The Peter Raney Cup is presented each year to a member of the 1st XV who embodies the values of sportsmanship, teamwork, commitment, dedication and integrity — a young man who, like the young man in whose memory the Cup was created, gave himself fully to the life of the College and for whom winning, whilst important, always came second to the values of Lux, Vita, Caritas.
It gives us great pride to present the Peter Raney Cup for 2026 to Adam Haselau.
Adam is the epitome of a true team man. A committed rugby player and a keen cricketer throughout his College career, he has consistently placed the needs of the team above his own, serving his peers with humility, commitment, and integrity. He has worked tirelessly to improve his individual skills while representing St John's College with honour, courtesy, and an immense sense of pride.
He is highly respected by his peers, not because he seeks recognition, but because of the example he sets every day. A self-starter who holds himself to exceptionally high standards, he approaches every task with dedication and purpose. His commitment to giving his absolute best, both for the team and for the College, makes him a role model and a young man of outstanding values, driven not by recognition but by a genuine wish to serve, and to serve to the very best of his ability.
In Memory of Peter Raney
The Cup is named after Peter Raney, Head of Nash in 2011, who sadly died in a car accident in December of that year.
Peter spent thirteen years at St John's College. He was a Pre-Prep Survivor and a third-generation Nash boarder. Throughout his time at the College, he not only embodied the values of Lux, Vita, Caritas but went beyond the expectations of a Johannian. He threw himself fully into the activities of the College, taking all opportunities available to him.
He played in the First XV, achieved great success in rowing, and was selected at the Nationals of the 2010 Eskom Science Expo to represent South Africa at the International Science and Engineering Fair in Los Angeles, an achievement that earned him the Old Johannian Association Award for Science in 2011. Across the various areas of College life, Peter showed a curious mind, absolute dedication, full commitment, and genuine sportsmanship.
In his obituary, Peter's father, Steve, described him this way:
“Peter showed immense courage and character and was so deeply proud of his school and all it stands for. He displayed maturity beyond his years and could easily take his place among the strong "bravados", but was never afraid to stand up for the downtrodden or victims of false accusation.”
"End life with no regrets." Peter's last words, written in the St John's Class of 2011 Yearbook, showed the way Peter approached life and lived it to the full.
The Evolution of the Award
The Peter Raney Cup has changed in form over the years, but its purpose, to honour Peter's memory and the values he lived by, has remained constant.
In the year following Peter's passing, then-headmaster Mr Cameron announced the first of many Leavers vs Stayers rugby matches for the Peter Raney Cup, which became a tradition on Gaudy Day in subsequent years.
The Stayers vs Leavers game is no longer played at the Gaudy Day, and so it has been decided, with the permission of the Raney Family, to refocus the award to its current form, recognising the qualities Peter held dear in an individual member of the 1st XV rather than the outcome of a match.