Panthers Rugby Club hopes to grow in 2018
"I believe if the club is forced to close, rugby in Edenvale would die."
With the start of Edenvale Panthers’ rugby league around the corner, the club is ready to grow to new heights this year.
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The rugby club, based at the Edenvale sports grounds, is looking forward to building its reputation when the league begins.
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“Last year we didn’t play as well as we had hoped to,” said Phillip Venter, chairperson of the club.
The club finished fifth in their league.
“This year we have room to grow and become even better.”
Venter told the NEWS that the club has a lot of new players this year.
Many of the club’s older players left the team at the end of last year.
“As you get older you start having other priorities,” said Venter.
“You work all day and sometimes you don’t have time for rugby.”
With the new members, Venter hopes to build a champion team.
Venter said he is looking forward to the start of the league on March 10.
This year the club also hopes to garner more support from the Edenvale community.
Venter hopes to have the stands filled on game days and have a second, third and u-21 team.
“We are an Edenvale club and we need support from the community,” said Venter.
He said at the moment the club is struggling to field 22 players.
Venter encouraged anyone with an interest in the sport to get involved in the club.
“We need players willing to put in the work and the effort,” said Venter.
He said anyone, with rugby knowledge, is welcome to speak to the team and assist them.
Besides strengthening their ranks the Panthers are seeking sponsorship from the Edenvale community
Money from sponsorship will be used to buy uniforms and training equipment.
“We need a scrum machine as the one we had made was stolen last year,” said Venter.
He believes that by growing the club the community will benefit.
“Rugby builds character, it teaches you discipline and how to work in a team,” said Venter.
“I believe if the club is forced to close, rugby as a sport would die in Edenvale.”
Vice-chairperson of the club, Gideon de Bruyn said the club is not sitting idle and waiting for sponsorship.
He said the club is planning on hosting markets to raise funds.
“We held a market last year but not many people attended,” said de Bruyn.
Funds raised at the market are used to support the club.
Contact Venter or de Bruin on 072 600 4268 and 084 264 8926 to get involved in the club.
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