UJ rugby players add power to women’s shelter

The University of Johannesburg’s (UJ) rugby team showed their softer side when they spent time brushing up on their handyman skills at a local women’s shelter.

The players, who are gearing up for next month’s FNB Varsity Cup presented by Steinhoff International, took time out from their rigorous training schedule to lend a hand at the People Opposing Women Abuse (POWA) shelter on the West Rand.

According to newly-appointed UJ captain Kobus Porter, his club has been working with POWA for the past five years.

POWA provides counselling, legal advice and temporary accommodation for victims of domestic abuse.

“We believe it’s not only important to give back to our community, but also to help those who are battling to help themselves. This year, we are giving the facility a facelift with a fresh coat of paint and doing the general maintenance and repairs that are always needed,” said Porter.

Porter said UJ’s involvement aligned perfectly with the Varsity Cup pink shorts campaign, which uses the traditionally masculine sport as a platform to raise awareness of gender-based violence.

The rallying cry for the fundraising aspect of the campaign is to “keep the aggro (aggression) on the field”.

The university’s U19 squad will be following the first team’s example by assisting the Eeufees Oord old age home in Westdene with cleaning and general maintenance in the lead-up to this year’s Varsity Cup.

Porter’s men will be aiming to cement their place in the competition after winning their crucial promotion or relegation match against Varsity Shield runners-up UKZN Impi in April last year.

The team got their warm-up campaign off to a good start when they beat the Rustenburg Impalas 24–12 in the first of their pre-season encounters.

“It’s been going great so far. We’re still in the building phase but we’ve definitely had a better pre-season than in previous years,” said the 23-year-old flanker.