Non-stop rugby action at Diggers

It was a feast for rugby when 23 matches were played in a day at Diggers Junior Rugby Club.

The penultimate weekend of the season saw clubs from across the province descend on Randburg Sports Complex in Praegville on October 23.

Parents and other spectators, who were not allowed in the stands because of Covid-19 protocols, watched from behind the fence or stood on bakkies as they proudly cheered the players on from afar.

“Diggers did not play all the games, some of the visiting teams played each other as well,” explained chair of the junior rugby club, Keith Baillie.

“But I would say we won 70% of our matches. For us as coaches though, we were concentrating more on just being able to play than the result.”

This not just because the Golden Lions Rugby Union does not keep scores and a table in its junior league, but also because it has been a stop-start year for rugby,

The latest season had a few weeks of training before matches were allowed to resume again in September, but the season will finish at the end of October.

“All things considered after Covid and coming out of lockdown, I was very impressed with the rugby. It was played at a high standard. Each week the coaches have seen an improvement as players got back into the game.”

Baillie said he is looking forward to next year and seeing parents in the stands again.