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10. Kings Parramatta (Australia)
Senior Internationals: 278.40 Points
Under 20 Internationals: 23.90 Points
Under 18 Internationals: 151.20 Points
Rugby World Cup: 45.00 Points
School Championships: 118.11 Points
TOTAL POINTS: 616.61
A rich history and a recent AAGPS winner, The Kings School is an extremely prestigious school that offers not only a fantastic all round education but an exceptional rugby program to boot.
30 AAGPS titles, the second most in the over 100 year history of the competition with the most recent being just last year, Kings are clearly a program that have both a rich history and are on an upward trajectory in terms of their program overall.
In 2000 they became the first global champion winning the SANIX invitational tournament with a dominant 28 – 5 win over Paul Roos showcasing the strength of not only their program but the AAGPS overall and shocking many a school rugby supporter at the time.
So far they have managed to produce 56 Australian Under 18 internationals, 4 Under 20 internationals and 28 Wallabies with Stirling Mortlock among their most famous sons. Had it not been for many of their talents switching codes one feels that there would be far more players on this list.
9. Bishops (South Africa)
Senior Internationals: 459.60 Points
Under 20 Internationals: 18.90 Points
Under 18 Internationals: 51.00 Points
Rugby World Cup: 67.60 Points
School Championships: 22.22 Points
TOTAL POINTS: 619.32
A fantastic rugby nursery and one that has an extremely rich tradition being among the greatest contributors to the South African game, the Diocesan College better known as Bishops are simply put, one of the programs that are easiest on the eye for whether it is a strong or weak Bishops team the mantra of “Running Rugby” remains.
Bishops players wear no numbers on the back of their jerseys, according to the Bishops website:
“Bishops has never played with jersey numbers preferring each and every player to develop a skill set which promotes catch and pass, offloading in the tackle, decision making and identifying space. This indicates their immense aptitude for and application of the running game.”
17 SA Schools internationals and 6 Junior Springboks may suggest that there is not much of an assembly line when one looks at the other schools on this list but their 42 Springboks produced places them third after Paul Roos and Grey College and 1 national championship in 1989 (unofficial) again shows that this is a program that deserves respect. Many members of the class of 2020 and 2021 will no doubt go on to achieve higher honours so expect the program to move up this list if current trends continue.
8. Paarl Gim (South Africa)
Senior Internationals: 284.20 Points
Under 20 Internationals: 78.50 Points
Under 18 Internationals: 111.00 Points
Rugby World Cup: 105.40 Points
School Championships: 88.89 Points
TOTAL POINTS: 667.99
“Gimmies” as they are known are probably pound for pound the best rugby program on the planet, when you consider that this is a co-educational school and there are roughly half the number of boys at Gim than their rivals it just shows how deep the rugby culture is ingrained at the school.
They are ahead of arch rivals Paarl Boys in overall head to heads in the Paarl derby which when one considers the strength of the Booishaai program tells you all you need to know.
So far 37 SA Schools players, 21 Baby Boks and 29 Springboks have come through the program of which Schalk Burger, Jean De Villiers and Handre Pollard are names that many of our readers will recognize.
7. Nudgee College (Australia)
Senior Internationals: 240.00 Points
Under 20 Internationals: 63.90 Points
Under 18 Internationals: 226.80 Points
Rugby World Cup: 66.60 Points
School Championships: 148.51 Points
TOTAL POINTS: 745.81
The Grand Daddy of the GPS competition, the school which all other schools in the Queensland region measure themselves against, Nudgee College are simply put the best in class when it comes to rugby in the region.
They were well on their way to claiming yet another GPS title in 2021 but for the situation to once again rear its ugly head. 30 titles in their prestigious history with their nearest rivals Churchie claiming 16 showcases their dominance and we expect this trend to continue, rugby excellence at Nudgee is not hoped for, it is expected.
A whopping 84 Australia Under 18 internationals have come through at Nudgee with a further 12 Junior Wallabies and 25 Wallabies, over 100 internationals in their history showcases their strength.
Their most recent Wallabies have been Feleti Kaitu’u in 2021 and Caleb Timu in 2018.
6. Auckland Grammar (New Zealand)
Senior Internationals: 519.20 Points
Under 20 Internationals: 8.00 Points
Under 18 Internationals: 105.00 Points
Rugby World Cup: 37.60 Points
School Championships: 81.08 Points
TOTAL POINTS: 750.88
There are few schools with the brand value of Auckland Grammar, a school which throughout it’s history has been a major player in New Zealand schools rugby and continues to this very day to be one of the proud nations premier programs.
The Auckland 1A competition is considered by many to be the strongest schools rugby competition on the planet, countless All Blacks have come through this competition and since 1895 no school has dominated as much as Grammar with an unprecedented 66 trophies with the nearest rivals being MAGS who has managed just 23 along the way.
They have been no slouches on the national stage either with 3 New Zealand Top 4 titles placing them third on the all time list, one only wonders how many more titles they would of had, had there been a national competition in the early part of the 20th century.
39 Under 18 internationals and 2 under 20 internationals may not seem like much but they are New Zealand’s leading producer of All Blacks with 50 former Grammar boys having come through the school. Notable alumni include current star Rieko and Akira Ioane and legends of the game such as Grant Fox, Dougie Howlett and the Whetton brothers.
5. Paul Roos (South Africa)
Senior Internationals: 529.20 Points
Under 20 Internationals: 44.80 Points
Under 18 Internationals: 87.00 Points
Rugby World Cup: 69.80 Points
School Championships: 44.44 Points
TOTAL POINTS: 775.24
While many point to Grey College as the “Springbok Factory” it is in fact Paul Roos that are the leading producers of Springboks with a total 54 old boys having worn the famous Green and Gold.
So ingrained is Paul Roos in South African rugby that the very man they are named after is the man who termed the name “Springbokke”.
Including the 54 Springboks there have been 29 SA Schools players and 12 Junior Springboks among their old boys and the recent Springbok winning World Cup squad had Herschel Jantjies, Damian Willemse, Steven Kitshoff, Willie le Roux and Schalk Brits in the squad – all of them old Paul Roos boys.
Some have felt that despite this rich history the program has fallen behind some of the more established schools but when looking at the junior ranks we can assure you, the Paul Roos story is far from over.
4. Christchurch Boys (New Zealand)
Senior Internationals: 449.10 Points
Under 20 Internationals: 62.70 Points
Under 18 Internationals: 96.00 Points
Rugby World Cup: 162.00 Points
School Championships: 81.08 Points
TOTAL POINTS: 850.88
The benchmark for all South Island schools, Christchurch Boys have gifted rugby some of the greatest stars of recent times and combine that with a history that is the envy of many.
Their regional dominance is something that is admired by many, the first 6 UC Championships were easily won by the school and their trophy hall of 11 in 20 years shows why they are the regional benchmark for many. Regulars at the Top 4 competition representing the South Island, 3 national titles place them joint third on the all time list and couple this with two SANIX international wins on the trot in 2005 (Southport School 32-8) and 2006 (Monument 34-20) it is clear to any reader that this is a program that one needs to take seriously.
So far 33 New Zealand Under 18 internationals, 14 Baby Blacks and 43 All Blacks (2nd on the all time list) have come through the school but is not only the quantity, it is the quality of player that has come through the program. Andrew Merthens, Dan Carter, Brodie Rettalick, the Franks brothers (Owen and Ben) and Aaron Mauger are all high level All Blacks that have once called Christchurch Boys home.
Although in recent times the program has dipped somewhat and the UC Championship in particular has become far more competitive one cannot ignore the sheer quality of their history placing them among the giants of school boy rugby.
3. Blackrock College (Ireland)
Senior Internationals: 285.00 Points
Under 20 Internationals: 120.00 Points
Under 18 Internationals: 223.60 Points
Rugby World Cup: 110.00 Points
School Championships: 261.36 Points
TOTAL POINTS: 999.96
The Leinster Schools senior cup is a world renowned competition that many consider to be among the toughest on the planet, it is the gold standard in terms of Irish schools rugby and countless Ireland internationals have come through the competition. Such is the prestige of the Blackrock College program that since it’s inception in 1887 the school has lifted the trophy a staggering 69 times with their nearest rivals being Belvedere College with 12 trophies, in fact Blackrock College has won the competition more times than all other schools on the list combined!
Add to this a whopping 86 Ireland Under 18 internationals, 34 Under 20 Internationals and 30 Irish Internationals according to our records and it is clear to any reader, there is no other program in Irish rugby and likely Northern Hemisphere rugby that can hold a candle to giant that is Blackrock College, a program that casts a long shadow over all.
When it comes to their alumni the list is too long for us to to it justice, Blackrock not only produce exceptional players, they produce legends!
2. St Josephs, Hunters Hill (Australia)
Senior Internationals: 460.80 Points
Under 20 Internationals: 48.90 Points
Under 18 Internationals: 275.40 Points
Rugby World Cup: 74.60 Points
School Championships: 220.47 Points
TOTAL POINTS: 1080.17
While Nudgee College have domianted the GPS and are a highly respected program in Australia there is only one program in our opinion that is the gold standard in Australian schools rugby and that is St Josephs College based in Hunters Hill, Australia.
Not only have they absolutely dominated the AAGPS competition, they have done it in style with an open, entertaining and expansive style of rugby that has been a constant throughout their history. 56 trophies place them far ahead of their nearest rivals Kings Parramatta (30) and despite producing many legendary teams over the years perhaps their golden era was from 1981 – 1995 where they won 13 trophies in 15 years.
They are far and away the leading producer of Australian Under 18 internationals with 102 boys having gone on to achieve national colours and with 13 Junior Wallabies and a record 47 senior internationals they are without doubt the benchmark for Australian schools rugby, it is truly frightening to think how many more senior and junior internationals would of come through had it not been for many switching over to rugby league after their school careers were done.
- Grey College (South Africa)
Senior Internationals: 469.90 Points
Under 20 Internationals: 118.30 Points
Under 18 Internationals: 309.00 Points
Rugby World Cup: 204.20 Points
School Championships: 511.11 Points
TOTAL POINTS: 1612.91
At the end this will surprise not one person although the margin with Grey being over 600 points ahead of St Josephs even had us taken aback, Grey College is simply put and without debate the single greatest school rugby program on the planet and this by some distance.
To fully explain the strength of this program would need it’s own article, but we will try and condense it as much as possible.
Up until the 1950’s Grey had a highly respected program, perhaps they were slightly behind the Western Cape schools and there were regular battles which were lost against schools such as Rondebosch and even Queens College in the Eastern Cape but after this period something clicked, and the school has not looked back since then – Grey College teams are not only expected to have good seasons, they are expected to have unbeaten seasons and a winning record in a season of 80% is even considered a disaster.
So far 110 Grey College youngsters have gone on to receive their national under 18 colours, a stat which is impressive itself but when you consider the second highest producer being Paarl Gim have produced 37 it shows that SA Schools colours is an expectation for a Grey Boy. A further 30 Junior Springboks and 46 Springboks have been produced by the school.
In terms of our unofficial national schools championships for South Africa we have Grey College as winners a total of 23 times, as much as all other schools on the list combined.
Their historical win rate is perhaps the most impressive in any school sport with a 91% win rate since 1855 to the present day, 28 Grey College teams have gone unbeaten and they went on a remarkable 85 match winning streak from 1985 – 1991. In their last 227 matches they have lost only 16 games, and have an incredible 94% win rate from 1997 – 2021. For more stats please visit the Grey College inspired website Vive La Grey by clicking here.
To list all their notable alumni would take some doing but legends of the game include Morne du Plessis as well as World Cup winners such as Naka Drostske, Ruben Kruger, Frans Steyn, Bismarck du Plessis, Jannie du Plessis, CJ van der Linde and Ruan Pienaar.
