Stunning schoolboy rugby at Danie Rossouw Week
In spite of some really good rain that fell in White River during the 2024 Motswako Danie Rossouw Rugby Week, the participating schools put on a fine exhibition of exciting schoolboy rugby that proved a treat for all who braved the weather to watch the boys on the rugby field.
Regardless of how much rain fell in White River during the week, nothing could dampen the spirits of the players taking part in the 2024 Motswako Danie Rossouw Rugby Week, which proved to be a brilliant showcase of school rugby talent.
With the amount of rain that fell from the Lowveld skies two weeks ago, the rugby boys could have been forgiven if there was less exciting running rugby than one would have hoped for.
However, in true schoolboy rugby style, the rain did nothing but make things all the more interesting as the boys persisted with some brilliant and exhilarating rugby.
Held from March 21 to 25, this year marked the 13th edition of the Danie Rossouw Rugby Week, and no fewer than 52 schools from four provinces made the trip to White River. This included three local schools – Hoërskool Bergvlam, Hoërskool Nelspruit and of course, the hosts of the week, Hoërskool Rob Ferreira.
Competition was played across four age groups, U14, U15, U16 and U18, and spectators were treated to three days of great rugby on March 21, 23 and 25.
Players and coaches were able to enjoy two off days in between, which they used well to explore the Lowveld and even to make a trip or two to the Kruger National Park.
On Friday morning, March 22, the players were treated to a special coaching clinic from 17 players of the Airlink Pumas, and on Sunday evening, March 24, the coaches were privy to a guest speaker performance from Pumas coach Jimmy Stonehouse.
The young rugby players and the coaches definitely all drew inspiration from the Pumas, and put what they were taught to good use, with the rugby on show a true delight to all.
Of all the local teams to take part in the week, it was only Rob Ferreira’s U15A team who managed to go unbeaten for the whole week as they won all three of their matches.
On day one they beat Bergsig 10-0, on day two they rampaged through Wonderboom, winning 38-0, and rounded the week off with a resounding 29-0 win over Birchleigh on the final day.
Both Rob Ferreira and Bergvlam’s first teams won two of their three matches, only losing on the first day of the week. Bergvlam’s U14 team also won two of their three matches, while their U15 team won one, drew one and lost one. Nellies’ most successful teams were the U16 (one win, one loss) and U15B (one win) outfits.
