Rugby supporters make game shine

CONGRATULATIONS to the Springboks for winning the current Test series against England, and hopefully many more to come.

My reason for writing this is to thank and congratulate the people at grassroots level who make all of this possible.

I was fortunate enough as a grandparent to be part of a 1 000-plus crowd of proud parents, teachers, coaches and WP officials at the auspicious occasion of the Capping Ceremony of the Grant Khomo team and the WP Under 18 Craven Week “A” team.

This is the proudest moment of any rugby schoolboy and parent. These are some of the young men who will proudly represent us at the next Under 20 World Cup, and ultimately go on to become Springboks.

I have been fortunate to attend most of the WP tournaments and trials of these youngsters, also to support my grandson who is now proudly part of the Craven Week Under 18 “A” squad.

A big thank you for the dedication and input of the WP rugby officials and coaches. The tournament will take place on home soil this year at Paarl Boys’ High School from July 9-14. Paarl Boys’ High is also turning 150 this year.

But here I also have to take my hat off to all school principals, teachers, parents and coaches countrywide who give it their all, week in and week out, come storm, rain or sunshine on a Saturday morning to support and make these players who they are today .

I am a witness to all of this and can only speak and use as an example the school which my grandchildren attend – and I am forced to thank the parents, teachers, coaches, director of rugby Clint van Rensburg and, last but not least, the principal, Mr Shaun Thompson of Rondebosch Boys’ High School (RBHS) who are doing an exceptional job nurturing these youngsters both academically and on the sports field.

Congratulations to all the boys and girls including 12 boys of RBHS who got capped on the evening. My other daughter’s son is now also playing rugby in his first year at high school. She is there every Saturday morning, come hell or high water, to support the team.

My daughter, who was never interested in rugby, said: “Dad, I never knew how enjoyable and exciting it is to be part of this rugby family on a Saturday morning.” MO NOOR JOSEPH Crawford