Stereotypes or not, women’s rugby is on the rise
Regardless what your thoughts on whether it’s a good thing for women and girls to be playing rugby or not, the reality is that they are playing rugby and they’re enjoying it, too.
The South African Rugby Union (Saru) and Valke Rugby Union are pushing their policies of developing women’s rugby, a sport which is showing great growth around the globe.
Just ask the girls at Brakpan Rugby Club who have been hard at work in training ahead of their new season which is set to start in March.
“All the mother unions expect their clubs to have some sort of women’s rugby programme and we’re doing that,” said club chairman Harry Nieuwenhuis.
“We haven’t seen much movement around girls’ rugby at some of the other clubs so getting opposition locally might be a challenge, but our girls have been invited to play at tournaments by some of the clubs that fall within the Blue Bulls Union and that’s exciting.”
Ben Kruger, the new club captain and women’s rugby coordinator at Brakpan Rugby Club, said that they are slowly building things up with regards to girls’ rugby at the club.
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“We will field three teams this season, u-15, u-16 and u-18 sides.
“We only start playing in March so we have a month or so to get our girls ready.”
Kruger said that the interest in playing girls’ rugby at the club is definitely there with some 40 girls attending a recent open information session.
While there is definitely great interest, the club is welcoming any girls who would like to play.
For more information, contact Kruger on 083 984 8884 or Kiewiet Janse van Nieuwenhuizen on 082 322 0880.
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