Four brave (read: foolish) News24 writers put their reputations on the line by predicting what they think will happen in the 2026/27 Premier Soccer League season.

The four matches of Paarl’s world-famous Interschools derby between Boys High and Gimnasium at the Faure Street Stadium on Saturday will be the fruition of a year’s work bubbling into one fixture that is always unforgettable.

The sands of time have changed the landscape of rugby to a point where South Africa’s highly anticipated clash against New Zealand next month has a massive sense of novelty. Experience will matter, something that scuppered the Springboks when the All Blacks toured these shores in 1996.

New Zealand’s 44-man squad for the Rugby’s Greatest Rival tour covers every possible base, but with their strengths, the All Blacks also have weaknesses. Khanyiso Tshwaku looks at the five areas that will be front of mind for the All Blacks when they arrive for the tour that starts next week.

Hudson Park shocked Selborne College with a last-minute conversion, while the Paarl giants Boys High and Gimnasium warmed up for their big Interschools clash this weekend with big wins over Durbanville and Rondebosch, respectively.

The weekend before Paarl’s interschools derby will see the combatants face off against differently sized opponents as schoolboy rugby arrives at its short but exciting third-term stage.

Sponsors have rescued the Grey College v Outeniqua rugby derby after soaring fuel prices forced the George school to cancel. Outeniqua faces R1.4 million in travel costs for just two away games this term.

While the Springboks appear to be thin on specialist lock stocks, Cobus Wiese stands out as the latest utility player ‘cheat code’ coach Rassie Erasmus can lean on during the Rugby’s Greatest Rivalry series against New Zealand.

The Currie Cup, as a developmental tournament, has a key role to play in South African rugby, but it also needs to be taken to the people instead of the people coming to it, writes Khanyiso Tshwaku.

Sharks coach JP Pietersen said Vusi Moyo has more than what it takes to thrive at Test level, but the country needs to be patient with him as he faces the prospect of a Test debut at flyhalf against Wales on Saturday.