The Harlequins rugby club followed up their annual meeting this past weekend with an event in the club’s own Quin & Bull restaurant during which outstanding players and teams could be rewarded for their achievements of the past season.

The most important change to the club’s management team took place when a new chairman had to be elected, after former Springbok prop Richard Bands resigned from the position.

Bands’ mantle eventually fell on the shoulders of Isaac Mophatlane, a businessman with wide experience and a former CEO of Business Connexion (BCX), as well as current director of Mustek, one of the sponsors of Harlequins rugby club.

The rest of the club’s management team was mainly re-elected unchanged.

Although Harlequins’ first team struggled this year and finished seventh on the log in the Carlton League, the team finished strong towards the end of the season with good performances in the national Gold Cup tournament, where they reached the quarter-finals.

Quins’ women’s team, known as Quins Pink, as well as their third team, The Jesters, won their respective leagues and stood out from the rest during the prize giving. The Jesters were named Harlequins’ team of the year.

Quins Pink this year produced several players for the Blue Bulls’ women’s team – the Daisies – as well as for the Springbok women’s team. Their player of the year is Nelisiwe Mnguni.

The first team’s versatile back, Eugene Hare, was honoured for his achievement playing Currie Cup rugby for the Blue Bulls, while he was also Quins Black’s (first team) top try scorer in the Gold Cup tournament.

Loose forward Divhan du Preez was named the most improved senior player, while flyhalf Hendrik Mulder was honoured as Quins Black’s top scorer of the year. He scored a combined 147 points in the Carlton league and Gold Cup tournament.

The first team captain and hooker, Attie Joubert, was honoured as top try scorer (7 tries during the season), while he also received the special chairman’s award for his contribution to the club.

Big prop, Gerhard van der Merwe, is the forward of the year and scrumhalf Ruaan du Preez is the back of the year.

The top award, as overall player of the year went to the lock, Michael Chimbilia.

Kobus Lottering was honoured as coach of the year.

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