about the tournament
Woodridge Stayers Water Polo Tournament
8–11 October 2026
Over the past three years, the Woodridge Stayers Water Polo Tournament has grown considerably, bringing together boys’ and girls’ teams from across the country for four days of outstanding competition, school spirit and camaraderie.
At the heart of Woodridge Stayers are the players - young athletes who love the sport, train hard, compete fiercely, and proudly represent their schools. In the pool, they test themselves against some of the country’s best teams. Beyond it, friendships are strengthened, new connections are made, and memories are created that last long after the final whistle.
More than just a tournament, Woodridge Stayers is a celebration of school water polo, where players thrive, families and schools come together, and the spirit of the game takes centre stage.
We look forward to welcoming you to Woodridge Stayers 2026.
thank you to our valued SPONSORS:
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welcome from the headmaster
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Dear Coaches, Players, Parents and Spectators
On behalf of Woodridge College, it is my great pleasure to extend a very warm welcome to all our visiting schools, coaches, players, parents, and spectators to the annual Woodridge Stayers Water Polo Tournament. We are delighted to have you join us on our beautiful campus and look forward to what promises to be an exciting and memorable few days of water polo.
The Stayers Tournament is about far more than competition in the pool. It gives young athletes from different schools a chance to come together, test themselves against new opposition, build friendships, and enjoy the camaraderie that makes school sport so special. We look forward to seeing the skill, determination and passion on display, but equally to witnessing the sportsmanship, respect and teamwork that underpin the true spirit of school sport.
A tournament of this nature would not be possible without the commitment of many people. We extend our sincere thanks to the organisers, officials, coaches, team managers and volunteers who have given of their time and energy to make the tournament possible. A special thank you to the Woodridge College Water Polo Parents Committee, who have worked tirelessly behind the scenes to make this tournament special. To the players, we encourage you to embrace every opportunity, compete with pride, support your teammates and opponents, and enjoy the experience.
We hope that your time at Woodridge will be filled with great water polo, wonderful memories, and the opportunity to strengthen the friendships and connections between our schools and communities. May the tournament be a celebration of sport and all that it teaches us about perseverance, teamwork, respect, and belonging.
Welcome to Woodridge, and we wish all our teams the very best for an outstanding Stayers Water Polo Tournament!
Warm regards
Luke Hartley
Head of School
2026 participants
DOWNLOAD THE EVENT APP NOW FOR THE FULL PROGRAMME:
GAME PATHWAY EVENT APP/PROGRAMME
follow the results on the livestream:
tournament times
Please take note of the broad tournament schedule (daily start/finish) when planning your weekend:
Thursday, 8 October:
13:00–19:00
Friday, 9 October:
07:00–19:00
Saturday, 10 October:
07:00–21:00
Sunday, 11 October:
08:00–15:00
(Prize-giving at approximately 14:45)
The detailed tournament programme will be available here closer to the tournament.
More than just water polo
There will be plenty happening on campus over the course of the tournament. A designated Players Recharge Zone will be available within the pool area. It is strictly for players. NutriTech will also be joining us and helping to keep our players refuelled and ready to perform throughout the tournament.
Live Streaming will be available for those who cannot be part of the action on campus. Access the livestream here: www.eaglessportslive.com
6-8 South Africa will be providing live results coverage throughout Woodridge Stayers ’26. Giving players, parents and supporters access to live scores, results, pool standings and each team’s pathway through the tournament. 6-8 will also be capturing detailed match and player statistics throughout the weekend, giving teams and players a deeper look at what is happening in the water.
To add to the fun, get involved in 6-8 SuperPicks. Pick the winners, predict the scores, and see how you stack up against everyone else across the tournament.
Everything will be available through the Woodridge Stayers ’26 Game Pathway, which will be shared during the week leading up to the tournament.
stay updated
Visit this page for general tournament information, updates, the detailed tournament programme, and the results. Most importantly, we hope every player enjoys the opportunity to compete, represent their school with pride, build friendships, and make some wonderful memories along the way.
nearby accommodation
Windy Gates Accommodation (on campus)
Tel: 082 613 3675
Email: windygatesestate@gmail.com
Website: www.windygatesestate.co.za
Blue Horizon Bay Guest House
Tel: 083 231 7533 / 079 442 0443
Email: info@bluehorizonbayguesthouse.co.za
Website: https://bluehorizonbayguesthouse.co.za/
Van Stadens River Mouth Resort
Tel: 041 776 1059
Email:reception@vanstadens.com
Website:www.vanstadens.com
Zebra Country Lodge
Tel: 078 925 6812
Email: info@jbayzebralodge.co.za
Website: www.jbayzebralodge.co.za
Entle Game Reserve Lodge
Tel: 072 570 8207
Email: unwind@entlegamereserve.com
Website: www.entlegamereserve.com
Intle Boutique Hotel
Tel: 041 450 0310
Email: stay@intle.co.za
Website: https://intle.co.za/