School’s cool with False Bay’s outdoor class

JON HARRIS

Rugby for youngsters, outside of the big schools, is not a guaranteed offering, much to the frustration of many a budding young player of both genders.

There is a great demand for the sport, especially the exciting Sevens format and with the focus on women's rugby, more and more young lasses are begging their parents to consider their participation. Further across the spectrum, there are many schools which do not offer the sport as a part of their bouquet, leaving youngsters kicking their heels on the sideline, dying for the opportunity to don a pair of togs and run with ball in hand.

Constantia Primary School, literally a couple of hundred metres down the track from False Bay RFC, is one such school and thanks to a dedicated sports master and his colleague, who happens to have more than fifty caps for the Bay's First XV, young boys at this school are now getting the chance to participate in this wonderful sport.

False Bay RFC during Graham “Snoopy” Knoop's captaincy adopted an initiative wherein they recognised those that went before and that all current players were merely “Custodians of the Jersey”. This story embodies that, with the past, the present and the future each is playing a role.

A group of former Bay players, with the legendary champion of southern suburbs club rugby, Dennis Nick, among them, undertook a two-day golfing trip up the West Coast. The winner of that mini-tournament, Brent Jordaan, selflessly handed the winning kitty to Mr Nick, a benevolent supporter of rugby causes, to be utilised in the interest of rugby and he settled on supporting, through False Bay RFC, Brad Bing and his Sporting Chance project at Constantia Primary School.

Facilitated by False Bay Committee member, Buks van Rooyen, who met with Courtney Klein, the aforementioned sports master, plans to launch the rugby sector at the school were set in motion.

For anyone who has driven past the tiny school opposite the Constantia Emporium, the lack of space for a rugby field is glaringly obvious and this is where the Bay come in. The team will train at the club's facilities and come game-time, one of the fields will be made available.

Aiming to further assimilate the young players into the rugby culture, and perhaps more specifically the Bay culture, former Bay speedster Justin Fielies, a master at the school, brought the group to the club for a guided tour of the facility and a first-hand sharing of the Bay-experience from a player with fifty First XV caps. The lads were shown the change rooms, with the demarcated spot for each player; the legendary Bay bath; and the Louis de Waal Room, the epicentre of off-the-field planning.

Most former players can pinpoint the roots of their love for the sport, be it a father or uncle playing the sport or related to environment, like school, and for these young men, perhaps this experience, led by a been-there-done-that former player whose passion for the sport and his club oozes from his pores, is that moment.

The visit was concluded with a handover of balls and practice cones together with hot dogs, chips and cold drinks to send them on their way.

The anticipation of their first practice in the new school term is coursing through their veins. For a bunch of kids who don't know rugby; who have no experience of the sport but possess a deep desire to participate in it, this is an opportunity of a lifetime.

Plans include coaching the coaches over a 5-6 week period so they can run their own training sessions.

Rugby is an opportunity creator, a social developer and instils discipline. Who knows, this may be the beginning of so much for these young participants such as the opportunity to attend one of the big rugby schools or later down the line, represent the club where their rugby dreams started.

Funding will remain an ongoing challenge and any interested sponsors or donors are invited to contact the masters mentioned at the school on 021 794 6186 or email Courtneyk141@gmail.com or Justin.fielies@wcgschools.gov.za

Not to be excluded, False Bay's head of women's rugby, Zoë Naude, has a hand in the establishment of the Girl Power Rugby Academy (GPRA), which aims to attract, assess and develop young women between the ages of 6 and 18, to the sport.

Proper assessment, development and training of players form a part of the 12-month programme. Trials for acceptance have been on the go, with the final one being tomorrow, Friday March 31.

Newcomers to one of the world's fastest growing sports are being offered an opportunity to participate and it is through GPRA where young lasses at Constantia Primary School may be joining their male classmates in playing the sport. The GPRA's objective is not profit-driven and pupils who are not financially positioned to participate may qualify for assistance.

Naude had this to say, “The trial sessions will give girls a taste of what to expect for the rest of the year and this will include learning rugby skills like catching, passing and tackling”.

For further details, call 065 691 7069 or email info@girlsrugby.co.za

• Jon Harris is a member of False Bay RFC.