The inaugural festival will showcase young female talent while giving players a chance to be selected for a 15-player All Stars team.
Pietermaritzburg, South Africa (23 September 2026) – South African girls’ school rugby is getting a major new platform, with the inaugural Nashua Green Elly Rugby Festival set to bring 10 teams together in Pietermaritzburg.
The first-ever 15-a-side Under-18 girls’ high school rugby festival will take place at the University of KwaZulu-Natal’s Pieter Booysen Sports Park on 26 September 2026.
Teams from across KwaZulu-Natal will take part, with each side playing two matches as the festival showcases the growing depth of young female rugby talent in the province.
The participating schools include Pietermaritzburg Girls’ High School, Emeris (Grosvenor Girls’ High School), Newcastle High School, Estcourt High School, Durban Invitational, Queensburgh Girls’ High School, Ogwini Club, Edendale Tech, Mandlamthethwa School of Excellence and Kokstad.
But there is more at stake than just the results.
A panel of selectors will be watching closely as they identify players for a 15-player All Stars team. The panel includes Springbok Women fly-half and SA Women ‘A’ captain Mary Zulu.
This will be a festival looking to create another pathway for young women to develop through rugby while giving them a stage to showcase their ability.
The event is also rooted in the history of Pietermaritzburg Girls’ High School. The school’s Green Elly is a symbol of its 106-year legacy and represents resilience and pride in the region.
And if you can’t make it to Pietermaritzburg, you won’t have to miss the action. The festival will be livestreamed on the SuperSport Schools app.
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