Diggers Rugby Club’s junior division broke records this season

Diggers Rugby Club has much to celebrate this past season.

Players enjoyed friendly matches against Wanderers and Alberton knowing this would be the first full, uninterrupted season since the lockdown.

The club had a great turnout of new and returning players and there were around 50 players who participated in the friendlies. The 2022 senior squads were selected from those who took part in the pre-season matches.

Diggers took part in the Senior Grand Challenge League, unfortunately, finishing fourth overall.

A new league called the Memorial Cup kicked off the second half of the season in July in which Diggers did not get the results they wanted this year but the blue machine will be back stronger and better next season. The 2023 pre-season will start early in the new year.

The junior division kicked off this season early with the U13 team preparing for the prestigious KES Easter Fest and many other teams joining shortly afterwards.

Diggers Junior Rugby Club experienced a record-breaking membership of 453 registered players, growing by just more than 100 players from the last full season in 2019. The number of players put the 43 volunteer staff under pressure in the pre-season with full fields during training twice a week.

The season kicked off in July and the boys and girls were excited to get back to competitive rugby.

The youngsters faired fairly well this season with a win rate of 55%. Diggers scored a total of 4 972 points with 3 759 points against.

Considering that Diggers had several new players and several B and C teams that were developing and learning the game, coaches said they were very pleased with the results and their progress.

Another record broken was the number of boys being selected to represent their province for rugby this year. Diggers saw 28 boys chosen for the Golden Lions with the U14, U15, U16 and U18 teams winning their respective provincial tournaments and coming home with gold.

The U13s had a tough tournament but won silver.

Chairman and coach of the club Keith Baillie was selected as the Golden Lions Youth Rugby U14 coach and Claire Roos was selected as the Golden Lions Youth Rugby U16 girls’ manager.

Furthermore, 23 boys were selected for various provincial and district teams through their schools.

Former Springbok flyhalf Derick Hougaard also paid the youngsters a visit at a kicking school event at the club.

The club looks forward to breaking more records in 2023 but more importantly growing the game and instilling good values in the boys and girls who play.

Digges will host its AGM at 19:00 at the club on November 17.

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