Western Cape schools Courtrai Primary and Durbanville Primary emerged triumphant in the girls and boys divisions, while Helen Franz Special School from Limpopo won both categories in the wheelchair tennis competition at the RCS Rising Star Tennis National Finals, which concluded on Sunday at Gauteng East Tennis Complex in Benoni.
In the girls tournament, Courtrai Primary came out on top ahead of teams representing Stirling Primary (Eastern Cape) and Laerskool Saamtrek (North West), who finished second and third respectively.
Among the boys, Durbanville Primary claimed the national finals crown, with Umhlali Prep (KwaZulu-Natal) taking second place and Grey Junior (Eastern Cape) ending third.
Helen Franz showcased their class in the wheelchair tennis finals. In the girls division, Ithemelihle (Gauteng) took the runner-up spot, while in the boys event, Open Air (KwaZulu-Natal) finished in second position.
A total of 31 teams representing schools from across South Africa participated in the sixth edition of the annual RCS Rising Star Tennis National Finals, contested over three days. Notably, this year’s event saw first-time champions in all four categories, underscoring the programme’s role in broadening access and creating new opportunities for schools nationwide.
These schools included the winners of the RCS Rising Star tournaments from all nine provinces, as well as wild card entries.
The RCS Rising Star Tennis Programme, now in its sixth year, is Tennis South Africa’s flagship grassroots initiative aimed at democratising access to tennis for primary and special schools across the country. It is a cornerstone of TSA’s transformation strategy, with a strong emphasis on inclusion, development, and legacy-building.
Key highlights from the 2025 edition include:
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835 school entries, reflecting a 5% growth from 2024.
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57 events hosted nationwide
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3,340 children reached
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Expanded provincial reach, with Limpopo moving from provincial-only participation in 2024 to full district engagement in 2025.
The programme continues to drive transformation, with 39% of participating schools from historically disadvantaged communities and wheelchair tennis fully integrated into provincial competition structures. Success stories like that of Simphiwe Ngwenya, who rose from Rising Star Tennis in KwaZulu-Natal to become the Under-18 Junior Masters Champion in 2025, exemplify the initiative’s power to unlock opportunities for young players from all backgrounds.
The Rising Star Tennis initiative is made possible through the continued support and sponsorship of the RCS Group, one of South Africa’s largest consumer finance businesses and a subsidiary of BNP Paribas. Their investment has been instrumental in providing equipment, coaching, and event infrastructure, enabling national reach and inclusive participation, and supporting transformation goals aligned with national sport development priorities.
