As an ODs sport connect us, whether on shared touchlines, early mornings, long afternoons, and the friendships and traditions that come with school sports.

In the coming week we will see Bishops involved in several such events, each deeply rooted in schoolboy tradition and sport.

📍 Frank Reid Oval | 21 January

Midweek brings one of the true highlights of the summer with a Bishops vs Rondebosch day/night encounter under lights at Frank Reid Oval. With a touch of colour, the evening promises a festival atmosphere as the hosts in Light and Dark Blue take on Rondebosch's Dark Blue and Yellow in a setting that always delivers energy and spectacle.

This fixture is about more than just runs and wickets , , its friends versus friends, familiar faces across the boundary, and the unmistakable buzz of music, and students dancing along the grass bank as the sun sets and the lights come on. For many, this will be the first real opportunity of the year for ODs to gather, reconnect and show visible support for their alma mater.

St Andrew's 1st Team Waterpolo Shield

📍 Makhanda (Grahamstown) | 22–25 January

The St Andrew's 1st Team Waterpolo Shield remains one of the most respected water polo gatherings on the school calendar, drawing teams from the Eastern Cape and abroad. Bishops' participation in this event continues a long-standing relationship with St Andrew's College, a school that has been both our longest rival and firm friend over generations.

Played in Grahamstown (Makhanda), these tupes if Tournaments are cornerstones of our inter-school sporting culture, strengthening bonds between schools while testing players in demanding conditions.

Old Boys and parents in the area are encouraged to come along and support , your presence on the pool deck is part of what keeps these traditions alive.

SA Schools T20 – Western Cape Regionals.

📍Stellenbosch & Somerset West | 23–25 January

Cricket takes centre stage with the Regional second round of the SA Schools T20, hosted across Stellenbosch and Somerset West under the auspices of the Boland Cricket Union.

Bishops enter this phase as defending champions from 2025, having also secured the Western Province Schools title later in 2025 following a hard-fought victory over Wynberg. It's a format that demands adaptability, resilience and depth, especially across a tough three-day schedule against unfamiliar and varied opposition.

Beyond silverware, tournaments like this are invaluable, offering players exposure to different styles of play and conditions, and reinforcing why T20 has become such an important development pathway in school cricket.

We wish the side all the best and encourage supporters to get behind them if you're nearby.

Rowing: A Bumper Weekend on the Water

It's a busy national weekend for rowing, with Bishops represented across multiple events.

VLC Sprints – Germiston

📍 National Event | 23 – 25 January

Our junior rowers head to the VLC Sprints in Germiston, one of South Africa's longest-running and most important school rowing events. The VLC has long been a proving ground for young athletes, offering early exposure to national-level competition and building friendships that often last well beyond school years.

Nick Whaits Regatta – Elgin

📍 Hosted by Somerset College | 24 January 2026

Meanwhile, senior rowers compete at the Nick Whaits Regatta in Elgin, hosted in association with Somerset College. The regatta honours Nick Whaits, a passionate rowing man whose contribution to the sport and to school rowing is still felt today. The 2026 edition again brings together leading Western Cape schools, combining strong racing with a sense of shared purpose and respect.

📍Cricket | Bishops Campus | 24 January

While many teams are on the road, back at home our own fields will be alive with sport, as the 2nd XI, 15A and 14A cricket sides welcome our sporting friends from Grey High School, Gqeberha.

These fixtures are always keenly contested and underline the long-standing inter-school relationships that form the backbone of the school sporting calendar. Parents, Old Boys and supporters are encouraged to come down and enjoy a full wash of cricket across the grounds.

To all students, staff and families involved this week, enjoy the journey. These tournaments are where memories are made, friendships are formed, and school spirit is strengthened.

To Old Boys: if you're in the area, come down, lend your voice and your presence, and be part of what makes Bishops and school sport special.