No club rugby will be played in the Lowvveld this year for the first time since World War II
Clubs are battling financially as revenue from sponsors, gate take, and food and beverage sales is being lost.
Mpumalanga rugby clubs will not continue long-standing and proud rivalries this year. According to chairman of Nelspruit Rugby Club (NRC), Herklaas du Preez, this will the the first time since World War II that competitive club rugby will not be played in the Lowveld.
Due to the Covid-19 coronavirus pandemic, no club rugby will be played in South Africa in 2020.
This was announced by SA Rugby last Friday.
The Mpumalanga Rugby Union (MRU) and the clubs its amateur arm represents are disappointed.
“We understand were we are as a nation in this pandemic,” said manager of amateur rugby of the Mpumalanga Rugby Union, Roelof Kotze. He hoped that despite SA Rugby’s announcement, some sort of action on club level could still take place.
According to SA Rugby CEO, Jurie Roux, “The risk associated with a mass return to train and play has been highlighted by government and the timelines and practicalities are such that it is unrealistic that there will be a general return to play this year.
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“Therefore the members of the CovCom, the standing committee of member unions and experts which has been managing rugby’s response to the pandemic, opted to formally confirm that the only rugby taking place under its jurisdiction this year would feature the eight (professional) senior teams.
Nelspruit and White River clubs which play in the Premier League, and Barberton, Matsulu, Rooikat (Lydenburg), Ratels (Ohrigstad), Malelane, Hazyview, KaMhluhwa Black Cats and Impala (Komatipoort) clubs, which compete in the Mayor’s and Mayor’s Reserve leagues, might only see competitive action in April or May next year, when the 2021 season commences.
“The MRU is disappointed with the announcement. Throughout the lockdown we have been staying positive and hoping that there might be an opportunity later in the year… for the boys to play, be it 7s, 10s or 15s rugby.
“In the back of our minds we are hoping that something might still happen. If the peak of the virus is in September and things normalise in October we can look at having something in November. But as it stand now there will be no rugby.
“Our clubs have been struggling financially this year because there has been no income and they still have to pay all their bills,” said Kotze.
NRC coach, Morné Crous, said, “Its really sad to get the news of no club rugby for the year. We had plans for this year and old players just wanted to play one last year for the club as the club is 95 years old this year.
“We had youth players working hard to be invited to the Pumas for trail programmes
“Concerning finances we will like to thank the management of NRC for working hard behind the scenes, and thank the sponsors for their commitment towards the club.
“We are not sure for how long we will be able to keep the club running as we don’t get in any gate money are feet in Club 100, which have been the biggest income for the club.
“The clubs’ chances of representing Mpumalanga in the Gold Cup have also been deprived. The competition was to have a new format this season, involving more teams in the province”.
Pietman Rademeyer, chairman of White River Rugby Club (WRRC) said, “WRRC has such a strong family orientated bond and since the start of Covid-19 our family has been torn apart.
“We have not been able to take care of our fields and players due to immense financial strain.
“Our players, supporters and game we love has been broken down to a dry field, no laughter, no twins having a jam behind the always welcoming bar.
“We were on our way to a brilliant and exciting season, we would have had Saturdays with the fields packed with supporters, bringing our community together, young and old.”
The Lowveld and Highveld rugby clubs will have to wait to know what the future of the sport is in the province. It is impossible to predict what the Covid-19 situation is going to be come pre-season 2021, when the clubs host their traditional 7s and 15s rugby days.
But the passion and love for rugby is strong among the Mpumalanga clubs… and like Kotze said, “The moment we lose hope things will look very bleak”.
