With 2021 being the club’s centenary year, the Brakpan Rugby Club was hoping they would get into next year carrying strong momentum.
The club had signed a number of quality players, including former Springbok Jacques Potgieter.
Unfortunately, 2020 came with a virus that has delayed or halted many people’s plans.
With the country under lockdown, the rugby club has had to sit aside waiting to get word from the sports’ governing bodies.
‘We are waiting for word from Saru and the Valke,’ said the club’s media relations officer Sarel Korf.
‘There is talk that there might be a one-round competition this year’
Korf explained there is still a lot of communication between the club, players and coaches.
‘Everybody is still positive and have shown commitment,’ he said.
The coaches have done phenomenal work updating players. It has become easier now that the players can go out and run on the road.
‘It is still difficult for anyone to predict when rugby action will return, but Korf has said that Brakpan is ‘raring to go’ and would be ready if called upon to take to the field.
‘He does, however, concede that it could be a long time before the action returns.
‘Rugby is a contact sport and even if matches are played without a crowd it takes just one person to be infected for 200 others to be infected. So we are waiting for guidance from health officials and SA Rugby,’ he said.
‘What is happening is in line with what’s happening around the world. These are the cards we have been dealt with.’
While rugby in South Africa seems to be quite a distance away, there is some encouragement that the sport could be viewed soon.
New Zealand teams are back at training with their Super Rugby teams set to compete against each other.
‘New Zealand and Australia have passed their peak (in terms of infections) so they can get back to rugby,’ said Korf.
The local man does, however, see positives in this difficult time.
‘This period has given us a chance to spend time with the people in our lives.’
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Contact the newsroom by emailing: Thelma Koorts (editor) brakpanherald@caxton.co.za
or Stacy Slatter (news editor) stacys@caxton.co.za
or Miné Fourie (journalist) minev@caxton.co.za
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