The Kearsney Easter Rugby Festival will kick off on Thursday as scheduled despite the widespread flooding and heavy rainfall experienced in KwaZulu-Natal this week, organisers confirmed on Tuesday.

The school campus is ready and the organisers say they are looking forward to delivering a magnificent 13th festival after a two-year Covid-enforced absence. The 12 participating teams are among the top rugby-playing schools in the country and spectators should experience some exhilarating rugby at the family-friendly event.

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Joining hosts Kearsney from KZN are Glenwood, Westville and Durban High School (DHS). Four schools from Gauteng include Dr EG Jansen from Boksburg, Hoërskool Waterkloof, Hoërskool Monument and Pretoria Boys High.

There is a strong pair from the Eastern Cape in Selborne College from East London and Hoërskool Framesby from Port Elizabeth, with debutant Hoër Landbouskool Marlow from Cradock. Hoërskool Noord-Kaap from Kimberley completes the line-up.

Kearsney College traditionally play the opening game of the festival and on Thursday they will be playing Marlow. Glenwood, the power-house of KZN school rugby for a number of years, will play the penultimate match on the opening day against Pretoria Boys’ High School.

Festival play days are Thursday, Saturday and Monday, with kick-off at 9.30 am on the first and last days and at 8 am on Saturday.