Worrying times for club rugby
Something needs to happen to save the top league in the region.
Clubs in the Valke Peregrine League appear to be facing tough times.
With Benoni Rugby Club having pulled out of the competition earlier in the season, East Rand United had now also opted out of the rest of the season.
The two clubs struggled to get sufficient players to participate in the league.
Consequently, only five clubs are left – Brakpan, Boksburg, Springs, North West University (NWU) and Vereeniging.
“That means the season would finish in a month,” said Brakpan’s concerned chairperson, Harry Nieuwenhuis.
“It’s a huge problem.”
The biggest problem for the clubs is that they lease the stadiums they play at, and playing only four home games a season would make it difficult to afford to use the grounds.
Home matches, which bring in much-needed funds, allow each club to afford to use the facilities each season.
“It’s financial issues, and players are not returning to club rugby like they used to,” said Nieuwenhuis.
“Benoni was one of the league’s better teams last year, but they couldn’t put together one team this year.
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“East Rand United was supposed to have three teams (first, second and third), but they struggled, and now they are gone.”
The chairperson felt that to help keep things going at Bosman Stadium, devising a new plan could be the answer.
“We are trying to work out some programme between August and November to cover the stadium costs. We don’t get financial assistance from the Valke. So we can’t let the stadium go for so long with no activities,” he said.
Whether the ideas come from the Valke Union or the clubs themselves, everyone involved will know that something needs to happen to save the top league in the region.
