IN PICTURES: No pain, no gain at Wanderers Rugby Club

“I have never heard so many rugby players cry before,” someone joked in the middle of a gruelling workout at Wanderers Rugby Club.

It is two months before pre-season even starts with practices and friendlies in February, but boys, girls, men and women have shown their commitment by attending non-compulsory training sessions on weekday evenings in the off-season.

Smiles hid the pain but literal blood, sweat and tears were shed mere weeks after Wanderers 1st team finished top of the Golden Lions Rugby Union league but was then deducted five points for the U19 team missing a game, thus being relegated to second and having the trophy taken from them.

Due to this, Wanderers missed out on qualification for the Gold Cup.

“Our 1st team earned the trophy but according to the rules, all the teams in the club suffer if one team misses a game,” explained head coach, Neil Kalify.

“It was hard losing points because we would have won, but as long as we learn something from it it is alright.”

The Wanderers head coach since 2012 said next year the team planned to win by such a margin so as to cushion against any possible sanctions.

Judging by the turnout and work ethic in off-season training, the players feel the same way.

“We are working on power and flexibility, doing lots of gym work for the muscles,” added Kalify.

Highlights this year included growth in the junior and women’s sections, and seeing the first official women’s rugby match between Wanderers and Pirates, the two oldest clubs in Joburg.

Also read: Wanderers and Pirates play in their first competitive women’s rugby match https://northcliffmelvilletimes.co.za/272015/wanderers-and-pirates-play-in-their-first-competitive-womens-rugby-match/

A lowlight came in the form of an alleged racist incident during a match, whereafter a disciplinary committee found a Roodepoort Rugby Club player guilty of striking a Wanderers player, and suspending him.

But the committee didn’t have enough evidence to find any players guilty of racist slurs, which Wanderers players maintained there were.

Kalify lamented how the incident was hard on the coaching staff because they felt they could no longer provide a safe environment for players.

On the upside, things are looking good on every level at Wanderers, and Kalify and juniors director Robert Barnard aim to strengthen the link between each age group next season.

“You can expect a happy and enjoyable club that will win the league next year,” Kalify concluded.

Also read: Racist rugby game: GLRU suspends player

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