HVRC ignites rugby passion

FOR the love of the game, the Hillcrest Villagers Rugby Club (HVRC) took on a pilot project to create a development team from a high school in the Highway area. With hard work and dedication from the club and the team, they took fourth position in the KZNRU league.

In March this year the Hillcrest Villagers Rugby Club was approached by uXolophambili High School, in Hammersdale, to attempt a development rugby pilot project and help enter a school (an over 18 but U/19 School) team to compete in the KZNRU U/19 development club league.

“This involved a highly accelerated and intense rules, skills and drills coaching programme from Villagers to make it happen as a large number of the boys had never played rugby. They didn’t know the rules but they had the passion,” said René Missen, chairman of the HVRC.

Coach and HVRC member Mike Day, and Villagers player Brian Lewis (managing director of sponsor, Envirosan) jumped at the opportunity to support the team.

“With the Envirosan as the title sponsor, we were also assisted by transport sponsors Smiths Manufacturing, Richdens Super SPAR, Shaves Paint Centre and Suzuki-Pinetown. Transport sponsors helped transport 30 pupils to and from the HVRC training grounds twice a week for training and to and from match venues. A very tight budget was drawn up,” said René.

The combined efforts of Day, Keith Dent, the school’s sports liaison teacher Nhlanhla Ntshingila, Dion Britz and assistant coaches Kyle Britz and Cameron Cheyne, saw the team prepared in a remarkable space of time.

“I have never seen such passion, willingness to learn and such sheer courage come out of such an age group in the 20 years I have been involved in coaching the game. It’s unheard of, ” said Day.

The team came 4th out of 8 sides in the KZNRU league and went on to reach the semi finals of the Knockout Competition, losing by only one point to the eventual winners of the knockouts – Amabhubesi RC.

“Without the loyalty of our sponsors and sheer passion and dedication from the high school pupils, coaches, the KZNRU and the HVRC committee – this project would never have come together. HVRC invites any new 2014 season sponsors from the Highway area to come forward and pledge a donation to keep this dream alive and help ensure its continuity. This will help us to reach into previously disadvantaged communities to ignite the passion of rugby,” said René.