Written by Jackie Bischof
September 21, 2007
The vision that springs to mind when you think of rugby players is usually of big, sweaty, dirty men battering each other in a struggle over a ball. Maybe that’s because I’m a girl, but you have to admit, it’s a pretty standard image.
But on September 1 the Wits Rugby Club members chucked their sports gear into the washing machine and stepped out in suits for their annual awards dinner.
“It was a very formal evening,” said club manager Charles Kirsten. “It was a chance for the boys to get dressed up in nice clothes and bring their dollybirds with.”
The event took place at Sturrock Park and Kirsten admitted that quite a bit of alcohol was consumed. “It was good fun,” he said.
The Wits Rugby Club is an open club comprised of Wits students as well as outside members. Although the club did not perform too well at the South African Students Sports Union’s students only rugby league, they reached the semi finals of the open club league, the Pirates Grand Challenge.
The club has 275 registered members.
The Team of the Year award was given to the Under 19s. The Most Improved Under 19, Under 21 and Open Player awards were given to Tim Joseph, Lizole Joko and Valaphi Khumalo respectively. Most Dedicated Player was Grant Mitchell, Junior Clubman of the Year was Josh Durbach and the Kenny Smit Memorial Trophy for the Open Club Man of the Year went to Darren Jordaan. First Team Player of the Year was Mike Rowley and his father Gary Rowley received the Wits Old Boys Society (WOBS) Award for his dedication to the club.
While the rugby season may be over, Kirsten is already looking forward to and planning for next year. Pre-season training starts on January 15, with friendly matches starting in February. Kirsten says that the rugby club will advertise games more extensively next year. Posters will be put up around campus and articles will appear on www.suparugby.com.
So if you’re into sweaty men and fancy awards dinners, girls, land yourself a rugby hunk and you can be a dollybird too!
Darren jordaan is an amazing rugby player, athlete, coach and role model. He coaches me in my first team and all i can say is he is pure excellence.
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Wow, thanks so much!