Dolphins ready for upcoming rugby season

The Ballito Dolphins rugby team got back into competition mode when they played their first pre-season match at the weekend.

Around 30 rotating players faced off against the Empangeni Rhinos across five 20-minute chukkas at the club’s Maidstone home ground.

It gave head coach Craig Dawson an opportunity to mix and match ahead of this year’s league which kicks off on May 6.

Although it was officially labelled a friendly, players from both teams went full-tilt to secure a spot on the first team and prepare their bodies for the physicality of a full rugby season.

The club has been bolstered by a partnership with Umhlali Prep this year, which allows them to train under the floodlights at the school on Tuesday and Thursday evenings.

Couple this with a training membership at Ringside Boxing Gym and it has been the Dolphins’ best pre-season in years.

“We’re feeling really good about the season and have had good take-up on the training sessions. Having training sessions in Umhlali has made a huge difference,” said chairman Mark Svenningsen.

To field two strong teams, the club needs around 45 players available on matchday weekends and given occasional unavailability of players, the more the merrier.

Aside from the chance to rub shoulders with ex-professionals and provincial players, the atmosphere around the Dolphins is exceedingly positive and it feels like the start of something bigger.

With the continual growth of the North Coast, the team’s fortunes can only improve.

If you would like to be part of the upward mobility, you still have a chance to join for the upcoming season.

Once the league arrives, it is a twice weekly training commitment with a game on Saturdays.

Visit ballitodolphinsrugby.co.za to find out more.

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