Our 2003 Rugby season kicked off with all our teams proudly representing the school at the Midlands rugby festivals held in various locations. Our U9s showcased their talent at Cowan House, the U10s at Cordwalles, the U11s at Howick, the 2nds squad at St. Charles, and our 1st squad fearlessly took on the challenge at Merchiston.

I am delighted to inform you that our coaches have reported exceptional performances from all age groups, both on and off the field. Clifton is renowned for its playing style characterised by heart and running rugby, and this spirit has been evident throughout the season. Our boys have displayed exciting attacking options, thrilling spectators with their skill and creativity. Defensively, they have shown remarkable courage, fearlessly putting their bodies on the line for their team and embodying the values we instill as coaches.

The season began with a few injuries, which led to only 18 boys participating in the St. John’s Easter Rugby Festival in Johannesburg. James Meyer was chosen as the captain of our First XV, with Graeme Higginson as his vice-captain. Despite facing the challenges of a large field and a passionate crowd, our team displayed the true Braveheart spirit. On the first day, they put in their best effort against the hosts, St. John’s, and narrowly lost with a score of 17-12. In the following match against The Ridge, our boys played exceptionally well and were victorious with a score of 12-5. The game against St. Peters was a tough battle resulting in a 21-5 loss, but the opposing coach commended the Clifton boys for their positive attitude and supportiveness towards each other. On the last day of the tour, we faced WHPS and gave them a challenging match, eventually losing with a close score of 12-10. After the tour, the First XV were eager and motivated for the remainder of the season.

The culture of Clifton rugby continued to shine through in a series of fiercely contested fixtures during the regular season. One of the highlights was our matches against Merchiston, where as a school, we fielded eight teams, including two U9s, two U10s, a U11 squad, and three Open teams. We played against Howick, resulting in four wins, three losses, and one draw. Additionally, we had the privilege of taking on Cowan House with our esteemed Cliftonians in attendance, and the day ended with a victory in four out of six games. The impressive performance of our First XV, losing only one match in the regular season, speaks volumes about the strong position of Clifton rugby.

Furthermore, we are proud to announce that four of our boys represented Our Union (Midlands) in the inter-district tournament and the KwaZulu-Natal trials. Guy Fyvie, James Witherspoon, William Watt-Pringle represented the U12 team, and Lindo Nene showcased his talent in the U13B team. It is with great pleasure that we congratulate Guy Fyvie for making it into the Sharks Schools U12B squad. We wish him all the best as he prepares to play during the upcoming holidays.

The 2023 rugby season has been a journey filled with growth, achievement, and the forging of lifelong friendships for our boys at Clifton. We commend them for their commitment, hard work, dedication, and sportsmanship while embodying the spirit and representing the school.