Alberton Junior Rugby Club players earn Lions IPT selection

Just months after launching an all-girls rugby team, Wildfire Alberton Junior Rugby Girls is celebrating a major milestone after seven of its players were selected for the Lions U15 and U17 IPT squads.

Somelele Kutanga, Refiloe Makhanya, Keara du Plessis, Alexis Maree, Celiwe Zwane, Mbali Radebe and Mahlatse Mtakwende were selected on July 26 following trials for the Lions representative squads.

For Wildfire coach Ghita-Brighite van den Berg, the club exceeded its expectations at the trials.

“When we entered the IPT trials, our main goal was simply to give the girls the opportunity to experience a higher level of rugby, learn from the process and see where they needed to improve. We never went there expecting seven girls to be selected. We went in thinking, this is a learning opportunity,” said Van den Berg.

The selections were particularly significant because Wildfire had only officially started in May.
“When the results came through and seven of our girls had been selected, it was an incredibly proud and emotional moment for the girls, their parents and everyone involved with Wildfire,” she said.

Selection based on character and skill

The trials assessed players in a match environment, with participants mixed according to their age groups and playing positions.

Van den Berg said the selectors considered several aspects of a player’s game, including skill level, rugby knowledge, positional understanding and decision-making.

The players’ ability to apply what they knew on the field was also assessed.

However, selection was not based solely on rugby ability.

“Talent is important, but we want our girls to understand that character matters just as much. Being a Wildfire player means being respectful, disciplined, humble, willing to learn and willing to work hard,” said Van den Berg.

The club believes those qualities are important as young players progress through the sport.

Valuable experience at Imbokodo UJ 7s

The Lions selection came after the Wildfire girls gained competitive experience at the Imbokodo UJ 7s on August 8 and 9.

Players had the opportunity to compete alongside and against girls from different rugby environments, including representing Barbarian teams alongside players from other clubs.

Van den Berg said the experience helped the players learn to adapt.

“As a developing girls’ team, we don’t always have the numbers we would like, so we have had to learn to work with other clubs and players. Sometimes that means forming combined or Barbarians teams, and although it can be challenging, we see it as an opportunity rather than a disadvantage,” she said.

The coach believes the players are learning lessons that extend beyond the rugby field.

“Most importantly, they have learned that rugby is bigger than a club badge,” said Van den Berg.

“We represent Wildfire with pride, but the girls who play this game are part of something bigger, a growing sisterhood.”

For Wildfire, the seven selections demonstrate what can happen when young players are given opportunities to test themselves.

The club hopes the achievement will inspire more girls in Alberton to consider rugby and see the sport as a potential pathway to higher levels of competition.