Tough clashes for Border teams
AMATEUR league status looks to be crippling progress in women’s rugby in South Africa, as rugby unions fail to issue contracts to women’s teams while the total opposite applies to the men’s game.
Among those is the Border Rugby Football Union (BRFU).
BRFU General Manager Dumisani Mhani said women’s rugby was not a professional sport and players therefore could not be awarded contracts.
“The only women’s rugby team that is contracted and plays professionally is the national women’s 7s side,” he said.
While the national women’s seven’s players are contracted, the women’s XV national side are not contracted due to their amateur status.
Many female athletes say transport fees and stipends are not enough to cater for the needs of players in these tough economic times.
Border women’s head, Mandisa Williams, shares that sentiment.
Williams expressed her frustration on the issue, saying non-payment was undermining female athletes.
As a former national women’s seven’s and XVs player herself, Williams was quick to share her views:
“We realised around 2009 that we needed some sort of remuneration as female rugby players,” she explained.
“Some players used to work other jobs, so they could have some form of financial relief while still playing rugby,” she added.
Even though the battle has been won at national level with the sevens games. “Nothing has been confirmed yet about more games for women but there are programmes currently to help develop women’s rugby so it can attract more sponsors,” Puzi said. Because female rugby players played fewer games than men explained Puzi, therefore women’s rugby was not considered a professional sport.
However, BRFU and Saru deployee Monde Tabata appeared more hopeful, saying they were considering giving Border women better incentives which could lead to them receiving contracts.
“What we’ve noticed is that most of the Border women don’t have other jobs.
“Their whole lives revolve around rugby therefore we are working on giving them contracts with the BRFU,” Tabata said.
“The evaluation is going to be WITH two weeks left in the group stage of the Eastern Cape Super 12 Club Rugby Tournament, Border rugby teams have struggled against their Eastern Province counterparts.
East London Police are the highest-placed Border team on the log. The cops are second in Group B with 11 points after playing four games.
Buffaloes, who are also in Group B, are third while Walter Sisulu University All Blacks are languishing at the bottom of the table.
In Group A, dubbed the group of death, EP teams have been absolutely devastating.
As a result, Spring Rose, Gardens and Park are occupying the top three positions with Swallows, Cambridge and Breakers fourth, fifth and bottom of the group.
The semifinals could have some mouthwatering clashes if defending champions Gardens come up against a reinvented Progress outfit in what would be a Uitenhage derby.
Swallows are still in with a chance of making it to the last four much more lenient and we are not waiting on a national guideline, we are doing this in our capacity as the BRFU,” he added.
Tabata also said that women’s rugby was noticeably popular in the Border region, hence they were preparing to make some changes.
Border Bulldogs media liaison officer, Akhona Mgijima, also confirmed that female rugby players were still in the minor league.
Mgijima added Border women were only offered stipends and some money for transport.
A lucrative career in sport has proven to be quite a difficult journey for females all around the globe. Just recently the Women’s Tennis Association (WTA) started paying female players the same as it pays male players after years of struggle. – namhlam@dispatch. but they will have to show Breakers no mercy when they lock horns at the Mlungisi Stadium in Komani today.
On paper, the Mdantsane outfit are hot favourites and should have an easy day at the office.
Breakers, the only side yet to win, will be determined to tick the win bracket in their last game of the tournament.
The cops will go to war with Port Elizabeth Harlequins at Police Park. The hosts will be hoping to secure a spot in the semis by humiliating Quins in what promises to be an entertaining game.
Cambridge will have a mountain to climb against a strong Rose side at the New Brighton Oval.
Rose are already difficult opponents but playing at home should make them deadlier.
The East Londoners must bring their A game if they are to get the better of Rose in their own backyard.
The students have no mathematical chance of qualifying for the knock-out stages.
Today they will welcome surprise fellow strugglers Despatch at the Potsdam campus in Berlin.
Both sides will be looking to finish the season on a high by winning their last games.
At Londt Park, Park will lock horns with Gardens. Both sides have been playing good rugby and will be eager to continue their dominance.
The defending champions should have enough in them to beat Park and be a step closer to retaining the provincial trophy in honour of Ricardo Kiwiets, who died from a suspected heart-attack after helping his side beat Cambridge 46-7 earlier this month.
Border Rugby Union (BRU) director of rugby Dumisani Mani said the log was not reflective of EP teams dominating Border sides.
“I'll start worrying when only PE teams go to the semis. For now, I'm not pressing any panic buttons.
“Yes, some teams have lost but Police and Swallows are still in with a chance,” he said. Kick-off at 3.30pm in all games. Fixtures: Group A: Spring Rose v Cambridge, Park v Gardens and Breakers v Swallows.
Group B: WSU v Despatch and EL Police v PE Harlequins.