In addition to the big news that SA Rugby has approved the return to training for amateur rugby under strict conditions the past few days has certainly been good for WP Rugby. We saw televised action from DHL Newlands with the DHL Stormers against the Emirates Lions and our DHL WP Rugby U21 side came away with a solid result in the SA Rugby U21 championships.
Coach John Dobson took his DHL Stormers side to a hard-fought 23-17 win over the Emirates Lions in the Vodacom Super Rugby unlocked competition at DHL Newlands. This result places us third on the log with a game in hand. We now travel to Nelspruit where we take on the Phakisa Pumas on Friday.
Our DHL WP Rugby U21 side, under the guidance of coach Jerome Paarwater scored a 47-28 point win over the Toyota Free State U21 side at Emirates Airlines Park on Sunday afternoon. The win includes a bonus point and keeps us in the hunt for the SA Rugby U21 Championship final.
Other great news is that two of our DHL Stormers players Pieter-Steph du Toit and Seabelo Senatla are up for World Rugby awards as players of the last decade. Pieter was named World Rugby Player of the Year after the Boks won the Rugby World Cup in Japan last year and Seabelo is one of three BlitzBok players to have been crowned World Rugby Sevens Player of the Year in the last decade.
You can vote for the best Springbok and Blitzbok players in the World Rugby Awards Special Edition by selecting the best players and tries of the decade (2010-19).
On the club rugby front, SA Rugby announced last week the return to training but no play for amateur rugby has been approved under special conditions for 2020. We will now await the “Integrated Return to Training” framework and a set of guidelines which will be circulated to all teams wishing to return to training. These will include: signing indemnification and declaration of health forms; the appointment of a compliance officer; registration of all players, officials and staff on a club database; screening and education of players, officials and staff; cleaning and sanitation of training venues, apparel and facilities; and to ensure no spectators are permitted at training or matches.
Advice on the resumption of competitive play at the community level will be confirmed in due course. Player welfare remains our primary co
ncern and clubs are reminded that there may be absolutely no organised WP Club Rugby training until further notification and express approval from the WPRFU.
Clubs are reminded that COVID compliance officers are required and should do the World Rugby COVID awareness online certificate ASAP. Please check your email for correspondence from the office to supply the details of your club compliance officer.
This week saw the final session of module 2 for the Media, Marketing and Sponsorship workshop which concentrates on media and content in the build-up to the sponsorship module which starts next week.
Our forum workshops continue next week at DHL Newlands for the Super League Clubs on Tue 27 October and the Regional Leagues on Wednesday, 28 October in the Railway Mall at 18:30. These workshops will focus heavily on COVID awareness and compliance.
We again remind our clubs of the deadline for The World Rugby level 1 coaching course. The deadline is 30 October and the first course is on 6 November. By then you must have registered and completed your online test Including the Rugby Ready, Laws of the game, First Aid in rugby, Concussion General courses as well as the COVID-19 certification course. Here is the link https://passport.worldrugby.org Please send your registration queries to Nazeem Adams on nazeem@wprugby.co.za
Our members are reminded to enter the competition to win a signed DHL Stormers Rugby Ball and go in the draw to win a Signed DHL Stormers Jersey. The process is very easy, sign up for any of the African Bank services by simply sending the word “Hi” to 060 094 2028 on WhatsApp. Follow the prompts and then choose the number “1” for WP Rugby.