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GALLERY: The old boys still have it

MALANSHOF – Players up to the age of 62 show that they can still play rugby at the Predators Charity Challenge.

September 17, 2016

Nicholas Zaal 1 minute read

Jesse Geyer carries the ball forward for Diggers.

Rugby is not just a young man’s sport, as proved by players up to the age of 62 at the Predators Charity Challenge.

The Diggers Rugby Club hosted the 11th annual event on 17 September to raise funds for the Cancer Association of South Africa (Cansa). Food stalls, a bar, live music, and of course, rugby, were the order of the day at the club in Malanshof, as families came to watch various rugby matches for a good cause.

Junior teams, school teams and invitational teams played, but the highlight of the day was when the Diggers Old Boys took on the Emmarentia-based Johannesburg Police Rugby Club (Bobbies) Old Boys.

Old boys rules are different from normal rugby, as the players are at least 32 years old, and cannot play as rough a game as they could when they were younger.

Scrums and line-outs are uncontested. Only tries count for points. There are no conversions, and kicking is only done from a team’s 22 or from a penalty – although a team cannot kick for goal. While some players count the number of points scored, no result is official.

Both teams played exceptionally well, proving they haven’t lost their touch or their passion for the game. While there were some tired legs, and one or two minor injuries, the quality of rugby was excellent and provided great entertainment for the crowd.

At the end of the day, Bobbies had scored more tries than Diggers.

“It was a lekker game, although we played horribly and they played well,” said Diggers old boys captain, Barry Swanepoel. “It was also great that we could raise money for Cansa.”

Bobbies chairperson, James du Toit said the score did not matter. “Old boys rugby is all about camaraderie, sportsmanship and friendship. We saw that that was great in the match,” he commented.

Both men agreed that the match provided a good workout ahead of the South African National Golden Oldies Rugby Association Nationals from 22–25 September, where old boys from both clubs would play.