Riverside Hockey Club proudly hosted the inaugural Fatima Coastal Cup Hockey Festival from 6–8 March 2026, welcoming some of South Africa’s leading girls’ hockey schools to the Riverside Sports Precinct for a weekend of high‑quality pre‑season competition.

Organised by Our Lady of Fatima Dominican Convent School, the festival brought together 11 schools, 32 teams and 81 matches across three days of action. Competition was held across three age groups (U14, U16, and U18) and was hosted at our world-class facility, with 1st teams on Turf 1, U16 teams on Turf 2, and U14 teams at Northwood Boys High School. The format provided teams with an ideal opportunity to experiment, build momentum and gain valuable match exposure ahead of the 2026 school hockey season.

Beyond the action on the turf, the festival also delivered a meaningful boost for sports tourism in Durban. With 32 teams participating, the event attracted an estimated 600–800 visiting players, coaches and team staff, with many families and supporters travelling to enjoy the competition and local hospitality. The influx contributed to a vibrant precinct atmosphere and underscored Durban’s capacity to host major school and club hockey tournaments.

Such was the overwhelmingly positive response from schools, supporters and organisers that the Fatima Coastal Cup Hockey Festival is now poised to become an annual highlight on the national school hockey calendar, continuing to attract strong programmes and supporting tourism and local business in partnership with Rivers Hockey Club.

The festival showcased a powerful blend of local talent alongside some of South Africa’s elite girls’ hockey programmes.

Leading KwaZulu‑Natal schools included:

They were joined by several national hockey powerhouses, including:

These visiting sides are widely recognised as among South Africa’s strongest girls’ hockey programmes, with Oranje and Eunice regularly contesting the prestigious Fairtree Super 12 Tournament, a benchmark event for elite school hockey talent, and Menlo Park having earned notable results in national competition.

The mix of top KwaZulu‑Natal teams and elite visiting schools created a dynamic environment where players experienced varied playing styles, a high standard of competition and intense early‑season matches, aligning perfectly with Riverside’s commitment to development through challenge and provided Festival Sponsors and Partners with an opportunity to showcase their commitment to the sport.

The success of the inaugural Our Lady Of Fatima Coastal Hockey Festival once again demonstrated why Riverside Hockey Club has become one of the premier Field Hockey venues in Southern Africa.

With the two international‑standard astroturf fields, Rivers has built a reputation for hosting world‑class hockey events that balance elite competition with community engagement.

Our Club ethos, centred on high performance, athlete development and unforgettable experiences, is reflected in our growing portfolio of hosted festivals and tournaments. This includes the acclaimed Elite Club Challenge, widely recognised as South Africa’s most‑watched club hockey tournament.

With a growing roster of national events, strong partnerships and world‑class facilities, Riverside Hockey Club continues to cement its position as Durban’s home of festival hockey, where elite competition, community spirit and unforgettable moments come together.

The focus now turns to July, when the Elite Club Challenge 2026 - Road To World Cup Edition, returns to Riverside from 16–19 July 2026.

Taking place just four weeks before the Men's FIH Hockey World Cup, the tournament offers a major platform for South Africa’s top club players to compete at an elite level ahead of international competition.

The event also coincides with one of Durban’s biggest sporting weekends. While club hockey takes centre stage at Riverside, the Springboks vs Wales Test Match will take place at nearby Kings Park Stadium, creating a city‑wide celebration of sport and drawing thousands of visitors to the region.

With a growing roster of national events, strong partnerships and world‑class facilities, Riverside Hockey Club continues to cement its position as Durban’s home of festival hockey, where elite competition, community spirit and unforgettable moments come together.

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