Earlier this month, the Dale team beat arch-rivals Selborne College in a tight game, becoming the first "all-black" team to beat Selborne.

This is a game that Selborne normally wins, and Dale last won in 2006.

The coincidence is that the last all-white team to win was the 1993 side, and the captain of that side was current Dale coach Grant Griffith.

Clashes between the old rivals go right back to 1892.

The racial transformation of the team has been embraced by white Old Boys of the 151-year-old school.

On Dale's Facebook site, the old boys union members are indulging in some understandable hyperbole, with comment such as, Dale is the "best black school in the world". 

The white Old Boys seem as passionate as ever: one told us that they have just put their money where their mouths are and paid for a new sports centre at the school.

The significance of this is immense, because of past events at the institution.

This is the same school that got serious about racial awareness and transformation after a shocking crime.

In 1990, four students from Dale brutally assaulted and killed a vagrant with cricket bats and hockey sticks on the school grounds.

The school opened its doors to black children for the first time a year later.

• Dale is also credited with helping to build the careers of Springboks Makhaya Ntini and Gcobani Bobo.
• The other top rugby schools in South Africa are Paarl Gymnasium, Pretoria's Affies, HJS Paarl (Boys High) and Grey College Bloemfontein. Private school Michaelhouse, Paul Roos Gym (Stellenbosch), King Edward VII (KES), Centurion High School (Pretoria south), and Outeniqua High are also competing for top honours as the season progresses.

On Facebook:

The Colour Dale

Dale College Boys High School

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Comments

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Thu May 23 03:50:24 SAST 2013 ::

May 28, 2012

mashilo12345

well done boys
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May 28, 2012

cornelius

Nice story - shows transformation is happening at the shool level. Will begin to show at higher levels soon.
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May 28, 2012

WarrenG

If it was an 'all white team' it would be called racist.
Well done guys good for beating Selborne. Excellent work
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May 28, 2012

DoubleStandards

Nice job boys.
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May 28, 2012

MakeSAwork

Great to read this, inspiring stuff from Dale College all around.
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May 28, 2012

Click

Are they from New Zealand??

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May 28, 2012

DoubleStandards

Click - Nah, Selborne College is in the ECape. But Im sure they would kick any NZ schools @ss.
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May 28, 2012

somaartakeit

its not a new thing, Eastern Cape black males frm an early age played rugby very well, in fact better than soccer, all that is needed is development of ALL skills SA can possibly have, then we can be a winning nation,

Well done my homies I am so proud of you,
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May 28, 2012

th30

"Dale is also credited with helping to build the careers of Springboks Makhaya Ntini and Gcobani Bobo"

Makhaya played for Proteas, not Springbok. Subhala itswele apha.
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May 29, 2012

Siya5297

@th30

you do not know what you are talking about yourself, makhaya is one of the products of Dale.

Im happy for Dale good work chaps, I hope you wont be changed around in your playing positions , to stall your careers cause thats what these white coaches do most of them, you find a good scrumhalf @ amateur level only to find him playing as a winger or a prop
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