Top promotion for Highlanders

The Boschpick Newcastle Highlanders have been promoted to the Sharks Premium Division.

This means that in 2016, the local side will compete against the best clubs in KwaZulu-Natal, including sides like College Rovers and Durban Collegians.

Highlanders will host these clubs in Newcastle too.

“The community will see some Sharks and Springboks players in action, representing their clubs,” explained head coach, Andre Swanepoel.

Boschpick Highlanders are also required to field an under-20 side to face these sides, to allow youngsters have the chance to compete in their age group.

Highlanders will still field four sides in total.

“This will be the three senior teams and the under-20s, the third side to participate in the Northern KZN League.”

Mr Swanepoel said the club was eagerly anticipating the challenge, the result of a Herculean effort from players in the past season.

In 2014 and 2015, Highlanders brought home the League and Dewar Shield.

After drawing in the promotion/relegation match in 2014, the team hit the skids in the Dewar Shield finals, and were unlucky to lose out to Jaguars after poor weather ended the game.

However, Jaguars also played to a tie in their promotion/relegation match.

“The Sharks then decides to promote both clubs to the Premier Division for at least two years. At this point, the club has only lost one player, Innus Visser, who emigrated to New Zealand. The rest of the side is available, and we are looking forward to new players joining up soon.”

In a recent survey by the Sharks, it was revealed that after high school, over 800 children in the province never play rugby.

Durban only had six locals join coastal teams.

It was for this reason Highlanders embarked on a mission to begin an u/20 team, providing the opportunity for competitive sport in that age group.

“Some players have already begun preparation in the gym, while some play touch rugby every Tuesday and Thursday evening at the club. However, official club practices begin on January 4, from 6pm at the Arbor Park grounds.”

Contact Andre Swanepoel on 083 717 2152 for more information.

The club is also proud to announce Mr Swanepoel’s nomination by the Sharks, to become one of 25 coaches in South Africa to attend a World Rugby Level 3 course in Cape Town.

“This is the highest level of coaching accreditation one can get in the world.”

After completing the course, Mr Swanepoel said the real work involved a year’s planning and observation of the team, ahead of a formal assessment.

A coach’s ability would be judged on both practice and regular matches.

“Once this is done, we return next November to make a formal presentation before a panel of 10 adjudicators. If you pass, you are a Level 3 accredited coach.”

Mr Swanepoel joined an elite group on the course, including Springbok kicking coach, Louis Koen, South African Rugby Union coaching manager, Jacques Nienaber, ex-Springbok turned coach, Barend Pieterse, Bulls u/21 coach, Dewey Swartbooi, Griquas fitness coach, Neil Murphy and ex-Shark turned Lions kicking coach, Herkie Kruger.

“We learned a lot in four days. Now I must apply this to players, to help them become better players.”