Rankings compared
SA schools rugby rankings compared
All four South African schools rugby rankings make Paarl Gimnasium No. 1 for 2026. They differ in how they decide the rest: Rugby365 is an editor's opinion, the Fairtree table uses an unpublished formula, Rugby Ignite exchanges points the way World Rugby does, and Schools Rugby Rankings is a rating tested against 6 299 real results that you can check match by match.
Updated , with results to .
Side by side
| Rugby365 Top 50 | Fairtree (SA School Sports) | Rugby Ignite | Schools Rugby Rankings | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Made by | Rugby365 editors | SA School Sports, sponsored by Fairtree | Rugby Ignite, from Match Pulse results | Schools Rugby Rankings, from match results |
| Method | Editors' judgement of opposition, head-to-heads, quality wins, defeats and consistency | A points formula over results; the formula is not published | Points exchange modelled on World Rugby's, out of 100 from 50; method described in words | Elo rating with margin and home-ground allowance; formula published |
| Schools covered | Top 20 weekly, final Top 50 | 310 teams on 23 Aug 2026, from 3 matches played | 104 in its 2026 season table | 251 ranked (5+ matches), 461 rated |
| Seasons | 2026 | 2026 | 2022 to 2026, plus an all-time table | 2022 to 2026 |
| Page per school | No | No | Tapping a school shows the match that last moved it | Yes: results, rating history, season by season |
| Prediction accuracy published | No | No | No | Yes: 70% of 6 299 winners picked before kick-off |
| Where scores come from | Not stated | Not stated | One platform, Match Pulse | Three sources cross-checked, a link on every match |
| Best for | An expert's argued view of the top teams | A quick weekly table with the most teams | Live updates and past seasons | Checking any school's place and why it is there |
Top 10 in 2026: ours, Rugby Ignite and Fairtree
| # | Schools Rugby Rankings | Rugby Ignite | Fairtree, 23 Aug 2026 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Paarl Gimnasium | Paarl Gimnasium | Paarl Gimnasium |
| 2 | Affies | Zwartkop | Stellenberg |
| 3 | Garsfontein | Paul Roos Gimnasium | Paul Roos Gimnasium |
| 4 | Paul Roos Gimnasium | Affies | Grey College |
| 5 | Zwartkop | Monument | Garsfontein |
| 6 | Monument | Stellenberg | Paarl Boys' High |
| 7 | Paarl Boys' High | Garsfontein | Affies |
| 8 | Stellenberg | Pietersburg | Northwood |
| 9 | Grey College | Paarl Boys' High | Maritzburg College |
| 10 | Durban HS | Graeme College | Hilton College |
8 of our top 10 are in Rugby Ignite's and 7 in Fairtree's. Rugby365's final Top 50 has Paarl Gimnasium, Paul Roos Gimnasium and Stellenberg as its top three and Paarl Boys' High at No. 7. Sources: Rugby365 final Top 50, Fairtree First XV rankings, Rugby Ignite 2026 and its method, all read 24 Oct 2026.
Which one to use
You want an expert's view
Rugby365's Top 50 explains its calls in words, such as why one side edged another despite a head-to-head loss.
You want a quick weekly table
Fairtree lists the most teams each week, from 3 matches played, with a points score for each.
You want past seasons
Rugby Ignite keeps season tables back to 2022 and an all-time rating that never resets.
You want to check a school
Our full rankings give every school a page with each result, its source and the published formula behind its place.
Questions
Which SA schools rugby ranking is the most accurate?
Only one publishes a test: our rating picked the winner of 70% of 6 299 matches before kick-off. Rugby365 calls its list an informed opinion, the Fairtree formula is not published, and Rugby Ignite describes its method but publishes no accuracy figure, so none of them can be checked the same way.
Who is No. 1 in the 2026 schools rugby rankings?
All four agree: Paarl Gimnasium is No. 1 in Rugby365's final Top 50, the Fairtree table of 23 Aug 2026, Rugby Ignite's 2026 table and our 2026 rankings.
Is the Rugby365 schools ranking an opinion?
Yes, by its own description. Rugby365 calls its final Top 50 an informed opinion, weighed on opposition strength, head-to-heads, quality wins, defeats and consistency.
What is Rugby Ignite?
An independent school rugby ranking built on Match Pulse, the live scoring platform. It uses a points exchange modelled on World Rugby's, with every team starting on 50 out of 100, and publishes a 2026 season table (104 schools when read) and an all-time table back to 2022.
How does the Fairtree first XV ranking work?
SA School Sports publishes a weekly table with each team's matches played and points. It lists teams from 3 matches played (310 on 23 Aug 2026) but does not publish the formula behind the points.
Why is Zwartkop ranked so differently?
Zwartkop is No. 5 in our 2026 rankings after 22 wins from 24, and No. 2 in Rugby Ignite's, but was No. 34 in the Fairtree table of 23 Aug 2026. Both results-based ratings put it in the top 10; the Fairtree points do not.
How much do the rankings agree?
8 of our top 10 are in Rugby Ignite's top 10, and 7 are in Fairtree's top 10 of 23 Aug 2026: Paarl Gimnasium, Stellenberg, Paul Roos Gimnasium, Grey College, Garsfontein, Paarl Boys' High, Affies.
Can I check how a school got its ranking?
On our site, yes: every school page lists each result, its source, the win chance before kick-off and the rating change it caused.
Which ranking should I use?
Use Rugby365 for an expert's argued view, Fairtree for a quick weekly table, Rugby Ignite for past seasons, and ours when you want every result with its source and a method tested against real matches.