The Diggers Junior Rugby Open Day saw the fields abuzz all morning with youngsters tackling, kicking the ball, mauling, rucking, doing non-contested scrums and enjoying every minute of it.
About 70 boys from U6 to U13 level got their rugga on under blue skies and warm weather on 14 March, in what was to be one of the last foreseeable events for Diggers Juniors for some time.
The club has decided to postpone all practices and friendly matches until Easter in light of the spreading of the coronavirus in South Africa.
But at the open day there were only smiles and one or two thumping tackles.
“Our junior section has around 400, 450 players from U7 to U18 and we are one of the biggest junior sections around,” said the club’s junior section chairperson, Etienne du Toit.
He said up until U13 level, the boys play barefoot and the rules are less physical. Then on, things become rougher on the field and the rules are standard.
“I am happy with how the open day went, there were only compliments from the boys and their parents. Many said they would join the club. For the boys that are already with us it was just another practice, but with some new people.”
He said the purpose of the day was to showcase the club to the public, and they did exactly that.
“We endeavour to be an inclusive community-based club and we get it right. People become more than just teammates here, they become friends.”
Unless the coronavirus situation gets worse, the club will resume training after Easter and the season will start in June.
Details: Diggers Junior Rugby Club 079 889 4904.
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