloof, Paarl Gym, Paarl Boys High, to name a few, it is rather an indication that Grey College does things right… and more importantly that the boys from Grey College do not get lost in the systems after school, like so many others.
I salute you Grey College, even though I never attended Grey College.
List of Grey College rugby Springboks:
1 1896 H van Broekhuizen
2 1912 Boetie Mc Hardy
3 1921 Sarel Strauss
4 1937 Louis Babrow
5 1937 Harry Martin
6 1938 Piet de Wet
7 1955 Popeye Strydom
8 1965 John Wessels
9 1970 Johan Spies
10 1971 Dawie Snyman
11 1971 Morne du Plessis
12 1974 Jackie Snyman
13 1976 Theuns Stoffberg
14 1977 Robbie Blair
15 1986 Jaco Reinach
16 1986 Helgard Müller
17 1992 Andries Truscott
18 1992 Johan Styger
19 1992 Pieter Muller
20 1992 Heinrich Fuls
21 1993 Ruben Kruger
22 1993 Ollie le Roux
23 1993 Naka Drotské
24 1997 Werner Swanepoel
25 1999 Charl Marais
26 2002 CJ vd Linde
27 2004 Gerrie Britz
28 2006 Ruan Pienaar
29 2006 Frans Steyn
30 2007 Bismarck du Plessis
31 2007 Jannie du Plessis
32 2007 Wian du Preez
33 2007 Tiaan Liebenberg
34 2008 Adriaan Strauss
35 2008 Heinrich Brussow
36 2010 Flip vd Merwe
37 2011 Deon Stegmann
38 2011 Coenie Oosthuizen (Uncapped)
History of the school:
Grey College is the oldest school north of the Gariep River and third oldest in the Republic of South Africa. The then Governor of the Cape Colony, Sir George Grey, visited the new Republic of the Orange Free State and on 13 October 1855 donated a sum of money towards the establishment of an institution for higher education. The school was officially opened on 17 January 1859 with dr. Andrew Murray as the first headmaster. The Model Republic, Bloemfontein and Grey College grew and developed together – the school under the leadership of headmasters like Dr. Johannes Brill, Messrs. James Lyle, Jock Meiring, J.M.B. Faure, A.K. Volsteedt. J.L. (Patat) Cronje, Dr. M.G. Heyns and since 1993 Mr. Johan Volsteedt (son of A K Volsteedt).
In 1950 the secondary and primary sections were separated and the Primary School developed rapidly under messrs. C.C.F. Bornman, Steve Strydom (well known in Rugby circles as a Referee and Rugby Administrator) and Chris Bester. Mr. Lindsay Mould is the current principal of the primary school.
Grey College is one of the best known schools in the country, and its past pupils are to be found in all walks of life – not only in South Africa, but also abroad.
In many respects Grey has developed into a unique school since it was founded in 1855. Here pupils receive their tuition through the medium of Afrikaans or English in separate classrooms. The two groups participate together in extramural activities, play together on the schoolgrounds, live in the hostels and attend the hall periods. The pupils take great pride in their school and loyalty is a hallmark of the Grey boys. The traditions and good name of the school bind them all together and inspire them to give even more than their best. We believe that in our parallel medium policy lies the solution to many of our country’s problems, especially since each language group maintains its own cultural heritage but is enriched by the other cultures.
New school buildings have replaced old ones and some old buildings have been restored thereby giving the whole complex a totally new, modern appearance without affecting the rich traditions of the school.
An atmosphere of moderation and tolerance pervades the school.
Mr-T wrote:
Guys I dont agree, its easy to knock Natal and the Natal guys being mild mannered gentleman take it from whence it comes. When Natal WAS in the B division I’ll remind you who they beat in the semi final to play Province in the final for the Currie Cup (different format those years, B division could come thru) they beat the Freestate. I do believe there was not one Freestate player in the Natal team that year, Wynaand Claasen was Captain and he originally played for N Tvl, but I think he was born in Natal.
Jouba born in Ladysmith, Honibol born in Winterton and I can name more. Most guys from Natal these days will take the gap and go and play overseas or get on with their careers as junior selection still carries the stigma of quota and the style of Ntal guys is not to confront but to go in a different direction. Grey College is a great school, but Hilton, Maritzburg College and a few others produce equally good schoolboy players. They are however lost to the system after that as there are other ways to make money.
A lot of guys got nowhere in their own Provinces until they got to Natal…the Currie Cup squad this year was mostly made up of “no namers” and look what they’ve achieved. Willem Alberts career was going nowhere and look at him now after coming to Natal. Our coaching and academy (first in the country) are world class. The reasons are myriad and it is not as simplistic as you state in your posts. Natal is bo want ons maak hulle beter!! I wont criticise Freestate coaching, but the results as a S14 Franchise are there to see and lots of Gray boys play for them.
@4man daai accademy is ook nie so hot nie as ek nou reg is was die vodacom cup o20 en o19 kompetiesies nog nooit rerig deur die sharks se opkomende spelers oorheers nie,die vodacom cup is dan juis vir opkomende spelers gemik,neewat pel die tjarks se beste spelers die laaste paar jaar was n pretorianer smit twee len 4 laaities van grey af dan noem ons nie eers vir strauss nie,die top natal skole is almal grey en parl gim en booishaai se slaansakke
Added some Grey College History above.
@ 4man die eenigste span wat bragging rites het in die s14 is die bulle die tjarks het ok nou nie regtig die s 14 aandie brand gespeel nie of wat se ek
@ smallies72:
Well its the sort of result I would expect from the juniors, clearly schoolboy coaching at Gray is very good, at the Natal schools (since Schonk Nicholson stopped at Maritzburg College) not so great, but the raw material is there and when the kids get to the Province the academy builds them…so I reckon the academy is better than what you think. As a matter of interest Pat Lambie is the first Michaelhouse boy to be a Bok, but Michaelhouse has preoduced plenty of business leaders and in particular good authors, Wilbur Smith amongst them. Patricks Dad Ian is a DHS old boy and he played flank for Natal. I am not aware of the history of results of the junior Natal teams, but I do recall them doing particularly well in the leagues…perhaps that has changed in the last 5 years when I havent been living there. If the OFS thought of the concept as family entertainment and not rugby then they could have generated the revenue to keep the Gray players there, but they didnt and the Sharks is probably the most successful franchise in the world and if players from other provinces/schools come and play there, then so be it…but I will not change my mind that Natal actually enhances their skills once they get there…particularly the mental game (which incidentally is the Springboks weakest point). Geniet die dag maat ons het wragtig k*k weer hier vandag.
@ smallies72:
Theyve reached more semis and finals that any other SA team…so I dont agree.
I see a lot of “My pecker” and “Your pecker” here… but the fact remains, we’re talking about the most successful rugby school of the last 35 years here.
Let’s just all clebrate Grey College here… no harm in that, they’re an example, in rugby terms, cricket terms, academic terms, they’re dual medium driven… what more could ONE school achieve?
35@ 4man:
Dis kak weer hier in Spanner Valley ook vandag…. reen so bietjie, drup so bietjie… mistroostig en freegin koel vir somer.
@ grootblousmile:
GBS I do not disagree with that…fantastic school, I have no problem with the school, what they’ve achieved and the players produced.
I believe the comments regarding Natal and the B division are untoward and I also agree everyone is entitled to their opinion. Natal is happy to have every one of those players in their squad and thats why they chose them in the first place…you know more than anyone I am an ardent supporter of everything South African including right at the top the Freestate and as far as rugby goes Natal have more than come to the party, so in my opinion the comments are unwarranted.
ja sorry ek was maar net petty gewees natal is eintlik n nice plek ek laaik nogal die berg,so daar is dit ek het my goeie ding oor natal gese vit die jaar
@ grootblousmile:
Vanoggend toe ek opstaan was die sonnetjie darem uit maar nou val die reen weer, die honde wil nie eers gaan vir n draffie nie. Die wag nou vir al die stories van die myn is besig om my mal te maak en ek werk my gat af om Africa Unlimited te promote….so ek is in vasbyt mode op die heidige oomblik. Ons gaan die Baa baas game kyk, so darem iets om na uit te sien. Gaan bietjie jol Saterdag in London…n ou moet ook bietjie ontspan!!
Ons moenie nou die Scotte onderskat nie veral as dit sleg nat is!!!
@ smallies72:
ha ha ha Smallies, net een lekker ding om te se? Komaan jy kan beter as dit doen.
@4man sorry mater as my rants jou kwaad maak dis ma net k@k praat en so bietjie die mickey uit die natallers uit haal
@4man eintlik check ek die berg baie kwaai en dia die helfte van die plek,die ander helfte roes net jou kar op
@ smallies72:
ek verstaan dit so…maar ek moet opstaan en my ou province verdedig….ek weet dit is maar grappies maak. Maar een ding is seker…ons Lewensredder en Branderplankry spanne is moers beter as julle s’n 😉
45@ 4man:
Ons binnelandse spanne sukkel met die branderplank en lewensredding-shit….. dis moerrrrr laagwater hier by ons… vir jarrrrre al !!
Hehehe
@4man jy het nog nooit die gariepdam se branders gesien nie ek hoor daar is sprake dat hulle die billabong van jefreys af soontoe wil skuif
die volgene spelers van grey wat bokke gaan word is small-smith sa skole kaptein by die bulle en johan goosen sa skole losskakel by die cheetahs dis nou as hulle volgens hulle potensiaal ontwikkel
@ smallies72:
Ek weet as die wind daar waai kan dit taamlik onsteimig raak..maar as hulle size wil he, dan moet hulle maar n “wavemachine” insit soos Sun City.
Grappies veryby…die Vrystaat het altyd n bloody goeie waterpolo span gehad…Ollie het ook vir hulle gespeel op n tyd. Ek ook in die 60’s by nationaal kampioenskappe, toe ek nog op skool was.
@super julle kan mos daar by wild waters gaan oefen opas net virrie fords
@gbs dis jy wat wildwaters toe kan gaan weet nie hoekom ek so tor deurmekaar issie
@4man weet jy toe ek op skool was in brakpan het oos tranvaal waterpolo in die land oorheers in die 80’s,ollie het saam met n pel van my popaai corbet van cradock vir vrystaat gespeel popaai en johannes was beoers en altwee in marlow
51@ smallies72:
Nee jinne, ek sit sommer in my eie swembad… en maak branders…. ek surf sommer op die internet, goofyfoot… hahaha
… en ek red sommer net my drankie as hy wil-wil omval….
Ek issie wild genoeg om na Wild Waters toe te gaan nie… netnou check die ouens my Handbriekie skeef aan… dan word ek geforseer om hulle te “chune”…
Flok, maar ons grap lekker.
@ smallies72:
Was Popeye ook op Gray?…daar is baie ouens van die Karoo wat of Gray toe gaan of die UOFS. My maat se seun was by UOFS en al drie die dogters, en hulle was op Volkskool Graaf Reinet voor dit. Lyk my nie baie van hulle wil Baai toe gaan!
@gbs oooooooo!
@4man nee hy was in marlow op cradock en kovsies sy broer johannes was op sy dag spiesgooi wereld champ gewees
@ smallies72:
Spiesgooi champ….wat was hulle Van? Is dit die ou wat sy been verloor het?
57@ 4man:
Lees weer # 52…. jy het iets gemis… hehehe
@4man hulle van is corbett
@ grootblousmile:
OK GBS gesien…nee ek ken hom nie.
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