29/11/2019
The WP Club Rugby formal fixtures and tournaments have concluded but club rugby action continues with several social events and seniors team activity.
This week we held our annual Christmas party at the HPC for more than two hundred children from various homes of shelter and orphanages. This year with the help of several sponsors we distributed DHL Stormers Jerseys to the children and we look forward to bringing them to DHL Newlands to watch the team in action next year.
This coming weekend sees the annual Kolbe Sevens tournament at Central Park the home of Scottsdene RFC. The sevens tournament which was originally started with the help of Springbok legend Cheslin Kolbe is now going into its third year and once again sees some top teams participating. Proceeds from the day go to a local charity. 2018 saw the event’s organisers host a Christmas function for the Haven night shelter. Gates open at 8 am with the first game kicking off at 1 pm.
Sevens action also continues in the Paarl region at the Faure stadium with a number of WP clubs participating. The action starts on Friday and continues on Saturday.
In addition to sevens action, several clubs are busy with social activities such as Kuilsriver RFC who will be hosting a family day at the Kuilsriver RFC from 11 am to 8 pm. The event is a “Bring and Braai” with live entertainment, jumping castles and water slides. Friends and family can bring gazebos and enjoy the fun.
While many of our clubs have started their pre-season training at their clubs we have already begun testing our athletes for 2020. This past week coach Jerome Paarwater began the strength and speed testing with the Super League A and B clubs at the HPC in Bellville. The additional leagues will follow in the weeks to come. The purpose of the testing is not only aimed at giving all clubs a benchmark but also to prepare for the 2020 Club to SuperSport challenge.
The DHL Stormers are also busy with pre-season training after five weeks of gym-based strength training. The Springboks are still on a break and return mid-December.
Several clubs are busy with end of year awards functions and our annual WPRFU Awards dinner is scheduled for 10 December. This night is always the big one of the year where not only do we see all the clubs who did so well during the season, but also the awards for the DHL WP Rugby senior and junior teams. A favourite award is the player’s player of the year award which sees the team vote amongst themselves for who they see as their favourite player.