Organisers officially announce cancellation of Noord Suid derby
At the end of April, organisers were pulling out all stops to make alternative arrangements.
The seventh Noord Suid rugby tournament has been cancelled due to Covid-19.
The event would have taken place from 20 to 24 March at Hoërskool Waterkloof.
At the end of April, organisers were pulling out all stops to make alternative arrangements to accommodate the 36 participating teams at Afrikaanse Hoër Seunskool (Affies), who celebrates their 100th anniversary this year – hopefully in the first week of June.
However, the date for the Barloworld Toyota Menlyn Noord Suid rugby tournament for 2021 will be finalised in the next couple of days as well as the host school, according to tournament founder and former Springbok wing Pieter Rossouw.
On Monday chairman of Blue Bulls High Schools Rugby Association, Ferdi Niemand sent a media statement saying that all rugby matches, friendlies and/or league matches for 2020 have been cancelled.
“The implications of the Covid-19 pandemic and the ‘state of disaster’ declared by the president, as well as the further level-4 extended lockdown, have contributed to a position that we can no longer in the limited time at hand have a productive rugby season,” the statement reads.
Also read: Noord-Suid derby might still take place despite initially being red carded by Covid-19
This was not an easy decision but we as executives are already putting plans in place to assist our rugby players in their preparation for the 2021 season,” Niemand said.
Convener of u.16 Grant Khomo at the Blue Bulls High School Rugby Federation (BBHSRF), and a rugby coach at Affies, Heinrich van Jaarsveldt, said that derbies such as Grey College, Paarl Gim, Pretoria Boys High School and Waterkloof are year after year a huge occasion – not only for the players, but for parents and spectators as well.
“We were hoping to play some friendlies as soon as the learners return to school, but all has been cancelled for 2020. The outbreak caused major setbacks and disappointments. It is a big year for the Affies players and they worked exceptionally hard for the season. It is any matric learner’s dream to end their high school career on a high note,” said Van Jaarsveldt.
Director of rugby and first team coach of Pretoria Boys High School (PBHS), Paul Anthony, said that the boys are devastated that all rugby fixtures have been cancelled.
“We had some great fixtures planned such as Paarl Boys and Paarl Gim,” said Anthony.
“We were so excited about this season as our main focus was on the passion for the sport and having players feel like they are part of the system.”
“However, the matric players will not be able to wear the ‘candies’ this year. Life is full of twists and turns and I have no doubt they will prevail and advance confidently into the future. They are all resolute and determined young men,” concluded Anthony.
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