After almost two years our WP Club Rugby structures have resumed action and the spirits are high whilst our senior teams continue to fly the flag high for Western Province Rugby and our coaching education continues.
After more than two years of no league rugby, our WP Rugby clubs are now firmly back in action. This past weekend saw just over fifty clubs in action in round two of the 2022 season. Although most of the clubs already showed their intentions during the pre-season friendlies and two matches in most leagues is not much to go by, many clubs are making their voices heard. In Super League A Maties, False Bay, Uni-Mil and Durbell are the current front runners while in Super League B it’s Young Ideas and Helderberg unbeaten, and Super League C Macassar is two for two with Albions and Raithby Universals not far behind.
As before there is a strong possibility that Super League B will again be the league with the narrowest margins. Considering this league always includes two former Super League A clubs and two former Super League C clubs the logic points to it being a tough league. We do however expect the Paarl Region to be filled with derbies that can always go in any direction, and this year the newly formed Metro League will also see some new challenges.
This Monday saw Stellenbosch take on UWC in the FNB Varsity Cup in round nine. The match will be seen as a League fixture and gives UWC their first match in the league this year. UCT now faces Stellenbosch at the Green Mile in the semi-finals next week 18 April 2022 at 19:00
CPUT beat UKZN in round eight of the Varsity Shield this Thursday, thereby booking their place in the finals against UFH Blues in the FNB Varsity Shield scheduled for 21 April 2022 19:00 at the Davidson Sport Field in Alice.
This weekend sees our first break in the league fixtures due to the Easter weekend with most teams returning to action on 23 April 2022.
Next week Friday sees the closing date for our World Rugby Level 1 Fifteens coaching course to be held on 29 April 2019. We encourage all our members to get started and signup. Coaching rugby is a fantastic way to get involved in the world of rugby at Western Province. Click here to register now.
There is much excitement in our Women’s Rugby Senior team as the new IPL is set to get underway on 23 April 2022. The team will be looking to build from 2021 which not only saw a very successful league challenge but also the additional activities such as the sevens festivals and high-performance coaching. This coaching course is now into it’s second year and forms part of the strategy to grow women’s rugby.
Our WP Rugby u16 and u18 girls are also gearing up for their first matches this year when they get the ball rolling in the SA Rugby National week in June. This is certainly very exciting for them following the disappointment of missing out on the national summer games. Many of these girls will also be participating in our YTC girls rugby festival which happens at City Park on 27 April 2022.