It’s been another inspirational week for the Western Province Club Rugby community. Our clubs are fully geared to get back into action, friendlies are rolling out, league fixtures are official, and we’ve got several educational and support programes in play.
We continue our weekly Saturday fitness and conditioning programe for our WP Rugby women’s players at the High-Performance Centre in Bellville, a venture that has already shown great promise in preparing our women rugby players for the competitive season ahead. The enthusiasm and commitment displayed by everyone involved have been truly inspiring.
Our annual forum meetings at Newlands last week for our member clubs were a resounding success, creating a platform for meaningful dialogue and exchange. The discussions focused on the competition format, fixtures, and other key areas, setting a positive tone for the season. This week saw the distribution of the final Super League fixture, with the regions set to come out soon.
We’ve also seen an enthusiastic response from clubs submitting friendlies, with some notable derbies lined up that are sure to provide thrilling pre-season action and get our teams ready for the challenges ahead.
The Varsity Cup and Varsity Shield are up and running, and this week saw an intervarsity between Maties and UCT at the Green Mile, with Maties coming out on top 15-10. Unfortunately, things did not work out for UWC, who went down to the NWU Eagles 49-15, while CPUT, who went down to the Madibaz 21-7 last week.
Our commitment to creating a safe and inclusive environment remains a priority, as evidenced by the registrations for the Safeguarding course. This initiative is crucial, and we urge all clubs to ensure their representatives are enrolled in this important course. The first course will be presented this Wednesday, and any clubs that have not registered should do so urgently.
The upcoming World Rugby Strength and Conditioning Course scheduled for 1 March 2024 at Newlands is another opportunity not to be missed. This course is integral to our ongoing efforts to enhance the capabilities and preparedness of our coaches and athletes.
Moreover, the launch of our series on Governance has been met with great interest. This week saw our first course with a focus on the Role of the Executive with in excess of seventy members in attendance. The next two courses will be on Good Governance and financial management. This initiative is designed to bolster the administrative and operational excellence within our clubs. We encourage all members to sign up for these courses, reinforcing our commitment to not just sporting excellence but also to the principles of good governance and management.
As we move forward, please continue to submit your compliance documents and actively participate in the various courses and forums. These engagements are vital to our collective success and the continued growth of rugby in the Western Province Rugby.