Sport
Sport has played a significant role in the history of Bishops and is one of the pillars on which Bishops’ reputation and aspirations rest. Just as classroom attendance is required, so is it expected that each boys would take part in a sporting activity regularly throughout the year. There have been changes in organised public and private sport across the world, aided no doubt by the 24-hour programmes of sport that can be see on TV, or streaming services across the world, and the wealth of world cup competitions, the peak of professional sporting codes – so it is predictable that these changes will have consequences down to school level sport as well.
Tim Hamilton-Smith, the Vice-principal of Sport quoted the following from a 1998 document: “Bishops is committed to providing the best sporting environment and facilities possible so that every pupil in the school is able to play the sport of his choice guided by quality coaching and instruction. This commitment endeavours to provide for the full spectrum of Bishops sportsmen – with scope for the ambitious talented sportsman to be prepared for sport at the highest level, to those who wish to enjoy their sport on a more social level. Furthermore the sports coaches are committed to creating an environment in which each pupil is encouraged to play games in the correct manner and spirit.” (DC Mag, Dec 2003)
The 2010 Conference Action group for Sport and Health confirmed these sentiments, confirming that Bishops should continue to be a centre of excellence, but adding proposals that Bishops should use sport to reach out to under-privileged communities to create a bridge, as well as remaining attractive for boys with sporting potential as well. There should be support for building academies in various sports, and more coaches should be brought in, even if these coaches were still in training themselves.
In 1999, there was a calendar of major sporting events, ranging from cricket derbies in the first term, including a Rondebosch match under lights at Newlands, the athletics programme consisting of the House Relay Sports, Sports Day, and the Triangular, to Swimming Galas and Water Polo tournaments, Basketball matches, Rowing regattas on the Buffalo River in East London and up north in Gauteng. These gave way in the second term to Rugby, Hockey and Squash, which continued into the third term with the rugby season finishing with the Villager 7s and the Interhouse rugby matches. The fourth term saw the return to Cricket and Tennis.
The DC Magazines up till 2016 carried comprehensive reports on sport at Bishops, both at the College and the Prep. This account is an attempt to convey the broad sweep of developments since 1999 rather than trying to include the granular details of the boys’ performances during the years. At the College over the years, 25 sports have been on offer, some carried on every year, others sporadically. At the Prep 14 different sports. As well as this, there was a requirement that each boy should play in a team sport in order to learn the benefits of reliance on others and the building of team spirit. The individual sports and what are also call the life-style sports were introduced, they were to be the second sport an individual boy would take part in.
Preceding 1999 and even during the years, there was a strong belief that school sport should best be coached by teachers – indeed the model of the master teacher was one who could teach with equal facility in the classroom and on the sport field. But during these years up to 2024, increasingly coaching has been carried out by professional or semi-professional coaches together with the more talented and dedicated teachers who have the skills. However, a number of teachers also now play the role of team manager, a role that nonetheless requires thorough knowledge of the required skills, to ensure that the programmes are carried out, and that appropriate conduct and sportsmanship is maintained. In general, Bishops teachers have been engaged in sport in a variety of ways, and this is generally regarded as a feature of being a Bishops teacher.
With the number of sports available, it is clear that some sports would occupy pride of place, and the numbers of boys signed up for them would be greater than for the other sports. Teachers were often very associated with their sports and would continue year after year looking after their sports commitments.
Kenny Williams was teacher in charge of Athletics for years up until his retirement in 2010, followed by Burgert Maree and then Sa-eed Slamdien. The Athletics programme was consistent – House heats, Interhouse Relay competition, Sports day, Triangular between Bishops, Rondebosch and SACS (for 84 years) until 2020, when Wynberg Boys’ High joined and the competition now called the Quadrangular. The defining feature of this competition is that results are never publicly tabulated, although each school presumably totals up its successes. Some boys would go on to take part in regional and zonal competitions. The other traditional event in Athletics was the running of the Avenue Mile on Founders Day, an event that has happened annually since 1998, under the guidance of Phil Court. There are two groups of competitors to this event – the serious runners who aim to achieve times under 5 minutes, and the rest who dress up and run for fun.
Cycling and Mountain biking have been on the calendar since 2001, with interhouse competitions. First Paul Mayers was in charge of Mountain Biking, followed by Donovan Abrey, and now Leon Glanvill is in charge of cycling. Shooting was run by Rodney Warwick from 2002 till 2020, with the main event being the Chippy Robinson Trophy, competed for on Founders Day by the school and the OD teams. Target Shooting with .22 rifles was stopped by the Minister of Education in 2003, and air rifles are now used. Following Rodney Warwick, WiIlem Steyn and Jean Nolte have managed the sport.
Sailing as a sport was run for many years by Graham Robertson and a feature of the Bishops sailing club, apart from interhouse and other local competitions, was the participation by Bishops teams in the Lipton Cup competitions. Similarly, Golf was looked after by Mervin Walsh, then Julian Vincent; Squash by Glen Gibbon, John Knight for a long duration, and now by Michael Vamvadelis. The squash courts were recently upgraded. The school has regular Western Province representatives. Basketball was run by Glen Gibbon for many years, and following him, Alungile Williams and now Victoria Nkosi.
Cross-Country was led by James Fraser and Peter Hyslop, and the Bishops Running Club, by Phil Court, which then became Road & Trail, managed by Bev Morris and now Rebecca Zeppel. Tennis was managed by Mike Withers, then Wessel Theron, Jarred Bradley and now Mike Vamvadelis. Swimming was managed for years by Olga Peel and from 2014 by Michael Vamvadelis and Nadia Snyman from 2019. There was no swimming during the 2018 season because of the drought in Cape Town, and the refurbishing of the pool.
Climbing has been something that Bishops boys have long been involved in, and it was only in 2001 that Climbing became an official summer sport. This was initially run by Jannie de Villiers, then Trevor Pasquallie, and the current Teacher-in-charge is Ruan Ellis.
Surfing can be taken as a major sport in winter, but only for the senior boys. Dave Mallett was involved in surfing for many years, even before it was accepted as a school sport. Dave was followed by Gerry Noel and the current Teacher-in-charge is Keith Warne.
It is perhaps invidious to identify some sports as the most significant, but presenting the history of the following five sports might be acceptable as being the core of the history of sport at Bishops during these years from 1999 to 2024.
Rugby
Rugby has long been regarded as a quintessential Bishops Sport. From the claim that the game was introduced to South African by George Ogilvie in 1861, through to the blooming of ‘running rugby’ as its special trademark, fostered by Piley Rees and then Basil Bey, rugby has been very close to the heart of Bishops.
In 1999, the First XV coach and Master-in-charge of Rugby was the highly experienced Andre Jacobs. Apart from the full programme of local fixtures against Southern suburbs schools and teams from the Northern suburbs and the Boland, there were rugby tours in 2003 (England and Ireland), 2007 (France and England), 2010 (Italy), and 2019 (Ireland). There were regular local tours to Festivals throughout South Africa.
Dave Mallett took over when Andre Jacobs was appointed as Vice-principal Sport and Discipline in 2008. At the end of 2009, Dave Mallett was concerned about the development of Bishops Rugby at a time when there was a widening gap between the schools who employed professional coaches and trainers and those who didn’t. He argued that Bishops coaches needed more training themselves. He was also concerned that Bishops was not attracting a wide enough pool of talent at the entry level in Grade 8. At the start of 2010, all the Bishops coaches took the Boksmart course. There was also an upset when the neighbouring schools threatened to cancel their matches with Bishops if Post-matrics were still allowed to play. A ruling by the WPHSRA, banning our two Post matrics from playing any further part in 2011, which contributed to the demise of the Post Matric programme, as some of the boys were enrolled to be able to play an extra year of school sport.
In 2013, Dave Mallett stepped down and Andre Jacobs returned as coach with Mike Bayly (OD) as his Assistant. In that year, Bishops fielded twenty-one teams regularly – 7 in U19; 4 in U16, and 5 each in U15 and U14. In 2014 Wes Chetty was taken on as assistant to Andre Jacobs and Mike Bayly. In 2015, there were 19 sides, with 48 people involved in coaching and managing these sides. Professional refs were being engaged along with the panel of amateurs, and boys were also being training to act as referees. Audio-visual equipment was acquired (often donated by the Bishops Rugby Supporters Club) so that each match could be recorded and then analysed. Andre retired at the end of 2015, and Angus Firth took over as coach in 2016, having been involved some time previously as 1st XV assistant coach to Andre Jacobs.
Richard Smith took over as first team coach in 2017, but after a very unfortunate turn of events was unable to continue in 2018 due health reasons at that time. Richard’s assistant coach, Wesley Chetty, then took over as head coach, and is still in place. Dave Mallett as Master-in-charge was still concerned about the future of Bishops Rugby, and in 2018, he identified three areas of main concern: the Grade 8 intake, concussion issues and the importance of team sport. There were some very good players coming through from 2018 and 2019, but rugby in 2020 was flattened by Covid. Not only did the 1st team players not get the chance to earn their places in the team, the U14 intake could not play any rugby in 2020 and 2021, meaning that the 2022 teams would have an uphill battle to regain the momentum that rugby had had before Covid.
The 2022 season was erratic, indicating a need to address changes to the Bishops structures to be able to compete with the semi-professional opposition the school faced. A new coaching structure was introduced with each year group having its own professional high performance manager, overseeing the coaches and teams in the age groups. At the pinnacle of this structure was the Bishops Rugby High Performance Committee. 2023 was year 1 of a 5-year programme devised by this committee, aimed at addressing the challenges that were being faced. The 1st XV had a successful year, with close results and three boys in the SA Schools team. In fact, Bishops players have often been selected for the provincial schools’ teams, and some for the South African School’s teams as well. Bishops Rugby remains a highly contested terrain, with passionate support from within the school and from the wide circle of ODs who remain very attached to Bishops Rugby.
Cricket
The major summer sport, cricket, has a much less contested history. The 1st XI coached by Grant Norton from 1999 through to 2012 consistently produced results, and it too developed its professional coaching systems. Richard Smith was the assistant and conditioning coach and Geoff Kieswetter the Master-in-charge. There were international tours, England (2012) and 2016 (India), while the 2020 tour to England was cancelled because of Covid.
When Grant Norton left Bishops at the end of 2012, John Knight who had looked after the 2nd XI, took over the 1sts. Richard Smith chose to go to the U15 side, and Willem Steyn took on the role of Master-in-charge. The Steffan Coutts-Trotter Indoor Cricket Centre was opened in 2013 and Bishops hosted the Coutts-Trotter Cricket Festival with five South African schools’ sides and three Australian school sides taking part. In 2013 Neil Carter was appointed as the Cricket Pro, and he was involved in coaching at all levels and managing the new centre. In 2014, Bishops hosted the Charl van Rooyen Cricket week. Cricket was under pressure during these years to shift from declaration cricket to limited-overs cricket, following world trends, although declaration cricket has remained a strong format in the four all-day sides (U14A, U15A, 2nd XI and 1st XI). In 2018, despite the drought, Bishops had its own water supply and was able to continue using the fields, and indeed offered Heathfield Primary School and an NGO called Dlala Africa the use of its facilities to continue with cricket development in their areas. The school also supported the JP21 Foundation (which promoted cricket the townships) by giving the sum of R42000 raised at a Bishops Golf Day to the Foundation. Willem Steyn stepped down as M-i-C at the end of 2018, with John Knight taking over the dual role of 1st XI coach and M-i-C. Knight’s assistant coach during this time was Brendon Hamman, a long-time cricket coach at Bishops. In 2019, the 1st XI won the traditional day-night match against RBHS, and just a year after that match Covid stopped all sport. However, both in term 4 of 2020 and throughout 2021, most cricket was able to continue, under the union regulations governing cricket matches, but with some being live-screened as spectators were not allowed.
John Knight finished his term as coach when he retired in 2022 and Shaun Hewett took over as Teacher-in-charge, with Eric Lefson as first team coach in that year – Lefson had been the U14A coach for a number of years, and the talent scout for Bishops cricket. Carter moved to Uplands College as Cricket and Sports Administrator after 9 years at Bishops, and he was replaced as the Cricket Pro by Brad Barnes, who had already been on the cricket coaching staff for a number of years. After Lefson emigrated to New Zealand, Visser Gildenhuys took over as 1st XI coach with Lutho Pohlongo as his assistant. In 2024 the 1st XI undertook a successful tour to Sri Lanka. In January 2024, to kick-start the 175 celebrations, Bishops hosted the Peninsula Cricket Festival, featuring ten 1st XI and ten U15A teams from around the country.
Hockey
Hockey was the alternative winter sport to Rugby. In 1999 Stuart West was the 1st XI coach and he took full advantage of the Woodlands Astroturf which had been opened in March 1999. A number of international tours have been arranged: in 2002 (Australia), 2006 (Malaysia and Singapore), 2009 (Argentina), 2013 (Europe), 2017 (The Netherlands), and 2023 (Europe). Warren Wallace took over from Stuart West when Stuart left Bishops to go to Dainfern College. Hockey enjoyed an upward trajectory and the sport fielded 15 sides. In 2014, there were 14 WP representatives from Bishops. In 2018 270 boys were playing in 15 sides, 7 ODs in the WP interprovincial side, 2 ODs in the SA men’s side at the Commonwealth Games, and one OD in the South African World Cup side. In 2019, there were 12 boys in WP schools’ teams. Sean Henchie who had been Teacher-in-charge for a long and successful stint handed over as to William Koopman for the 2020 season. After Covid in 2022, Bishops was able to field 12 sides, the 1st XI played 30 matches, and 9 boys were selected for WP teams and 3 for the SA side. In 2023, the Teacher-in-charge was Roseanne Withey. There are currently three ODs representing South Africa at the 2024 Olympic Games – an indication of how the sport has grown at Bishops.
Water Polo
Water Polo is a summer sport and has become a major sport at Bishops. Angus Firth was coach and Master-in-change in 1999, followed by Barbara Swart, James Swift and Fiona Mallett. Professional coaches were used throughout, and the skill levels grew. The new water polo pool was opened in 2006 and was used to good effect. In 2015 there were over 200 boys playing water polo (as well as a good number of the Prep) and Bishops had representatives in every WP schools side, and four recent ODs were capped for having represented South Africa. In 2016, there were 24 Bishops boys in the WP teams. In 2018 there were 19 boys in WP teams and 5 in the national schools’ teams. At the end 2019, Julian Vincent became Teacher-in-charge, and there were 25 boys in WP teams and 6 in the SA schools team. After Covid, Bishops had 14 teams in 2022, with 17 WP representatives and one boy in the SA school’s team. In 2024 Angus Firth once again took over as Teacher-in-charge.
Rowing
Rowing was another summer sport which has grown enormously. Although there have been several Teachers-in-charge throughout this time (Kevin Kruger, Paul Carter, Oscar Horstmann, Yaasien Kerbelker, Leon Glanvill, Brad Smith), much of the coaching was done by professionals, especially Sam Wells after he was appointed in 2011. But a major component of the success of the sport was the involvement by the parents of the boys who were rowing, both in their support at regattas, but especially financial support. In 2012, two Bishops boys competed in the Junior Rowing Championships at Plovdic in Bulgaria, and at the end of the year new boats were acquired through the 5-year Fleet and Finance plan. A naming auction was held (each boat’s name must contain the word ‘Blue” and R62 000 was raised). The Oaks Pavilion was extended and the extra space was set up a Rowing venue, which housed the Ergo machines which had been acquired. The first Interhouse Ergo competition was held in October 2014. In 2015, the First VIII travelled to Boston to take part in the Head of the Charles Regatta. This tour was repeated in 2018 and then again in 2022. In 2015, Bishops boys attended a training camp at Eton – this was the fourth time this had happened. But in 2016, Sam Wells left to go to coach at Oxford University, and Brad Smith (then coach of St Benedict’s) was appointed both as head coach and Teacher-in-charge. Covid affected Rowing like everything else, and to make matter worse, there were problems in 2022 with water quality at the various training locations. However, the First VIII did make it to Boston for the Head of the Charles Regatta. The U16 VIII went to the UK on tour. In 2024, in August, it is hoped that the new Rowing Tank building will be completed, which will mean less travelling for the teams’ training schedule.
Fencing
A small sport which has done very well is Fencing, under the continuing leadership of Jacky Withers. There have been a number of professional coaches, and there have been a number of international tours that the boys have participated in. There was a tour in 2004 (UK), 2013 (to Tauberbischofsheim in Germany), 2016 training camp (Germany), with tours to again to Tauberbischofsheim in 2019 and 2023. Between 2008 and 2022 more than ten boys have achieved national colours and gone on to attend either Junior African Champs and/or Junior World Champs (mainly held in Europe) and even the Commonwealth Games. Every year a keenly contested Interhouse Fencing Competition is held, and most years a competition against the ODs.
Soccer
Soccer was recognized as a school sport in 2016. There was a lot of interest and over 100 boys turned up for trials. Jarred Bradley was the Teacher-in-charge, two teams (U19 and U15) were entered in the leagues and two coaches were appointed. In 2018, an U17 squad was added. In 2019, there were four Bishops Soccer sides, and a limit of five sides has been set – owing to the lack of resources to increase this. Earlier this year, a 7-a-side soccer tournament was held on the Frank Reid under floodlights and included teams from the Batshise Football Club and Fairdale High School from Delft, an under privileged area on the Cape Flats – some sort of indication of the change coming over the role and position of sport as the school reached out to and connected with other communities.
In 2017, the first Rohan Bloom Interfaith cup competition was held in memory of Rohan Bloom, a Grade 9 boy who had died of cancer. The contestants were Bishops, Herzlia and Islamia College. This competition has continued as a soccer tournament, but now includes Springfield in the soccer, and Chess, Debating and Netball have been added to the tournament. In July of 2024 Alungile Williams took over as Teacher-in-charge.
First Aid
As concerns about sports injuries increased, more and more attention had to be paid to first aid and longer-term medical assistance. First aid teams of boys and paramedics began to be on duty over weekend fixtures, and there would also be a doctor on duty on the campus. Attention was paid to monitoring concussion events, especially in rugby.
First Aid was introduced as an option to Sport in 2018, with 28 boys being involved, providing First Aid assistance to Athletic competitions, Rugby, Soccer and Hockey matches. Boys who offer to serve have to achieve Grade level 1 certificates, and many go on to Level 3. In 2023, there were 37 boys in this group.
And it was not only the first aid boys who offered their services to the sporting programme – there were boys who were qualified umpires and referees, scorers, video operators – some of them qualified to officiate beyond schoolboy level.
Sport at the Prep and Pre-Prep
The Prep sports programme was based around cricket and rugby which all boys take part in until Grade 6, after which an element of choice was allowed. Prep teams have their own fields and facilities, but also use the College grounds as well, as do the Pre-Prep boys. As well as the two core sports, athletics, golf, squash, fencing, tennis, swimming and water polo, and fencing are also offered at the Prep. Although competition with neighbouring schools is intense, sport at the Prep and Pre-prep concentrates on physical development and enjoyment.
The Sports Facilities
The 2010 Action Committee on Sport placed emphasis on the need to improve and maintain the school’s facilities at both College and Prep, some of which were described in that 2003 document as no more than adequate. Underlying all these development was the need to ensure personal growth, fitness and health as an integral part of the curriculum .
Improvements and extensions of the facilities developed momentum as the 2010 fundraising bore fruit. Lights were erected on the Frank Reid Field for day-night cricket, and a gym was added to the Mallett Centre. The second pool designed for water polo was completed in 2005. The 1991 Heatlie Pavilion on the Piley Rees was replaced with a bigger structure in 2008, athletics moved from the awkward track on the Frank Reid down to Lutgensvale where a conventional 400m track was laid out, with shelter being provided for spectators, and jumping pits were added to the complex as well. In 2011, the Rick Skeeles Pavilion was opened on Lutgensvale, which then became the centre of Prep sports. In 2013, the Steffan Coutts-Trotter Indoor Cricket Centre was opened. Lights were installed for the Woodlands Astro, and in 2015, the long planned hockey pavilion was built on the east side of the Astro turf. The Rowing ergo room was added to the Oaks Pavilion, and the Rowing Tank is due to be opened in August 2024.
Sports Performance and Wellness Unit
In 2020, Chris Ekron brought together all the various support personnel into the Sports Performance and Wellness unit. This is how he described it. “The Sports Performance and Wellness programme aims to achieve a holistic development of the boys by addressing their conditioning, performance, wellness, rehab, and injury management. The programme focuses on developing gross motor skills and hand-eye coordination at the Pre-Prep, which progresses to a more specialised conditioning programme that targets high-performance sports development and promotes general wellness at the College. The team consists of the Head of the unit, a head biokineticists, two intern biokineticists, two strength and conditioning coaches and two physiotherapists, all available on campus.”
Sport and Outreach
Another development in the area of sport at Bishops has been the attention paid to extending the reach of the skills and resources that Bishops has to other communities and sporting codes outside of the school.
An example of the change can be seen in the growth and development of VUSA.
Following the 2010 conference, in which the Sport Action group recommended that the school should set up academics for coaching groups outside of the school, Brendan Fogarty, a Bishops Prep teacher, and Richard Evans, an Old Diocesan (OD) set up an academy for young children from Langa which later on became called VUSA. They also had it in mind that this would also be an initiative to save South African rugby by identifying talent in communities that did not have access to rugby. They initially focused on bussing children from vulnerable communities to Bishops Prep for training. By the end of 2003, 60 boys from the townships had been practising on the Bishops fields for two years, getting expert coaching (from coaches who could speak isiXhosa), and funding for the transport costs from Oceana Company.
Within a few years, the academy was able to field an u13 side which was invited to join in various rugby festivals, and also other schools in the southern suburbs. One of the major problems having to be faced were logistical issues with children spending considerable time in transit and often missing the bus.
In 2016, Brendan Fogarty met the head of Busy Bees RFC (one of the oldest Rugby Clubs in Langa), who suggested using the Langa sports grounds as a base, a solution which would improve accessibility for all children in the Langa community. VUSA joined the Western Province Schools rugby league.
The interconnectedness of things was seen when potential bursary candidates were failing entrance exams because of language barriers. In partnership with Edunova, VUSA launched an English and Maths program. A daily hot meal was introduced to combat sluggishness and nutritional deficits among the children.
In 2019, VUSA was registered as a non-profit organisation with trustees from both Bishops (Principal, Headmaster & Chairman of Council) and the Langa community. Also, an Early Childhood Development (ECD) program was initiated to foster numeracy and literacy, and a peer learning program involving boys in the Academy, and Bishops Prep and College Civics boys, was started. 2019 saw enormous growth and impact in all areas. Teams from u9 to u13 were entered for the Western Province League through the Busy Bee RFC. More than 450 children in the Langa community now benefit from rugby, academic, crèche and recreational programmes on a daily basis. Bishops boys from the Civics
p
rogramme helped out at the crèche, and Grade 6 learners took part in interactive days, with boys visiting Langa for a day and then hosting a day of activities at the Prep School.
Unfortunately, these initiatives had to stop during COVID. But during the pandemic, the Bishops community supported by opening the Prep boarding house kitchen for meal preparation and serving as a drop-off point for community support. Food was bussed out to over 500 young boys through the activities of the Bishops parents. And at the end of the year, it was possible to host a Christmas party for the Langa boys, who were delighted when Siya Kolisi and Scarra Ntubeni dropped in on the fun.
In 2021, to boost morale and raise much need funds to support VUSA Staff and feeding project in COVID, the first 24-hour Cycle Challenge was organised, involving the Bishops Rugby 1st XV team, OD internationals, and younger boys, focusing on community service and leadership. This event raised over R270 000. This has grown into an annual event. In 2023, the Cycle Challenge raised over R1 million.
In 2021, the Atlas Foundation, in partnership with Cognizant, donated a 42-seater Scania bus that has been converted into an IT classroom. The bus is furnished with 40 laptops, two teaching stations and security cameras.
It is parked at Bishops and drives out to Langa each day, supporting five primary schools. Its main intervention is to focus on Grade 4 English, as this is where learners transition from mother-tongue learning to English. Bishops operational team assist with maintenance needs. Bishops administrative staff assist with VUSA governance. Nikki Matthews, who is employed by Bishops as Trust secretary, also manages all VUSA operations as COO; the Bishops Finance department handles all financial transactions; and the HR department assists with employment-related support and payroll. Coronation Fund managers also assist with funding.
In 2022, the VUSA Academic u13 side was invited to play in the Independent Schools Week, and in a season-ending match, VUSA and Bishops sides played each other, and then had a mixed-sides match, with much enjoyment for all participants. There are regular activities by Bishops parents at VUSA’s ECD centres, and recreational outings organised for Prep boys with VUSA children, facilitated by the Parents Association, promoting social interaction and community bonding, and College boys have initiated a structured peer learning program to support the VUSA afterschool activities.
VUSA is a major development – growing from a willingness to reach out to townships boys to develop rugby in their community. It is now a major outreach project involving so much more than just sport development. And now there are other sporting codes starting on this journey. Cricket is now connecting with the JP21 Foundation to assist this well-established foundation to develop cricket in Mitchells Plain. Boys from the foundation teams come to Bishops and play on the Frank Reid.
At the start of 2024, the Deputy Head Sport and Discipline portfolio, held by Warren Wallace was changed to allow him to devote more time to Sport, and the Discipline portfolio was transferred to the Deputy Head Pastoral, which now became Pastoral and Discipline, and Joc Wrensch was appointed to this position.
To mark the 175 Anniversary, (just as was the case in 1999 at the 150th Anniversary), there were a number of big sports festivals on campus, and Bishops teams travelled to other festivals across the country. Bishops hosted cricket, rugby and hockey festivals and the Quadrangular Athletics event.
