Youth rugby is alive and kicking in South Africa.
This was proved on Saturday, September 27, when the Benoni Grizzlies Youth Rugby Club held their annual club day on Hoërskool Brandwag’s rugby fields, in Aerodrome Drive.
Sixty-six junior rugby games were played on the day, with teams from Kempton Wolwe Youth Rugby Club, Springs Youth Rugby Club, Vereeniging Youth Rugby Club, Boksburg Uile Youth Rugby Club, Elsburg Eagles Youth Rugby Club, Brakpan Youth Rugby Club and Suikerbosrand Youth Rugby Club participating.
Grizzlies’ teams played 13 games on the day (winning seven, drawing one and losing five by close margins).
In general, the local club enjoyed a successful season in all their age groups and ended in the top three log positions in all the leagues.
Tiana Oosthuizen, chairwoman of the Benoni Grizzlies Youth Rugby Club, thanked all the parents in all the club’s age categories for their “amazing” support and help at the club day.
“Thank you, too, to all the parents who donated money towards our expenses on the day and our fantastic u-13, u-16 and u-18 players, who spent their time helping prior to their respective games, and our coaches and team managers who helped to achieve the brilliant results this season,” she said.
Oosthuizen also praised her committee for their support, as well as the spectators who filled the stands from the first to the last game in full support of youth rugby.
The Grizzlies are now preparing for their final commitment of the season, when the u-13, u-16 and u-18 teams travel to Pietermaritzburg, to participate in the annual inter-provincial tournament.
More images from the day can be found by clicking here.