King Price Derby Series returns for 2026 with 45 epic clashes across six regions

The King Price Derby Series is back for 2026, and if last season proved anything, it is that schoolboy rugby in South Africa does nothing quietly.

Following a breakthrough debut season where derbies were broadcast into homes and onto mobile screens across the country, the King Price Derby Series returns this year with 45 high-intensity clashes featuring 47 schools across six regions.

From Paarl to Pretoria, Bloemfontein to Cape Town, and almost everywhere in between, traditional rivalries will once again ignite communities, fill grandstands, and dominate Saturday conversations.

“The King Price Derby Series gives talented young players a national stage, whether they come from a powerhouse or smaller community school, and that matters to us. It is more than a sponsorship. It is a statement about belief, opportunity, and building the next generation of South African rugby,” says De Wet van Deventer, Chief Marketing Officer at King Price.

Few moments captured the spirit of the King Price Derby Series better than the Paarl derby last August. With tens of thousands of supporters divided down the middle of the stands, the atmosphere was electric. It was a reminder that derby day is about more than the result; it is about parents, communities, and generations rallying behind young players in school career-defining moments.

That atmosphere will return in full force this season, with iconic rivalries once again headlining the calendar. These are not just fixtures. They are institutions in their own right, built on decades of tradition and fiercely defended bragging rights.

Many of the players who go on to wear provincial and national colours first tested themselves in these derby environments. The intensity, pressure, and pride of representing a school in front of thousands is an education no academy can replicate.

For King Price, backing the series is about more than visibility. “Derby day is family day. It is alumni day. It is a reminder that grassroots rugby remains the heartbeat of the South African game.”

“The appetite is bigger. The stage is broader. And the rivalries are only getting fiercer. The King Price Derby Series 2026 once again positions schoolboy rugby at centre stage, celebrating both heritage and the next generation of talent,” concludes van Deventer.

For the full fixture list and season updates, visit: https://kpderbyseries.co.za/match-fixtures/