Durban’s Northwood School has found itself in the global spotlight once again after its Springbok rugby war cry video went viral, amassing millions of views and drawing praise from local and international rugby fans.
The video, a lead-up to the highly anticipated Springboks vs All Blacks match at Ellis Park Stadium on Saturday, has quickly become a sensation on social media.
The war cry, which was created by Northwood students as a show of support for their rugby team, was initially shared on the school’s TikTok and then picked up and reshared by the popular RugbyPass page. It has since garnered 2.4 million views and over 300,000 likes, with the numbers continuing to rise.
@rugbypass Northwood School 🔥 #rugby #rugbyboys ♬ original sound - RugbyPass
School war cries, spirited chants that students and supporters use to rally behind their school teams during sports events, have long been a tradition in South African schools.
These energetic performances not only boost team morale, but also create an electric atmosphere, bringing communities together.
Nigel Kambasha, the war cry leader at Northwood, expressed his excitement at the video’s success.
“It’s one of the best feelings ever, seeing everyone recognise and give you credit for all the hard work you’ve put in.
“The success of the war cry has given me the best matric year at Northwood, I wouldn’t replace it for anything at all.
“This year was really one that will be irreplaceable,” said Kambasha.
From a broader perspective, the war cry has played an essential role in fostering a sense of pride and unity among the students. Mrs Torgious, Head of Prefects and War Cry at Northwood School, highlighted the importance of such initiatives in allowing students to express their creativity.
“We are very lucky at Northwood that we have a school that not only supports but actively pursues opportunities to allow each of our students to be creative and express their love of their school in a number of different ways. War cry has been a fantastic avenue for this.”
The unity forged through this tradition is evident each week as students from different grades come together to celebrate their school and their teams.
Torgious noted, “Each and every learner from different grades coming together as one each Thursday to celebrate their school and their teams, and at our last war cry, their proud SA heritage and ‘gees,’ has fostered an incredible pride and unity.
The boys love the time spent at war cry together and their passion shows in each practice and on game days.”
The viral response to the war cry on social media is seen as a testament to the students’ talents and the positive image it projects of South African school pride.
“The talents coming through war cry is incredible - from writing lyrics, composing melodies, musical instrument talents, and even some vocals! It’s a unique way of showcasing our school spirit through something the boys truly love and excel at,” said Torgious.
IOL