United, Owls back in training

Boksburg’s Valke Peregrine League representatives East Rand United and the Boksburg Rugby Club, fondly known as the Owls, have wasted little time in preparation for the 2020 club rugby season.

• The Owls

Major changes within the senior side of the club for the new season include the switch in the managerial department between last season’s forwards coach Lukas van der Schuyff and former head coach Francois Erasmus.

Van der Schuyff has replaced Erasmus as the senior side’s head coach after the former coach decided to step down at the end of last campaign, saying it was time the club used fresh ideas.

Van der Schuyff will also continue his role as the exclusive forwards coach, while Erasmus will still be involved this season and will continue in last season’s secondary role of backline coach.

The Owls also received a huge boost during the off season in that no first-side player left. Instead, they will enjoy the return of long-serving lock forward Willem Botes Jnr to full fitness following a lengthy layout due to health issues.

The PG Park outfit are also said to be expecting the shocking return of former player and head coach Marcell Fourie, who is expected to form a formidable lock pairing with Botes.

Furthermore, Botes is tipped as the favourite to assume the captaincy role from scrum half Johan Labuschagne, who is expected to return to rugby activities in late February. His girlfriend is expected to give birth to their first child, a daughter named Mianke, on Tuesday, January 21, which also happens to be the half back’s 25th birthday.

The club is also expecting more new players, but during his interview with the Advertiser at Prince George Park, Erasmus kept his cards close to his chest.

The Owls train every Tuesday and Thursday, from 6pm for 6.30pm. Interested players are welcome to make their way to PG Park.

• United

Unlike their neighbours across the road, a lot has changed for 2017 and 2018 Valke Peregrine League finalists East Rand United over the course of the last four months or so.

Leading the drastic and rather abrupt change was the withdrawal of the club’s main sponsor, Phakisa Holdings Group, which sparked an exodus of all of United stars who had played a major role in taking the club to its two consecutive finals, which they desperately lost to Vereeniging and Springs respectively.

The inevitable turmoil that would be caused by Phakisa’s departure was preceded by head coach Alvendre Maart’s resignation in connection with disagreements within the managerial side of things and had nothing to do with Phakisa’s departure.

United’s damaging losses include the exits of big-time names, led by former captain Jonathan Botha as well as star backline players, including blockbusting centre Waylon Thompson, star backs Tiaan Ramat, Jackie Jonkers and Leon ‘Sweef’ Potgieter – just to list some of the members who formed the formidable spine of the side.

Maart, however, has since stayed put and is technically still the head coach of the side despite loud rumours of his former Merlin League-winning coach at the club Derrick Sampson returning to the hot seat.

During a recent brief chat with the Advertiser at The Graveyard, Maart said the only high-profile player who had decided to stay with the club after the storm was prolific goal-kicker Cameron Rooi.

United’s preparations are led by a recruitment of new players and rebuilding of the senior side’s managerial team, with Maart’s involvement remaining questionable in the long run.

But United has confirmed that statements will be released in due time regarding the official coach who will take the club forward and the new players who will bring about a new dawn in East Rand United rugby.

Players who are interested in joining the club can contact Monique Ganzwyk on 084 579 1601.

United’s training sessions are held at The Graveyard on Mondays, Tuesdays and Thursdays from 6.30pm.