The Price of Glory — How School Rugby Fuels a Toxic Culture in South Africa’s Classrooms

The violent bullying incident at Milnerton High School has ripped open a wound many South African parents already know too well

The violent bullying incident at Milnerton High School has ripped open a wound many South African parents already know too well — the toxic mix of privilege, pressure, and protection that surrounds schoolboy rugby. In many high schools, the rugby field is a kingdom, and its stars are untouchable. They are paraded as the pride of the institution, often shielded from consequences that would be swift for anyone else.

Any parent with a child in high school rugby can attest to this strange duality: young athletes are celebrated as heroes, while others orbit around their status. Teachers turn a blind eye to late assignments; principals make excuses for aggressive behaviour because “the boy has talent.” The unspoken deal is simple — win on Saturday, and almost anything can be forgiven.

But this culture comes at a cost. When power and privilege are granted too early, arrogance festers. Bullying often thrives in these protected circles — both physical and psychological — where the hierarchy of worth is dictated by athletic ability. The Milnerton case, now viral, is a brutal symptom of that imbalance.

For the victims, the scars go much deeper than bruises. Bullying can shatter self-esteem and leave emotional damage that echoes into adulthood — anxiety, self-doubt, withdrawal. These are lifelong consequences, inflicted under the banner of “team spirit” and “school pride.”

South Africa’s rugby dominance on the world stage may well be born in these same schools — pressure cookers that breed resilience and competitiveness. But if success requires a system that protects bullies and devalues empathy, what kind of champions are we truly raising?

It’s time for principals, coaches, and parents to ask themselves: are we nurturing future Springboks — or future abusers?