As is the case at most schools, Paul Roos Gymnasium also rests on the three pillars of education, namely academics, sport and culture.
Participation in school sports is important amongst other things to increase confidence, mental alertness, and self-esteem in learners. By practising sport, students acquire various skills like leadership, patience, team efforts, and social skills.
In the South African context it is also very important for the national project of reconciliation and for the bridging of cultural divides.
It is noteworthy to observe the role the Old Boys of Paul Roos Gymnasium have played in this regard, especially with reference to rugby.
The name ‘Springboks’, by which the national team is known, was given by Paul Roos, the man whose name the school bears. This happened in 1906 on the team’s first tour to Britain and Europe.
The circumstances after the Anglo-Boer War made this tour a very challenging venture. Some team members had fought the Boers during the war, whilst others were serving time as Boer prisoners-of-war. It was believed that the tour would salvage relations between Afrikaans and English-speaking South Africans. The choice of Paul Roos as captain made this possible and the success of this tour put South African rugby on the world map.
South Africa hosted and won the 1995 Rugby World Cup, in what was their first appearance in the tournament. After being tainted by associations with apartheid, the Springboks (or ‘Boks’) had sought to become part of the ‘New South Africa’, with President Nelson Mandela wearing the Springbok jersey, once only worn by white South Africans, at the final of the 1995 Rugby World Cup. In celebrating this victory together, momentous strides were made towards achieving reconciliation. Unfortunately, no Old Boys were included in the team that played in this tournament, nor in the 2007 tournament, which was also won by the Springboks.
However, in the 2019 Rugby World Cup Tournament the school set up a record by producing five members of the victorious Springbok team and a player for the team from Italy. The Springbok players were Schalk Brits, Willie le Roux, Stephen Kitshoff, Damian Willemse and, Herschel Jantjies. Braam Steyn played for Italy.
Paul Roos Gymnasium is topping the list of schools that produced the most Springbok rugby players. 54 to date!
You can find a comprehensive list of PRG Springbok rugby players in the table below. Willie Le Roux (83) played the most, followed by Steven Kitshoff (71) and Francois Hougaard (46).
If we have a look at the Springbokke and National Colours Role of Honour boards, the school has produced amazing achievers.
