We are now just under a month away from the start of our WP Club Rugby league and whilst we are seeing club-friendly competition heat up, we are in fact also seeing our clubs get more settled, as players and coaches confirm their homes for the season.
11 March 2023 is the cut-off on player movement, which sees that any player having played a match for a club is then bound to that club, although we might still see some movement it does seem that teams are largely settled.
The weekend past saw yet another increase in club friendlies and a number of additional successful club rugby days. This past weekend saw another festival of rugby as Kraaifontein hosted its annual rugby day with most of the teams paired against a club from Boland. The day started early with some school action and then several others matches during the day with Kraaifontein headlining against Wellington in the final match.
In addition to our WP Club Rugby Super League finalists False Bay (14) and Durbel(12) going head to head for the first time since the league finals last year, the weekend saw just under forty club friendlies in action including Elsies Rivier Ladies (12) up against Eerste Rivier Ladies (10).
Last week In the Varsity Cup we saw UCT bounce back against TUKS while in The Varsity Shield UWC and CPUT scored wins over TUT and UFH respectively. This week has Maties away to the North West Eagles, CPUT take on the Madibaz and UWC host FNB WSU on Thursday, kick off 19:00.
This past Friday saw our WP Rugby Fifteen take on the DHL WP Currie Cup side in a match that saw the best of our club rugby players with a chance to make a name for themselves. The match played at the Carven Stadium was a great opportunity for both sides to test themselves before their main tournaments and this weekend sees the DHL WP Rugby Currie Cup side get started in the Currie Cup as they take on the Lions at the Emirate Stadium.
Our WP Club Rugby leadership workshops are now at full steam and have already concluded three workshops for club leaders who look to improve their club rugby leadership skills. The sessions started off with Norms and Standards which relates to governance and reporting, then moved to club constitutions and bylaws, and the week ended with roles and responsibilities of the executive committee. This week sees the club leaders back with a full programme starting with meeting planning and procedures, financial management, and dealing with facilities.
Friday past saw yet another of our World Rugby Level 1 strength and conditioning courses at Newlands and the next World Rugby Level 2 coaches’ course for Fifteens is on 17 – 18 March 2023. Please click here to sign up now.
Our WP Rugby Referee programme is running strongly and sees weekly opportunities for our referees to gain experience by refereeing in the weekend friendlies, including our women referees, who are currently undergoing expert workshops with renowned referee Aimee Barret-Theron. 25 March 2023 will see an opportunity for more individuals nominated via club structures to attend a World Rugby Level Referees Course and to be trained as standby referees.
On a final note, we are thrilled with the announcement that WP Rugby has now formally been announced as the anchor tenant at the Cape Town Stadium thereby confirming that our Newlands Faithfull can lock down their home ground for the long term future.