Bearing in mind the enormous contribution this proud institution makes to the agricultural wellbeing and sporting character of the Western Province, you would be forgiven for thinking it must have been gracing the Windmeul area just outside Paarl and Wellington for well over a century.

It also stands to reason that Boland Landbou must have a pretty large enrolment, given the marvelous sporting achievements it boasts and the persistently high levels at which it competes, particularly as the school’s rugby teams are enrolled at a level that demands one fields around sixteen teams.

Well, you'd be wrong on both counts.  It only opened its doors as recently as 1962 and the current enrolment stands at a little over 370.  Do the maths: let’s say sixteen sides at around 22 players each, that gives you 352 regular players, a 95% participation level. 

It only takes skeptics one short visit to their vast immaculately maintained grounds, affectionately referred to as The Farm, to understand the complete devotion of learners, educators and workers alike to the land for which they are responsible.

But, this is a rugby website so here are some facts about the Landbou legacy in this sphere. 

The school has produced four Springboks, starting with Attie Strauss in the early 1980s, taking in WP stalwart Hottie Louw and culminating in Deon Carstens – whose younger brother Jonty until recently coached the 1st XV – and the celebrated Derick Hougaard, just one of whose achievements is scoring the most points in a Currie Cup final.

The last three came through the ranks of the SA Schools side, as have eight others.  Yet, probably the best known of all Landbou’s various local and overseas provincial rugby representatives is one who graced SA fields for many years without ever earning recognition at the very highest level – the ageless Willem de Waal.

Realising that a solid understanding of schools rugby requires exposure to as wide a range of styles as possible, the Bolanners have undertaken tours to South America (1997); Dubai (2001); Japan (2002, where they won the Sanix International World Youth Rugby Tournament); England, Wales and France (2006) and New Zealand (2011).

It stands to reason that, with such an apparently limited player pool from which to draw, the 1st XV’s fortunes will differ markedly from year to year, but everyone who’s ever comes up against them will  attest that their relentless commitment more than levels any playing field.

This year’s campaign starts and ends with home matches, against Augsburg Gym (Wednesday 7 March) and the 25th Interschools showdown with arch-rivals Oakdale – an annual clash which Boland leads 15-9 – on Saturday 18 August.

The festival weekend of 16 and 17 March sees a variety of celebrations, culminating in the 1st XV match against Punt of Mossel Bay.  Later in the year, on Sunday 29 July, there will be a Thanksgiving Service at the majestic Agter-Paarl church.

Principal Chris Fourie’s close-knit school family received an early birthday present in December last year when Jan Frylinck, the 2011 1st XV flyhalf, was awarded South African Schools colours for cricket at the conclusion of the Khaya Majola Week in Cape Town.  

And when you consider that Tian Roelofse was the second most successful learner in the 2010 Western Cape Matric exams – and the top first year Engineering student at Maties in 2011 – you have just two indications of the versatility and potential of the gentlemen entrusted with the privilege of keeping the Windmeul turning in the years to come.