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.