Six Mr Price sponsored schools will be taking part in the highly regarded Kearsney Easter Rugby Festival at Botha’s Hill, which kicks-off on Thursday, April 5 and runs until Monday, April 9.

Westville Boys High, Dale College, EG Jansen, Affies, Queen’s College and Grey College Bloem will be joining other top schools at the 2012 festival that has attracted an impressive line-up of participants.

Respected Rugby World Cup referee Craig Joubert, who will referee at the festival, reiterated that he was astounded at the passion and standard of schoolboy rugby in SA, and that it was “a privilege” to be part of it.

Sharks Academy managing director Hans Scriba said that several rugby pundits rated Grey College from Bloemfontein as arguably the best rugby school in the world, and there were several other participating schools not far behind.

Three scholarships, comprising a contract with The Sharks Academy and tuition bursary with Varsity College, will be awarded at the end of the festival, with talent scouts from The Sharks and The Sharks Academy set to watch all three play days (5, 7 and 9 April), to hand pick the cream for the crop.

Players from the festival who have subsequently been selected to the Academy and then for the Sharks as well the Springbok Sevens team are S’bura Sithole from Queen’s College in Queenstown, Lubabalo (Terra) Mtembu from Dale College in East London and Paul Jordaan from Grey College in Bloemfontein.

Festival organiser Taff Green said in five years the festival at Kearsney has grown in stature and is now seen as the country’s top schools rugby festival played over Easter.  It offers players a wonderful opportunity of testing their skill against the best in the game.

Green said rugby has become a realistic career opportunity for many and a festival such as this is an ideal springboard for players to show their skill and flair for the game.

The festival kicks off on Thursday (5th April) with hosts Kearsney playing Selborne College from East London.  Later in the day Westville face Dale College from King William’s Town and Glenwood play Monument from Krugersdorp.