The curtain came down on a thrilling Mukuru Derby Day Festival this past weekend, as rugby enthusiasts flocked to Rolf Valley to witness some of the best schoolboy rugby Zimbabwe has to offer.
This year’s edition had a vibrant international flavour, headlined by the debut of St. Andrew’s College from Grahamstown, South Africa. They were joined by St. Alban’s College from Gauteng and the Sharks Academy from KwaZulu-Natal—adding much-needed quality and diversity to the competition.
Thursday and Saturday were the biggest days, with record crowds turning up. But it wasn’t just about the rugby—food stalls offering a variety of cuisines, lively corporate tents, and top-notch security made the event a true family affair.
Credit must go to St. John’s College Sports Director Chris Fourie and the entire St. John’s community for putting together such a well-organised event.
St. Andrew’s Light Up the Festival
Of the three touring teams, St. Andrew’s College were undoubtedly the pick of the bunch. They swept aside all their opponents, showcasing structured rugby and polished execution. They opened their campaign with an emphatic 46-3 win over St. George’s College, before seeing off a spirited Peterhouse side 46-24 in their second outing.
Their final match, played against hosts St. John’s College in the main game of the final day, was a thriller. St.
Andrew’s edged the Rams 41-39 in a match that had the crowd on its feet. Their rugby was a masterclass in precision—clinical ball-handling, pin-point passing, and effective use of their forwards to punch holes in defences. Unlike the typical Zimbabwean style of running everything from deep, St. Andrew’s favoured structure and control, and it paid off handsomely.
St. Alban’s Hold Their Own
St. Alban’s College kicked off their tour with a tightly contested 24-all draw against a fired-up Lomagundi College.
They followed it up with a 26-14 win over St. John’s College and closed their tour with a hard-fought 17-14 victory over Falcon College. They showed composure in tight moments and proved they can handle Zimbabwe’s top schoolboy sides.
Sharks Academy Too Strong for Steelers
The Sharks Academy had a one-sided affair against the Zambezi Steelers, running riot with a 67-10 win. Their speed and power were too much for the Steelers, and the scoreline reflected the gulf in class.
Lomagundi Fire Early Warning Shots
Lomagundi College were arguably the best Zimbabwean team at the festival. The Chinhoyi-based side put on some scintillating displays, with a backline oozing pace and flair.
Their link-up play between forwards and backs was smooth, and they were rewarded with wins over Churchill (29-20) and a dominant 39-15 dismantling of a highly rated St. George’s College team.
PE and CBC Disappoint
Prince Edward School, one of the traditional powerhouses, were a pale shadow of their former selves. They never really got going, suffering a heavy 35-14 loss to St. George’s and another 23-3 defeat to bitter rivals Churchill.
The Tigers looked disjointed throughout—kickers failed to find touch, the backline lacked direction, and attacking play was flat and uninspired. For a school known for running rugby, their performance was worrying ahead of the regular season.
Christian Brothers College (CBC) also had a rough time, going winless. They were outplayed by Falcon College 29-7 in their opener and later fell to Peterhouse 32-12.
Eaglesvale Show Grit
Eaglesvale continued to build on their growing reputation. They started with a 49-21 thrashing of Hillcrest and ended the festival with a gritty 8-7 win over Heritage. Their blend of physicality and flair could see them make serious noise in the co-ed league this season.
Looking Ahead
If this festival is anything to go by, Zimbabwean schoolboy rugby is heading into one of its most exciting seasons in recent memory. The inclusion of top South African schools has raised the standard, and it’s clear that teams like Lomagundi and Eaglesvale are setting the tone.
Now the big question,who can maintain this momentum when the real battles begin?
Featured image by Wonder Mashura
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