A new club rugby tournament for Golden Lions Rugby Union (GRLU) amateur clubs was launched by Club Rugby Events at Randfontein Rugby Club last Friday, January 27.
The coaches and captains of each team were also announced at the launch, followed by the trophy reveal for each division and player categories.
Referred to as the inaugural Club Challenge 2023, the tournament is scheduled to kick off on February 18 this year and will take place over six weekends at various clubs across the union. The five rugby clubs that will be participating in the tournament are Khosa, Randfontein, Raiders, Wanderers and Germiston Simmer.
Director of Rugby at Randfontein Rugby Club, Hennie van Eck and now Club Rugby Events founder said, “We started Club Rugby Events to establish a platform that would reignite club rugby regionally and aim to ultimately host club rugby tournaments on a national level.”
He further explained that club rugby is a melting pot of potential, consisting of both players and coaches, right here in our back yards.
“Unfortunately, not everyone is, or were in a fortunate position to attend major league schools, or universities, however, club rugby can open a door for all local talented players, and coaches, to get noticed by agents, provincial, national, and even international teams,” Van Eck added.
Furthermore, Club Rugby Events, with the support of our sponsors, will also use these tournaments to improve and develop women’s rugby and will increase efforts to assist all local clubs to encourage and promote female participation, which will ensure the inclusion of a women’s division in future tournaments. Another area of importance is grassroots development, with the team currently exploring youth development initiatives, including a junior rugby clinic on the morning of the Club Challenge final.
The Club Challenge, proudly presented by KEU Underwriting Managers and PICM Randfontein, in partnership with Gilbert, Medi Response, YDT Consulting, Funky Monkey Sublimation and Blue Monkey Media, invites the public to support their teams by attending games over the weekend at their local rugby clubs.
