SOUTH AFRICA: The 2024 edition of the nationwide grassroots, Get Into Rugby (GIR) programme targeted at children aged six to 13 is officially underway and heads to the Free State province on Thursday, 18 July.

A festival event, two days before the world champions’ Test Match against Portugal in Bloemfontein, will take place to officially mark the return of the Engen-sponsored Get Into Rugby season.

The grassroots rugby initiative saw 244 788 boys and girls play the game across all nine provinces of the country in 2023, touching the lives of 114 281 boys and 130 507 girls, who might previously have never experienced organized sport, let alone rugby.

The program also offers young, aspirant rugby coaches, both male and female, an opportunity to develop their rugby coaching skills – a key aspect that aligns with Engen Sports’ values of creating a holistic platform for youth sport development.

Engen Brand & Sponsorship Manager, Tsholo Tiro, said that Engen was looking forward to another season of impacting and contributing to the growth of rugby in South Africa through the programme.

“The Engen Get Into Rugby program is quite important to Engen due to its unique ability to reach children at the grassroots level,” said Tiro.

“Over the years, sport has proven to be a fundamental aspect of the growth of children. As proud sponsors of this program, Engen takes pride in contributing to a unique platform that encourages not only sport development, but the holistic development of the children to ensure that rugby and society benefit from well-groomed future rugby players.”

The festival in Bloemfontein will be visited by Springbok players to add inspiration and impetus to the young players, while Rian Oberholzer, CEO of SA Rugby emphasized the importance of providing new experiences and opportunities to young people.

“The Get Into Rugby program has successfully introduced hundreds of thousands of children to rugby and sport over the many years and we’re grateful for Engen’s continued support,” said Oberholzer.

“This program is the first rung on a ladder that leads to our men’s and women’s Springbok teams. But, as much as that, it offers an opportunity to play organized sport for many children who would not ever have the chance to experience it.”

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Two positions on the Executive Council were also contested. Jannie Louw was re-elected for a second term and Adv. Willie Small was elected as a new member for a four-year term.

The full membership of the Executive Council now comprises (in alphabetical order, elected unless stated): Mark Alexander (president), Francois Davids (deputy president), Hennie Baartman; Belia Karsten, (independent), Melody Lekota (independent), Jannie Louw, Mary-Anne Musikewa (independent), Rian Oberholzer (CEO), Tryphosa Ramano (independent), Abubakar Saban (CFO), Randall September, Adv Willie Small, John Smit (players’ association nominee), Mimi Tau (independent).

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Snyman took over the coaching role halfway through a dismal HSBC SVNS season and although it was too late to steer the team to qualification courtesy of a top-four SVNS log position (like the previous two Olympics), they do however have one more opportunity to do so.

“We are facing some really good teams this weekend, but we are also playing ourselves and I believe that our lead-up preparation has settled the mindset,” explains Snyman.

“We worked hard, especially on defense, and I have faith and confidence in the team that we selected for this massive task. A spot at the Olympics will give the season so much meaning,” reckons Snyman.

For Snyman, himself an Olympian bronze medalist in Rugby Sevens, the lure of Paris is huge, but he is not looking past Mexico which is the first hurdle to overcome on Friday afternoon.

“We need to slog it out game for game. Mexico might not be a regular on the SVNS circuit, but we won’t underestimate them at all. Like us, they also have ambitions and we must respect that. We are just looking at ourselves and setting the tempo for Saturday and Sunday,” Snyman said.

The coach believes that the South African defense holds the key to a good weekend.

“We know what we can do with the ball in hand, and our weakness was defense. That is a mindset, something I think we managed to turn around over the last couple of weeks,” explains Snyman.

Team captain, Selvyn Davids, who played at the Tokyo Olympics, said a win in Monaco would salvage some Blitzboks pride and will of course put them in contention for a possible medal in Paris.

“This could be a massive turnaround for us. We did not reach our original target of a top-four spot, but now we have another opportunity, and we must use it. The squad is motivated, for sure. The Olympics are the biggest thing in sport and every sportsperson wants to be part of that. We have this big opportunity now and it will be silly to waste it,” he said.

The Blitzboks fixtures are (all matches on Rugbypass.tv):

Friday, 21 June

16h44: Mexico

Saturday, 22 June

13h44: Tonga

17h56: Chile

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The 2023 version of the tournament saw eventual champions, Free State Women, promoted into the Premier Division, and a handful of individual players getting call-ups into national squads, with Free State’s Sikholiwe (Sne) Mdletshe earning Test caps for the Springbok Women, and Shannon-Lee Windvogel (SWD Eagirls) drafted into the Springbok Women’s Sevens squad.

There will be no promotion/relegation in 2024, but for Griquas Women (against Pumas Women), Limpopo Blue Bulls Women (versus Leopards Women) and Valke Rugby Union Women (facing SWD Eagles Women) a good start in front of their home crowd could establish a solid support base and momentum for the tournament, which will culminate in semi-finals on 3 August, and the final a week later on 10 August.

The Griffons Women, who will be coached by the experienced Shamila Louw and former Griffons stalwart, Tertius Maarman, assisting her, have a bye in the opening round.

The first round of action will start an exciting weekend of rugby in Kimberley, Polokwane, and Kempton Park and with no clear front runners at this stage of the tournament, some intriguing matches are on offer.

In Kimberley, Griquas, again coached by Ronald Maarman, with Claudia Francke (forwards) and Coerispa Links (backs) assisting him, will welcome Pumas Women to Kimberley Rugby Club.  The Pumas Women will start the competition with a new head coach Devril Boucher, who has been involved with the team in a variety of roles in the past. He will be assisted by Sbusiso Ngomane and the duo would love to start on a winning note.

Limpopo Blue Bulls Women will again be a strong contender in 2024. They have retained most of their playing squad from last year and head coach, Artwell Makhubela, is in charge again. He will be assisted by Andile Dzavana (backs) and Bryan Mashigo (forwards). They will face another regular contender in the Leopards, a finalist two years ago.

Leopards Head Coach Franklin Jackson will be without his assistant, Jackie Kriel, for their trip north as she is currently with the SA Students Sevens team abroad, but will have the comfort of former Springbok Women wing, Verana van Heerden, to bring massive experience and calmness to his young squad.

The Eagirls will enter the tournament as likely favorites, but the Valke Women cannot be underestimated. The SWD side has been a top-three side consistently and will again have their regular stalwarts available. Elize Arendse is back as head coach and she will be assisted by Nicolene Barendse, who played for the Eagirls till last year.

Valke Head Coach, Catherine Lowane and assistant, Collen Mabasa, will have a plan to combat the free-flowing attack from their visitors for sure.

The first round of fixtures (all on Saturday, 15 June 2024):

Griquas Women vs Pumas Women

Venue: Kimberley Rugby Klub, Kimberley

Kick-off: 10h30

Referee: Cammy Dyers

Valke Women vs SWD Eagirls

Venue: Barnard Stadium, Kempton Park

Kick-off: 12h15

Referee: Siyanda Pikoli

Limpopo Blue Bulls Women vs Leopards Women

Venue: University of Limpopo, Polokwane

Kick-off: 13h00

Referee: Excellent Mnkomo

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The new deal – which is scheduled for final sign-off on Thursday – acknowledges that a compulsory, industry-wide eight-week shutdown is impossible to accommodate in a South African playing calendar that straddles the hemispheres (the international franchises play through the SA summer in the nine-month-long Vodacom Untied Rugby Championship, while the Springbok Test season and domestic competitions are rooted in the SA winter).

The South African Rugby Employers’ Organisation (SAREO) and MyPlayers (the professional rugby players’ organization) have agreed that accepting a 12-month season – while embedding player welfare strategies – was the optimal way to address an internationally unique match-scheduling challenge.

The agreement was brokered following arbitration of a dispute relating to mandatory rest periods for players. The arbitrator ruled that the players’ terms and conditions of employment required all contracted players to rest simultaneously for eight weeks. He also ruled that such rest periods were not contracted to take place within each 12-month cycle.

The new deal instead provides for the following:

• Structured, individualized eight-week rest periods for all players with formal notice periods when such breaks are to be taken;
• Adoption of World Rugby player load guidelines which are in finalisation;
• Maintenance of a strict, individual player load monitoring program;
• Broadened scope for the Joint Committee on Contracted Players’ Safety and Welfare and utilization of the Emergency Committee to ensure effective implementation of the new arrangements and;
• We adjusted travel arrangements for Vodacom URC/EPCR teams from 1 July 2025.

The original award cast doubt on the possibility of accommodating the Carling Currie Cup in the current season so as not to overlap with the Vodacom United Rugby Championship.

However, the Carling Currie Cup Premier Division will kick off as scheduled in the first weekend of July (in a revamped format agreed by the General Council in December), while the First Division will spring into action this weekend with three matches scheduled for Saturday.

“This has been a very fruitful process, and the outcome is that we have collectively faced up to the realities of our post-COVID calendar and come up with a solution for a problem unlike any other sport that I am aware of,” said Rian Oberholzer, CEO of SA Rugby.

Rian Oberholzer added, “Every sport, everywhere has an off-season, but we have found a way to balance the equation of maintaining our competition schedule to drive revenues for 12 months of the year while securing player welfare. We might have had to go through an arbitration to help concentrate minds, but the result is good.

The importance of player welfare was never in doubt. The challenge was to find ways to accommodate all needs. I’d like to thank MyPlayers and SAREO for constructively working their way towards this solution.”

Mandisi Tshonti, GM: of Player Affairs of MyPlayers said: “This agreement revolutionizes the South African playing calendar as it makes provision for non-stop professional rugby.

It ensures the commercial engine can keep delivering, by giving broadcasters and sponsors an optimal opportunity to partner with SA Rugby and the competing unions, while player welfare has been enhanced.”

The Premier Division of the Carling Currie Cup kicks off on the weekend of 5/6 July and will reach its climax with the final on 21 September. In an exciting new feature, the competition will be staged over one-and-a-half rounds, followed by two semi-finals and the grand finale.

The eight teams are divided into two pools of four each by last year’s standings. Pool A will consist of the Toyota Cheetahs (No. 1 ranked last year), the Vodacom Bulls (4), DHL Western Province (5), and the NovaVit Griffons (8).

Pool B sees the Hollywoodbets Sharks (ranked No. 2), Airlink Pumas (3), Fidelity ADT Lions (6) and Suzuki Griquas (7) grouped. Teams will play home and away matches within their respective pools plus a single round of games against sides in the opposite pool.

The two ranked teams in each pool will progress to the semi-finals on 14 September, with the two winners set to battle it out for the famous Currie Cup in the 21 September final.

Meanwhile, the remaining six provincial sides – the Sanlam Boland Kavaliers, Valke, Leopards, Phangela SWD Eagles, Eastern Province, and Border – will compete against each other in the Carling Currie Cup First Division, with five rounds of league games scheduled. The opening round is this weekend, with the semi-finals scheduled for 20 July and the final for 27 July.

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The Griquas confirmed their home final status by beating the Toyota Cheetahs 39-17 in Bloemfontein in one of two games played on Friday.

In the other Friday match, the Pumas made sure of their place in the final when they defeated NovaVit Griffons 43-14 at the Mbombela Stadium.

Unbeaten Griquas finished top of the log with 45 points and with that, they earned the right to host the final against second-placed Pumas, who finished second on 41 points.

In the two fixtures played on Saturday, the Sanlam Boland Kavaliers won their final outing 48-40 against Eastern Province, while Leopards scored a superb 45-31 away win over the Phangela SWD Eagles in George.

In the last fixture of the weekend, Valke defeated Border 38-14 in East London.

The weekend results saw the Griffons holding on to their third spot on the log with 35 points, three more than the fourth-placed Cheetahs. The Kavaliers finished fifth on 27 points, and they are followed by the Valke (18 points), Leopards (16), SWD Eagles, EP (both on 14), and winless Border.

SA Rugby will confirm the SA Cup Final kick-off time on Monday.

Griquas clinch home final with victory over Cheetahs

The Suzuki Griquas defeated Toyota Cheetahs 39-17 at Shimla Park in Bloemfontein in one of the two Friday matches with the result handing them the hosting right for next weekend’s SA Cup Final in Kimberley.

The Peacock Blues had a slender 15-10 lead at the break, but they managed to pull away from the Free Staters in the second half to make sure they finished the round-robin phase unbeaten.

Pieter Bergh’s side scored 5 tries, four conversions, and a drop goal while the side from Bloemfontein replied with two converted tries and a penalty.

Fullback Cameron Hufke dotted down twice for the Griquas while stalwart flyhalf George Whitehead succeeded with three conversions, a penalty goal, and a drop goal.

Former Springbok scrumhalf Ruan Pienaar scored two conversions and a penalty goal in his very last competitive match for the Cheetahs, having announced his retirement from the game after this fixture following a stellar career with amongst others, the Cheetahs and the Springboks.

Right-wing Daniel Kasende and utility back replacement Rewan Kruger each scored a try for the hosts.

Scorers:

Toyota Cheetahs (10) 17 – Tries: Daniel Kasende, Rewan Kruger. Conversions: Ruan Pienaar. Penalty goal: Pienaar.

Suzuki Griquas (15) 39 – Tries: Cameron Hufke (2), Janco Uys,Sako Makata, Stephan Smit. Conversions: George Whitehead (3), Lubabalo Dobela. Penalty goal: Whitehead. Drop goal: Whitehead.

Pumas down Griffons to secure final spot

The Airlink Pumas secured their place in next week’s SA Cup final against Suzuki Griquas courtesy of their 43-14 win over the NovaVit Griffons Friday at the Mbombela Stadium in Nelspruit.

The Lowvelders scored five tries, a penalty try, four conversions, and a penalty goal, while the Northern Free Staters replied with two converted tries.

Hooker Darnell Osuagwu dotted down twice for the Pumas while fly-half Clinton Swart slotted three conversions and a penalty goal.

Ludio Williams (No 8) and Randy Fillies (left wing) were the Griffons’ try scorers, with fly-half Danrich Visagie succeeding with both conversions.

Scorers:

Airlink Pumas (17) 43 – Tries: Darnell Osuagwu (2), Ruwald van der Merwe, Kwanda Dimaza, Stefan Coetzee, Penalty Try. Conversions: Clinton Swart (3). Penalty goal: Swart.

Novavit Griffons (7) 14 – Tries: Ludio Williams, Randy Fillies. Conversions: Danrich Visagie (2).

Kavaliers on top in try-fest against gallant EP

Sanlam Boland Kavaliers scored seven tries as they clinched an exciting 48-40 win over a gallant Eastern Province side Saturday afternoon at Rhino Park in Piketberg.

The Kavaliers led 24-13 at halftime and while they went on to also dominate the scoring after halftime, they also had their hands full on defence as EP came storming back to finish the game with five tries.

Left-wing Gavern Skippers and outside center Xavier Mitchell each scored twice for the Kavaliers, who were also awarded a crucial penalty try, while pivot Darian Hock sent three conversion kicks through the upright.

Jay-dee Jooste, left-wing, ran in for two of Elephants’ tries, while the kicking boot of fullback Jayden Bantom ensured the visitors stayed in touch with the home side. Bantom converted two of the tries and he was also on target with three penalty goals.

Scorers:

Sanlam Boland Kavaliers (24) 48 – Tries: Gavern Skippers, Xavier Mitchell, Gerrit Bester, Marlyn Williams, Carl Francois Truter, Penalty Try. Conversions: Darian Hock (3).

Eastern Province (13) 40 – Tries: Jay-dee Jooste (2), Sherwin Slater, Aya Oliphant, Temba Boltina. Conversions: Jayden Bantom (2). Penalty goals: Bantom (3).

Leopards hunt down Eagles at Outeniqua Park

The Leopards finished the campaign on a high by beating the Phangela SWD Eagles 45-31 in their Saturday afternoon fixture played at Outeniqua Park in George.

The men from Potchefstroom enjoyed a 26-10 halftime lead and they comfortably secured a good away win by scoring 7 tries to 5 in the end. No 8 Henro-Pierre Swart grabbed two of the five tries, while playmaker Charles Williams made a personal contribution of 15 points through a try and five conversions.

Right-wing Rosco Seyster had a good game for the Eagles as he added two conversions to his try.

Scorers:

Phangela SWD Eagles (10) 31 – Dian Basson, Sachin Toring, Mpho Ntsane, Rosco Syster, Clyde Lewis. Conversions: Deon Carstens, Syster.

Leopards (26) 45 – Tries: Henro-Pierre Swart (2), Chris Vermaak, Gilroy Philander, Tjaart Benade, Naiden Jaarts, Charles Williams. Conversions: Williams (5).

Valke swoop to victory over Border in East London

In Sunday’s last fixture of the round, the Valke scored six tries to two in their away clash with Border Bulldogs at Police Park in East London, having led 19-14 at halftime.

Scrumhalf Luciano Elias went over twice for the Valke while flyhalf Sergio Stalmeester also scored a five-pointer in addition to his four conversions.

Border scrumhalf Merlin du Plessis converted his teams’ two tries scored through Chuma Biyana (No 8) and Ryan Maree (outside center).

Scorers:

Border (14) 14 – Tries: Chuma Biyana, Ryan Maree. Conversions: Merlin du Plessis (2).

Valke (19) 38 – Tries: Luciano Elias (2), Eddie Evans, Zander van der Merwe, Sergio Stalmeester, Valentino Wellman. Conversions: Stalmeester (4).

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The appointment of Scotland’s Davidson was announced by World Rugby on Tuesday, along with the match officials for all the June and July internationals.

Chris Busby from Ireland will be the man in the middle when the Boks kick off their 2024 season against Wales at Twickenham in London on 22 June, while Australia’s Angus Gardner and Karl Dickson from England have been appointed to referee the Boks’ two Tests against Ireland in Pretoria and Durban respectively.

South Africa’s AJ Jacobs has been appointed to referee the Test between Namibia and Portugal in Windhoek, where Griffin Colby is one of the assistant referees, a week before the Boks take on the Portuguese in Bloemfontein.

Three South African television match officials will also be in action during the mid-year Tests. They are Marius van der Westhuizen, Quinton Immelman and Marius Jonker. For a full list of the official appointments for the June/July Test, click here.

Aimee Barrett-Theron, Morne Ferreira, and Immelman are on the panel for the World Rugby U20 Championship, which takes place in Cape Town in June and July.

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Free State Women outside back Sikholiwe Mdletshe will earn her first cap after being named on the left wing, while regular starter Sinazo Mcatshulwa returns at flanker for South Africa’s second match of the tournament after they outplayed Cameroon 55-0 in the opening match on Saturday.

Koen selected a new midfield, where Jakkie Cilliers will link up with Aphiwe Ngwevu, a try-scorer off the bench against Cameroon. Tayla Kinsey, South Africa’s most capped scrumhalf, will swap places with Rumandi Potgieter after playing her 33^rd Test match off the bench at the weekend.

Squad personnel Azisa Mkiva, Roseline Botes, and Xoliswa Khuzwayo swap their opening match bench role for starting positions in the front row against Kenya.

Botes (hooker) swops places with Lindelwa Gwala and Khuzwayo (prop) with Sanelisiwe Charlie. Mkiva replaced the injured Aliyah Tchogna-Njamen early in the Cameroon game, which means Amber Schonert, who made her Test debut at the same venue last year, will provide tighthead cover against Kenya.

Vainah Ubisi and Nomsa Mokwai also swop jerseys, with Ubisi starting and Mokwai moving to the bench where she will be joined by Unathi Qolo, who will be keen to start her contribution to the Springbok Women’s quest to qualify for next year’s Rugby World Cup in England.

The Springbok Women’s last Test against Kenya was in September 2023 at the University of Western Cape Stadium in Bellville, where South Africa won by 77-12.

Only five players who started against Kenya in that Test are back and will run out in the starting line-up again: Cilliers, Mcatshulwa, Botes, Byrhandrè Dolf, and Lusanda Dumke.

Koen said he is keen to see Mdletshe in action at this level.

“She has been good at training in recent weeks and having her on board for our European tour is now reaping rewards,” said Koen.

“She did not get the opportunity in Spain or England, but kept on working hard and contributed on and off the field, so I am delighted for her to get that first cap.”

The Bok Women’s coach, who opted for a split of six forwards and two backs on the bench, said team selection is a reflection of how they are approaching this Test.

“We want to focus on our processes, and we selected the team accordingly. We have prepared the team well and we are good to go,” said Koen.

“We have a strategy for this match and how to nullify Kenya’s attacking strengths and select our team accordingly. We got over the first hurdle, but that was only the start.”

“Kenya will present a huge challenge with South Africa’s Jerome Paarwater coaching their forwards and many of our players back home (as DHL Western Province forwards coach).”

The Test is scheduled to start at 12h00 (SA time) and will be broadcast live on YouTube and SuperSport.

Springbok Women team to face Kenya:

15. Byrhandrè Dolf (Bulls Daisies) – 12 Tests, 15 points (3 tries)

14. Nomawethu Mabenge (Sanlam Boland Dames) – 17 Tests, 65 points (13 tries)

13. Jakkie Cilliers (Bulls Daisies) – 11 Tests, 29 points (2 tries, 5 conversions, 3 penalty goals)

12. Aphiwe Ngwevu (Border Ladies) – 19 Tests, 40 points (8 tries)

11. Sikholiwe Mdletshe (Free State Women) – uncapped

10. Mary Zulu (Sharks Women) – 9 Tests, 14 points (7 conversions)

9. Tayla Kinsey (Sharks Women) – 33 Tests, 48 points (2 tries, 16 conversions, 2 penalty goals)

8. Sizophila Solontsi (Bulls Daisies) – 19 Tests, 40 points (8 tries)

7. Sinazo Mcatshulwa (DHL Western Province) – 29 Tests, 45 points (9 tries)

6. Lusanda Dumke (Bulls Daisies) – 29 Tests, 35 points (7 tries)

5. Vainah Ubisi (Bulls Daisies) – 12 Tests, 5 points (1 try)

4. Nolusindiso Booi (captain, DHL Western Province) – 43 Tests, 5 points (1 try)

3. Azisa Mkiva (DHL Western Province) – 7 Tests, 0 points

2. Roseline Botes (DHL Western Province) – 18 Tests, 40 points (8 tries)

1. Xoliswa Khuzwayo (Golden Lions Women) – 3 Tests, 0 points

Replacements:

16. Lindelwa Gwala (Ealing Trailfinders Women) – 30 Tests, 50 points (10 tries)

17. Sanelisiwe Charlie (Bulls Daisies) – 17 Tests, 5 points (1 try)

18. Amber Schonert (Sale Sharks Women) – 4 Tests, 0 points

19. Nomsa Mokwai (DHL Western Province) – 6 Tests, 0 points

20. Nompumelelo Mathe (Sanlam Boland Dames) – 18 Tests, 25 points (5 tries)

21. Anathi Qolo (Bulls Daisies) – 2 Tests, 0 points

22. Rumandi Potgieter (Bulls Daisies) – 16 Tests, 0 points

23. Piwokuhle Nyanda (Golden Lions Women) – 11 Tests, 0 points

The post Changes to Springbok Women team for Kenya appeared first on NRI News.

CAPE TOWN, SOUTH AFRICA: Springbok Women head coach Louis Koen expressed his satisfaction with his team’s 55-0 victory over Cameroon in a windy Stade Makis in Antananarivo, Madagascar on Saturday, opening their Rugby Africa Women’s Cup account with a full house of points.

Koen had high praise for the way the team kept hammering away at their opponents despite the difficult conditions and applauded his bench players for exploiting the gaps when they finally opened up.

Lindelwa Gwala and Maceala Samboya scored hat-tricks for the Springbok Women (https://apo-opa.co/3UMu5WC) as they added six tries to their three in the first half for the comprehensive victory.

“We built an innings in the first half and the team deserve credit for the way they stuck to their tasks,” said Koen.

“The second-half effort proved the benefits of their hard work as the gaps opened up, and we could expose the tiring Cameroon defense.”

“It was difficult in the first half with the wind swirling around and we made some mistakes, but we never stopped trying. The two injuries in the half also had an impact and Cameroon deserve credit as they played well in the first half.”

The second half was a different affair due to the “slow poison” kicking in, the Bok Women coach said: “With them tiring and the replacements bringing fresh legs, we could get a couple of tries, some of them well worked on top of that.

“In the end, we got five points out of the game and overcame the first hurdle in our way. So, we are still on track.”

Koen said the two injuries – to Aliyah Tchogna-Njamen (prop) and Samantha Els (flanker) – will impact their planning for Wednesday’s game against Kenya.

“It is a short turnaround and the early injuries meant that the replacements played longer than we had planned, but we will adjust our plans accordingly and come Wednesday, will be ready for Kenya,” added Koen.

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