Where Talent Meets Opportunity

A region that lives for rugby — now building the system to match.

Great Kei Rugby is an initiative for youth from rural areas to transform a love of rugby into a working ecosystem — one that develops players, trains coaches, and creates genuine pathways. Just as importantly, it brings sport back into rural schools, where it has all but disappeared. We deliver this through an annual tournament and a regional league, focused on all six high schools in the Great Kei. The region's 16 adult clubs — three of them in the top two provincial leagues — show just how deeply rugby already runs here.

GALLERY

Real moments from our schools, on and off the field.

How to Get Involved

Great Kei Rugby runs on people who show up — on match day, on a Wednesday afternoon, and in between seasons.

Sponsorship Opportunities

Great Kei Rugby offers sponsors the chance to take passionate, talented youth and give them the tools to develop in a meaningful way — with visible, authentic brand exposure across a whole region, from match day to school hall.

Supporting & In-Kind partners back a specific need — kit, transport, mouthguards, field repairs — with matched recognition.

Results

From the Great Kei to the national stage

Four girls who played at our tournament have gone on to represent South Africa at schools level. Their journeys show what a real pathway from rural rugby can look like. Rural schools are where much of South Africa's girls rugby talent is coming from, and we need to help nurture it further.

SA Schools Girls U18

Liyabona Kali

Hlumani

Selected: SA Schools Girls U18

One Step Ahead! One of our superstars from the 2026 Great Kei Schools Rugby Tournament and an excellent reader of the game, Liyabona Kali AKA "Heavy" from Hlumani High School went on the make the South African u18 rugby squad. Her main positions are outside centre and wing.

SA Schools Girls U18 A

Endinako Higa

Hlumani

Selected: SA Schools Girls U18 A

Run It Straight! Endinako Higa is the destructive inside center from Hlumani High School. Pace and power has helped her earn selection to the South African u18 A squad.

SA Schools Girls U18 A

Buncwane Komani

Bhongolethu

Selected: SA Schools Girls U18 A

Smart, elusive and always a handful for the opposition. Buncwane Komani from Bhongolethu High School went on to make the South African u18 A squad. Her main position is flyhalf.

SA Schools Girls U18 A

Liyema Ngawuliswazi

Tsholomnqa

Selected: SA Schools Girls U18 A

Power at 8! Liyema Ngawuliswazi from Tsholomnqa High School is a stocky and strong runner. She went on the make the South African u18 A squad. Her main position is eightman.

Register for the 2027 PokeyBull Great Kei Schools Rugby Festival

Two days, 28 teams, 700 players. Day 1 is U16 boys and girls, Day 2 is U19 boys and girls. Register your school's teams below and we'll be in touch to confirm your place.

Day 1 · U16

Boys8 teams

Girls6 teams

Day 2 · U19

Boys8 teams

Girls6 teams

Thanks — almost done

WhatsApp should have opened a chat with Great Kei Rugby (+27 78 358 0724) with your full registration filled in. Press send and we'll confirm your teams' places. If it didn't open, WhatsApp the details to +27 78 358 0724 or email greatkeirugby@gmail.com.

Register another school

School registration

All fields marked * are required.

Registration is only confirmed once we have received a copy of each player's ID, photo verification and a signed consent form. Every player must be a pupil at the school entering them.

U16 · Day 1

Born in 2011, 2012

U19 · Day 2

Born in 2008, 2009, 2010

Teams entering *

Tick a team above to open its squad list and add each player's first name, last name and ID number.

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Coach *

Manager *

Tick this if you can't field a full squad but still want to play. We'll combine you with players from another school — the 15-player minimum doesn't apply.

#First nameLast nameID number

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+ Add player + Add 5 rows 15–25 players per team

Squad full — 15–25 players per team.

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Send Registration via WhatsApp

Contact Us

Questions about sponsorship, the tournament, or getting involved? Reach us directly.