The past few years have given South African rugby some of its greatest moments, and woven through this golden era are the contributions of several Old Diocesans whose impact stretches from the World Cup stage to the Sevens circuit. It is a reminder of how deeply the Bishops spirit runs in our national teams, and how the values shaped on our fields continue to echo across the world.

It begins with François Louw (2003W), one of the original members of the famous 2019 “Bomb Squad”, who played an instrumental role in securing the Rugby World Cup in Japan. With 76 Tests to his name, he brought calm intelligence, leadership, and the kind of humility that has always defined him at Bishops. 

South Africa went on to defend their title in 2023 in France, a moment that felt almost unreal in its magnitude. As the final whistle blew, it was another member of the Bishops family, commentator Matthew Pearce , who gave the nation the phrase that instantly became part of our rugby vocabulary: “South Africa have gone Bok to Bok!” It captured everything at once: pride, disbelief, joy, and the sense that something extraordinary had been achieved.

Just one year later, a new OD stepped onto the stage. Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu (2020F), in his debut season, played a part in helping the Springboks win the 2024 Rugby Championship title.

By 2025, he had moved into a starting role, and the defining moment came in Durban against Argentina. That night at Kings Park, he scored a Springbok-record 37 points, including a hat-trick of tries, eight conversions and two penalties , a performance that had the crowd on its feet and made the Bishops community swell with pride.

The celebrations were not limited to the fifteens game. The Blitzboks produced back-to-back Cape Town Sevens titles, igniting the stadium with trademark flair and discipline. Among the stars was another OD, Tristan Leyds (2015S), who featured in both victorious squads. His spectacular acrobatic finish in the corner against France became one of the moments of the tournament.

As we look back on this remarkable period for South African rugby, the sense of pride within the Bishops community is unmistakable

A truly Proudly Bishops chapter in an unforgettable national story.