Optimism at Bosman Stadium as rugby season rolls into action
Clubs will be allowed to have 2 000 fans in the stands.
There is plenty of excitement at Bosman Stadium as CCC Brakpan Rugby Club gets ready for their first pre-season friendly match against Germiston Simmers, next Saturday.
“That’s the first game of our programme this year,” said Brakpan chairperson Harry Nieuwenhuis.
He believes the visitors will provide a good test for his club.
“They just beat Boksburg this past weekend so they look like a strong team at this stage. We’re all very happy to get going,” he said.
Nieuwenhuis is proud that his club has enjoyed more preparations for this season after seeing Covic interrupt the last two years. Brakpan has been training since October.
Brakpan has lined up a host of matches before they kick off the Valke League on April 2 away to North-West University (NWU).
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They will face the Valke Currie Cup side a week after the Simmer match. They will then host their annual Rugby Day where the first team will take on the Harlequins.
Then they will have two away matches before hitting the field for the first league game.
“They (NWU) have probably been the best team in the Valke League over the last couple of years,” said the chairperson.
“It’s going to be tough but I think we are ready to go. We’ll get a chance to see how the first team shapes up next week.”
Nieuwenhuis has emphasised the importance of pre-season matches.
“Remember we have a whole new squad. We have a couple of new coaches that have joined the first team as well like Jonathan Jacobs who is coaching the backline. It’s good to get the guys going,” he said.
“You can train as much as you like but what’s important is what happens between the four lines. The warm-up game against the Valke should give us a good indication of where we are.”
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CCC Brakpan is also looking forward to the return of spectators. Clubs will be allowed to accommodate 2 000 fans in the stands.
“They will probably have to bring their proof of vaccination,” said the chairperson.
There may be even better news as far as crowds are concerned later on.
“There might be a push towards the end of March to get things back to normal,” said Nieuwenhuis.
“We don’t have the official word yet, but we might be allowed to fill the stands to a 50% capacity.”
The prospect of having fans at the stadium seems to excite both the club and the people of Brakpan.
“Everyone can’t wait to get going. We have been receiving calls from all over asking when we are starting and if people will be allowed to stadiums,” he said.
South African Rugby announced earlier this year that there will be no Gold Cup tournament, which often pits the best clubs in the country against each other.
Brakpan, however, has been invited to take part in the Heritage Rugby Festival in Pretoria over Easter.
“That’s something we look forward to with the games being televised,” Nieuwenhuis said.
