Currie Cup goal accomplished
MALANSHOF – Diggers Rugby Club chairperson Riaan Matthys is very happy to host a Currie Cup match.
No task is too deep or too high for Diggers Rugby Club chairperson Riaan Matthys to achieve, and even hosting a Currie Cup game is on his to-do-list.
Diggers will host the Currie Cup qualifying game between the Golden Lions and the Free State Cheetahs on 7 May, with the Golden Lions Rugby Union taking the decision to take these games to the community.
Matthys and his wife Joarina, are hard at work planning a day filled with rugby, these two work as a team. Joarina is expecting the couple’s fifth child in June but that doesn’t deter her from helping out at the Malanshof-based club.
Both were married before and the fifth baby will be the couple’s third child together.
Riaan will be in two minds on Saturday as he is a born and bred Free Stater. He grew up in Bloemfontein where he started playing rugby at U6 level. After matriculating at HTS Ben Vorster he represented Shimlas (the University of the Free State) at various levels as a utility forward, but preferred number eight.
After completing his studies in accountancy and furthering his studies in the field he started his own company that does costing for mines.
Despite his hectic work and travel schedule, Matthys kept on playing rugby and up until 2014 captained the Diggers side since he joined them in 2007.
He also represented the Golden Lions Sub Union side for the last six years.
With his and Joarina’s involvement and love for Diggers, they moved to Randburg to be closer to the club and he says he can now hit the club from his backyard with a decent golf shot with a wedge.
Diggers has been consistently one of the top clubs in the Senior Grand Challenge, and beat Harlequins 44–5 in the 2015 final.
“We are very excited about the opportunity of hosting the Xerox Golden Lions and the Free State Cheetahs at our club and we really hope the community comes out to support us. We are planning a fun day full of rugby but will also cater for the young ones with a special area that will keep the kids busy,” Matthys promised.
The Currie Cup, won by the Golden Lions in 2015, will also be in attendance and supporters will be able to take photos with the Cup at no cost.
Kick-off is at 3pm and entrance is R10 per person and R20 per car.
Other matches on the day include:
• Diggers vs Hurlyvale Primary School at 10.10am
• Laerskool Fontainebleau vs Bryanston Parallel Medium School at 11.12am
• Rand Park High School vs. Krugersdorp High School at 12.30pm
• Free Field for Currie Cup warm-up at 2pm
• Xerox Golden Lions vs Cheetahs at 3pm
• Diggers vs Khosa Sports Club at 5.30pm.
