ABOUT WORLD SCHOOLS FESTIVAL

The World Schools Festival is a global sporting event, that brings together the best schools to compete in rugby, hockey, cricket, netball, and now football (new for 2025). Hosted in Abu Dhabi, this event showcases the highest level of competition among schools from around the world. It's a platform for talented young athletes to demonstrate their skills and sportsmanship, promoting international camaraderie and healthy competition.

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The inaugural World Schools Festival launched in April 2018 with 10 of the best rugby-playing schools in South Africa joining 10 teams from all 4 corners of the globe arriving at the wonderful Paarl Boys’ High School venue, as the first-ever host, in their 150th Anniversary year.

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The 2018 WSF was a huge success and immediately caught the imagination of school rugby fans all over the world.

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The 2019 edition was staged in South Africa and saw the WSF move across to the SA springbok factory, Paul Roos Gymnasium in Stellenbosch. The event continued the success and interest where the inaugural edition left off with viewership rising to 1.39 million views.

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In 2020 the WSF was ready to move to Pretoria and be staged at Affies as part of their 100th Anniversary, but covid pandemic saw the Festival cancelled.

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After a 2 year break the WSF returned in 2022 with a new date, new location, and a brand new format that will take the Festival to a new level and hopefully excite followers of schools rugby around the world. Hamilton Boys’ High School from New Zealand triumphed in the new Champions Cup competition. Viewership rose to over 25 million views.

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2023 saw the introduction of girls' 7s for the 1st time, and more than 475 players participating will see the expansion with more rugby categories being added, as for the first time a Girls competition. New Zealand retained the Champions Cup, with Westlake Boys’ High School overcoming St. Michael’s College from Ireland in the Final. Once again, the viewership smashed all records with 49 million views and over 3.5 million engagements during the week.

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In 2024 the WSF will expand with more sports.