Guardrisk North vs South 2026 Press Release
12 May 2026
The Ultimate Padel War Returns: Guardrisk North vs South Brings South Africa’s Best to Camps Bay
Fast, fierce and impossible to ignore - South Africa’s biggest team padel rivalry returns as 56 of the country’s best players prepare to battle for supremacy in the most electric event on the calendar. From 15–17 May, Camps Bay becomes the centre of South African padel as North and South go head-to-head at The Rotunda for three days of high-intensity competition, pressure-filled moments and ultimate bragging rights.
Backed by Guardrisk and officially recognised by the South African Padel Association, Guardrisk North vs South has become the original and number one team event on the South African padel calendar. Now entering its fourth year, the tournament already carries a fierce history, with Team South winning Year 1, Year 2 ending in a draw and Kit Kat Team North lifting the trophy in Year 3.
Widely regarded as the Ryder Cup of South African padel, the event combines elite-level competition with a format built around squad depth, consistency and team performance rather than individual rankings.
Matches will run across both the indoor court beneath The Rotunda dome and the outdoor courts at The Bay Hotel, creating continuous action and a fast-moving tournament atmosphere from start to finish.
Friday’s opening session gets underway with 14 matches from 10am, before Saturday delivers the event’s biggest challenge - two full sessions of 14 matches each as pressure mounts and momentum swings from one side to the other. Sunday’s closing fixtures will then decide who walks away with the title and the ultimate bragging rights.
Team North will once again be led by Paul Anderson of Kit Kat Team North, while Paul Waldburger captains Team South. The player list features some of the strongest names in South African padel, including Luan Krige, Richard Ashforth, Adam van Harte, Warren Kuhn and Jason Blakey-Milner. Shaun Leagas, Egmond van Heerden and Josh Deutschmann add even more firepower to an already stacked field.
The tournament format sees 28 players per team competing across multiple sessions, placing massive emphasis on endurance, composure and the ability to sustain performance over an entire weekend of pressure-filled matches.
Played inside the historic Rotunda dome, the indoor matches create one of the most unique atmospheres in South African sport. Spectators sit close to the action, every smash echoes through the arena and momentum can shift within seconds. Outdoor courts surrounding the main arena ensure the intensity never slows down throughout the weekend.
“Playing under the dome changes everything,” said Adrian Jacobs. “The crowd is close, the intensity builds quickly and you feel every point.”
Beyond the matches, the event will feature food stalls, spectator lounges and a vibrant social atmosphere where fans can move between courts while staying close to the action all day long. Families, padel fans and first-time spectators are expected to pack out The Rotunda as the country’s best battle it out point after point.
Padel continues to grow rapidly worldwide, with the sport now played in more than 100 countries. Guardrisk North vs South has quickly become one of the standout showcases of that growth in South Africa, bringing leading players together in one high-pressure competitive environment.
Attendance is free, with spectators able to pre-register at northvssouthpadel.co.za
Media Contact
Guardrisk North vs South Organising Team
Email: marketing@villagenlife.travel
Website: www.northvssouthpadel.co.za
