As we ease into the holidays, and the diaries make like Saturday detention after a fight for the lion, please take a moment to cast your eyes forward to the 2024 March/April holidays.

Next year is a big one for Bishops as the school celebrates it’s 175th birthday, and as part of the celebrations, will be hosting the Bishops 175 Rugby & Hockey festival.

Wednesday 20 March - break up day - will see our U14, U15 and U16 rugby teams take on Michaelhouse directly after Chapel at 11h00 (U16s on the Piley Rees). Thursday afternoon sees our 1st and 2nd XVs take on the same opposition on the Piley, before the Hockey 1st XI also take on the men in Red and White on the Woodlands astro in the evening.

The likes of Hilton, Grey High, St Andrews, SACS, and Wynberg have all accepted invites to the festival, with matches taking place on all 5 days across the school’s various rugby fields and astro, including the annual Bishops vs St Andrews fixture.

Parking will be plentiful, and there will be heaps of non-sporting entertainment like live music and panel discussions. Including sensational food and drink offerings, wine tastings from the various Bishops wine makers, and a craft market to die for, the Bishops 175 Hockey & Rugby festival promises to be one of the top events of 2024!

To add a little panache, we would like to offer each visiting team an OD as their liaison. It will not be too onerous in terms of duties, instead a wonderful way to introduce the school to our visitors, and for ODs to reconnect with the school.

If you would like to offer up your services as a team liaison, be a vendor in the wine tasting or craft market, or find yourself with the skills, time, and inclination to play a role in making this festival amazing, please CLICK HERE.

Key 2024 rugby dates at a glance:

• 11-14 March – Pre-Season rugby camp (on the College Campus, for all College rugby players)
• 15-17 March – Wynberg Festival (1st XV only)
• 20 March – Term 1 ends
• 20-23 March – Bishops 175 Rugby Festival (All A teams, 2nd and 1st XV)
• 09 April – Term 2 starts
• 13 April – Boland Landbou vs Bishops (All teams)
• 30 May – Bishops Rugby Dinner
• 1 June – Bishops vs Rondebosch (All teams)
• 12 June – Term 2 ends
• 09 July – Term 3 starts   
• 13 July – Bishops vs Paarl Gym (All teams)