Diggers open day creates a love for rugby

The Diggers Rugby Football Club recently welcomed aspiring young athletes and their families to their annual open-day event, held at the Randburg Sports Complex on March 9.

The event saw enthusiastic juniors registering to join the juniors club, followed by player warm-ups and an exciting lineup of eight skills stations designed to hone their rugby abilities.

In addition to the rugby activities, the open day also featured food stalls offering treats and music.

The Diggers Juniors chairperson, William Wolfaardt, expressed his hopes for the event, stating, “I would love for all the kids to come down to register and join Diggers but more than that, our job is for development. We want to create a love for rugby and to grow the sport. My hope is that the Diggers open day gives these kids a taste for life so that they can go out and enjoy the game.”

Wolfaardt noted that last year, approximately 550 players registered, and he hoped for a similar turnout this year. “We have a couple of skills stations to show the kids what rugby is all about and what Diggers can give them. Some of these boys are not registered yet; they are brand new and they don’t really know whether they want to play rugby or not, and this is the day where we help them decide.”

The highlight of the open day was the presence of special guests Braam van Straaten and Bennie Louw, who hosted the kicking and sports mental coaching stations, respectively. Van Straaten, a renowned rugby player and coach, provided valuable insights and guidance at the kicking station, helping young players refine their technique and skills.

Meanwhile, Louw, a respected sports mental coach, shared his expertise at the mental coaching station, focusing on the importance of mindset and resilience in sports performance. “Rugby is 80% mental and only 20% physical. When a big match is coming up, you can see how anxiety builds up in the children. Coaches will notice that players often do well during practice but when it comes to the match, they don’t do so well. That’s the part I work with, I help these guys get their minds in the right place.”

The Diggers Rugby Football Club chairperson, Andrew Collison, extended gratitude to everyone who attended the open day. “I just want to say thank you to all the parents and the kids for coming down. We have had unbelievable interest in rugby, I don’t know if it’s because of the World Cup, but we have been inundated with phone calls and emails. There is a deep desire for children to join rugby clubs and I’m proud of how many guys have come down and shown their interest. I think we’re going to have a phenomenal year ahead.”

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