17 September 2025
Clifton College’s Director of Water Polo, Pierre le Roux, is determined to elevate the forthcoming Clifton Water Polo Tournament into something more than just a showcase of schoolboy talent.
Drawing on his vast experience as one of South Africa’s most capped internationals, he is intent on shaping the event into a player-focused spectacle that mirrors international standards, both in presentation and in atmosphere.
The tournament, which runs from 24 to 28 September at the Clifton Aquatic Centre, has long been regarded as one of the country’s premier water polo events. This year, however, Le Roux is infusing it with a new energy and ambition. His aim is clear: give players the full experience of what it feels like to compete at the highest level.
“I’ve put in player recovery areas,” he explained. “The entire pool area has been sectioned off for athletes only. When you arrive, you’ll have a designated athlete’s seat, private change rooms, and proper preparation spaces.
“We’ve also brought in Prime Human Performance Institute, with physios on deck, ice baths, and a full recovery room stocked with chocolate milk, protein shakes, bananas, and crunchies. Athletes will be treated like the best of the best.”
That international standard extends beyond the water. Le Roux wants to replicate the professional environments he experienced overseas, where athletes are kept apart from the crowd, able to focus entirely on their sport.
“If you go to World Champs in Europe, that’s how it is. Athletes have their own warm-up areas and are treated like professionals. That’s what I want the boys to experience here – a glimpse of what’s possible beyond school sport.”
Spectators and parents, though, are not being left on the periphery. Le Roux is equally focused on creating a festival atmosphere for those in the stands. Seventeen local vendors have already been confirmed, ensuring visitors can enjoy Durban’s food, culture, and hospitality alongside the polo.
“We want parents to want to be here all day,” he said. “Come down, watch top-class water polo, enjoy a meal, have a drink. On Friday night we’ve planned a parents’ function too. The idea is to build connections. The players might be rivals in the pool, but they’ll play together in provincial or even national teams one day. Friendships should grow from this tournament, among both players and parents.”
Le Roux believes Hilton and Kearsney, alongside Clifton, are KZN’s strongest bets. But he warns against overlooking Westville, who showed excellent form in the winter league despite not having a representative in the provincial u19 side.
Another team to watch is Reddam House Constantia, who made headlines when they thumped SACS 15-7 in the SACS Nite Series earlier this year.
“It’s going to be a very tight competition,” Le Roux predicted. “Thursday night, when the big local derbies open the tournament, will be particularly exciting.”
Looking ahead, the tournament is set to grow even further. Plans are in place for a Prep section, made up of eight teams, from 2026, while expanding the high schools’ lineup to 20 teams is also on the cards.
The 2025 edition overlaps with South Africa’s Rugby Championship clash against Argentina, but Clifton has catered for rugby fans too: the Springboks’ match will be screened live on five jumbo screens around the water polo venue.
For Clifton’s own squad, the tournament marks an important milestone. Le Roux returned to South Africa late in 2024, leaving little time for a proper pre-season. Now, with a full pre-season behind them, he feels his team has turned a corner.
“It has been gold,” he said. “The boys are fitter, stronger, and you can see it in their conditioning tests. The mental side remains the biggest challenge. We don’t have matrics, and that extra year of competition makes a difference.”
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