While club teams received the go-ahead to return to play on Monday, April 12, schools rugby will only be able to resume with matches a little later on April 23.
The decision was made following an announcement by the Department of Basic Education that it had amended directions in terms of regulation 4(3) under the Disaster Management Act, 2002 (Act 57 of 2002), published in government gazette number. 44339 of March 27.
It indicates that schools can resume matches and national tournaments without spectators, subject to compliance with the relevant health and safety measures.
In accordance with SA Rugby’s protocols, clubs have received the green light to advance from contact training back to playing matches.
However, this is based on the provision that all Covid-19 protocols are strictly adhered to and that every club player must have completed the compulsory four-week non-contact training and four-week contact training window.
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Schools rugby players, meanwhile, may resume contact training for four weeks – following six weeks of non-contact training – with the vision that they return to play at the earliest on April 23.
“We were delighted to receive the news that schools rugby can recommence as announced by the Department of Basic Education, and we share in the schools and club players’ excitement to return to the field,” said SA Rugby CEO Jurie Roux.
“However, we will not take any risks. Player safety is of utmost importance to us, and as the custodians of rugby in South Africa, it is imperative that the return to play protocols that were followed by our professional teams be applied at schools and club level as well.
“These protocols were designed based on medical evidence to ensure that the players’ bodies are ready to cope with the impact of full contact and to keep injuries to a minimum.”
Training marred by the dark
While some clubs will be delighted at the latest developments and progression of the return of the game they love, it’s not the case for clubs in Boksburg: the Makopano Boksburg Rugby Club and East Rand United.
Both clubs, who train and play their home matches at Prince George Park and the Reiger Park sports grounds respectively, have struggled to get any training done because of dark pitches – a result of the continued problem of cable theft in Boksburg sporting facilities.
When the Advertiser recently visited Prince George Park for a Boksburg training session, the club has resorted to using a section of the facility’s B-field instead of the A-field because of lights that aren’t working.
Although the club has done its part in fixing some of the floodlights, only one set of lights work at the B-field. This compromises training and thus hampering preparations for the long-awaited restart of club rugby action.
It’s an issue that has seemingly affected players alike.
According to Boksburg coach Lukas van der Schyff, player numbers during training has dwindled in recent weeks – pointing to demotivated players for varying reasons, including the training facility.
The Advertiser has since sent an enquiry to the Ekurhuleni municipality about the stolen cables and possible repairs done to both facilities.
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