A fresh start for Poorte Rugby Club

With the rugby pre-season being in full swing, the Roodepoort Rugby Club finally welcomed their new president with open arms and new fresh talent to kick-start their season on a positive note.

Juan Cornelius, a seasoned and experienced coach and former rugby player, has been elected as the new club president for the 2025 season. His leadership, combined with his unwavering commitment to the sport, promises to take the club to new heights.

Speaking to the Northsider, Juan emphasized the importance of building and focusing on their player’s strengths and weaknesses, especially during pre-season.

“This allows the coaches to get to know the players and know how to place them in positions where they are the strongest. The fantastic thing is, we have new players in our junior section from different schools, so it’s safe to say we have a lot of fresh talent on our hands.

“Despite fitness being at full throttle, the coaches bring a positive mindset to their training sessions, ensuring their mentality is game ready. Roodepoort will not be in the Pirates League, but I am thrilled to be bringing in my experience and I remain committed to getting the club back in the league and back on top.

“We do have upcoming friendly games as a way to get our teams prepared for the league, but in March, some of our players will be playing for the Golden Lions Rugby Club, which is big news and can encourage the junior players to work hard and be the best they can be,” he said.

The club remains thankful to the community which has supported them throughout their season, and welcome them to remain consistent with attending their home matches.