On Saturday, South Africa’s two oldest clubs, Hamilton (est. 1875) and Villager (est. 1876) face off at Brookside in Cape Town in the 137th edition of their traditional derby – the oldest of its kind in SA rugby.
The Varsity Cup may be providing the pomp and ceremony these days, but Derby Day marks the start of the hard core club rugby season … And I am not sure it comes better than this as a warm up for the massive Stormers vs Bulls game happening down the road later on Saturday evening …
It’s one of those matches after a which a club can suffer a poor season but still turn around and say with pride, and a grin: “Ah well, at least we won Derby Day”.
Together with a pre kickoff event NOT to be missed, this year is set to be just as much fun off the field as on it. There are VIP sponsored seats on offer, Brookside’s very own Castle Corner, replete with fair maidens dishing out a plentiful supply of beer, a party complete with live music and an after-party at Boogie Nights in Claremont …
The older generation get going at 12.30, at 13h30 the third teams are on the A-field, while on the B-field will be the U20B sides. At 14.45 the 2nd and U20A teams kick-off, on the A and B fields respectively.
The showpiece game is at 16.00, when two-time national champions Hamilton, coached by Anton Moolman, face a new generation of Villagers led by new coach Rito Hlungwani.
It’s going to be a full-on fun day and rugby experience – with big screens for the Stormers vs Bulls clash for those not wanting to take the stroll down to Newlands, along with cheap beer, and the club’s new restaurant section.
And what about earning those beers by pushing a special little workout at Roark Gyms in the morning? The inaugural Strength4Players day is also for a great cause very close to my heart …
Strength4Players involves heading to the Roark Gym (for directions click here) and donating R50.00 to do a 15 minute crossfit style workout, courtesy of the Roark masochists personal trainers. All the proceeds go to the Chris Burger Petro Jackson Payers Fund, which supports rugby players who have seriously injured themselves playing the game we all love so much.
The day starts at 9am and each workout is 15 minutes long. Groups will be released at 20 minute intervals and all the exercises will be explained to you before you start the workout. Please arrive 10 minutes before the time you would like to start.
You will have 15 minutes to perform as many rounds of the following circuit:
9 thrusters
15 box jumps
5 burpees
If you aren’t able to perform one or more of these exercises fear not, as the Roark boys have alternative exercises available and all weights are scaleable.
The winners will be announced on the website and will receive their prizes the following week.
For more information CLICK HERE
Does a Saturday come more awesome than this?
Can’t wait. Bring all your mates and make a day of it.
Tank – you better warm up the ‘ol ‘strings!
Hopefully will meet up with you on Saturday. I have a very strong interest in Villigers this season which will hopefully assist in restoring Villigers to the club on the field it once was. Amazing to walk into the club house, look at the team photos from yester year and see some of the great Springboks who played for Villigers. There is one pic where those in the front row would have been current “Boks” at the time.
Which England cricketer played fly half for Villigers? No Googling or phoning a club mate Tank
Allan Lamb?
Nice one – I would not have got that …
Well done tackler
Please dedicate your first frosty on the day to the late Tubby Teubes, a Villager stalwart who passed away last week. RIP Tubby. Hope the boys win it for you!
Sad to hear that. Also very well respected in the assurance industry. From what I have been told he epitomised what our clubs meant to us. It was always club first, because without the club there was no path to province or country. This is an aspect of rugby which is still very strong in NZ but sadly has gone missing in SA.
Indeed Tackler … great club man who did an awful lot of good for the CBPJ fund … RIP
Hi Tank – had to laugh at your tweet re Willie Wepener with a facial nerve infection – in our politically incorrect days front rows just called it herpes!!
Ha Ha … The old scrumpox … Used to hate getting that!