A dream came true for the Potchefstroom Dorp Rugby Club Women’s team after they were crowned the Leopards League Women’s Club winners for the first time ever this year.

Now an even bigger dream needs to be fulfilled – a trip to the prestigious National Club Championships in Cape Town from 5-6 October this year. The team qualified for this prestigious tournament after winning the Leopards League for the first time this season.
The big spanner in the works is the lack of finances in order to undertake this trip to Cape Town as the team requires an estimated R 50 000 in order to cover their travel costs. Furthermore, the team is also in need of meals whilst travelling, tracksuits, travel bags and spending money for the trip.

According to coach and team mentor, Henriette Pretroius, her team of 26 players are in dire need of funds to realise their dreams of competing against SA’s best women’s rugby teams. “We only received the news two weeks ago of the funds we needed for the tournament when everything was finalised. This gives us more of less four weeks to get sponsors on board in order to make the trip. These ladies have worked so hard to get where they are. Some of them has never even seen the sea or had sea sand in their toes. It will be amazing if the local community can help to realise their rugby dreams,” stated Pretorius.

Pretorius has worked as hard as anyone to spread the word of her teams needs through various means and is still adamant that doors will open for them.
“If you don’t try, then you will never know. We are proactive from our side and we continue to scrape for every rand to make it happen, but getting thousands isn’t just something that you can get that easily,” lamented Pretorius.

The team is planning and hoping that they will be able to head to Cape Town by 3 October at the latest. “We had an unbeaten season this year and really did everything to overcome various challenges both on and off the field. FFG and the NWU really stuck by us this season and we are happy and proud to represent them,” she added.

According to Pretorius, the sponsors will also be able to go on the trip if they are willing to see where their money will be invested. “We are prepared to take sponsors with us. We can make arrangements. The big thing is that we cannot compete in the championships if we can’t get there.”
Enquiries: Henriette Pretorius at 082 898 2719 or Melony Brooks at 076 630 4939