Rugby dad rallies behind Reservoir Hills Rhinos

DOTING dad and rugby fan, Andrew Osborn, took up the position of volunteer head coach for the Reservoir Hills Rugby Club’s open team.

The team, the Rhinos, consists of players from 18 to 40 years old and for the first time in its history has a coach at its helm.

“My son, Jonty, plays for them and I would go and watch their games, shouting encouragement and plays from the sideline. They saw my passion and was approached to coach them,” said a proud Andrew.

The enthusiastic players were grateful to be given direction and pre-season training started in January.

“There was no structure and the skill levels varied. What we have done is introduce practices twice a week, focusing on skills. There is a core of 23 players and six who had never played before, so we started with the basics and have been working our way up,” he said.

Andrew is a qualified attorney but works as an insurance loss adjuster, using his spare time to his advantage by creating in-depth training schedules for his team. This is to ensure there is advancement each week.

“We are getting closer and closer to being able to play a game,” smiled Andrew.

Andrew played rugby in school from Grey High’s 1st team as well as in his first year of university. He said studies and work took precedence.

His love for the sport was once again ignited when his two boys joined the teams at their schools.

“I went to all of the games either of them played. Each Saturday I was there showing support, sometimes I would even catch the end of their practices,” said the enthusiastic dad.

The Rhinos have now played four pre-season games, winning one against the University of Lesotho and losing three at the friendship games in PMB.

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“We may have lost but the results were so close. We were very competitive on the field and the whole process was to see if our skill set had improved and if they are learning to follow what they have been taught in practice,” said the Westville-based coach.

The team plays in the fifth division and Andrew hopes to, for the next two seasons, create a more competitive team and watch them play according to the drills they have been taught.

“The wins will follow when the structures are put into play,” he said.

In his spare time, Andrew hits the gym during the week and tees-off on the greens at the Durban Country Club each Saturday.

On his time as the coach, Andrew laughed and said, “I have enjoyed it. It stops me from getting up to mischief. It has been great to see them develop. The team is learning and they want to learn, that is the real plus.”

The club has an anonymous donor which helps with running costs. The team also recently received a donation of rugby equipment from Kearsney College and Mr Price.

The players train each Monday from 6pm to 7.30pm and again on Wednesday from 6pm until 8pm at the Siripat Park in Reservoir Hills.

In-kind donations of rugby and training equipment would be welcome. To help sponsor the running costs of the club, contact Deon on 073 089 3181.

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