EXCITING TIMES AHEAD
MAN OF THE MATCH: Wilmar Arnoldi is congratulated by the CEO of Griqua Rugby Union, Riaan Vorster THERE seems to be some exciting times ahead for Tafel Lager Griquas next season, but unfortunately, some bad news of three players having retired and luckily only two moving on to other provinces.
The three retirees are RJ Liebenberg, Johnathan Adendorf, who have hung up their boots and Marius Fourie, who has decided to go farming. Meanwhile, the only two of the present core of players, scrumhalf, Tiaan Dorfling and centre, Tertius Kruger, have decided to move on, Kruger to the Cheetahs and Dorfling, who apparently is undecided at present.
Griquas will, at this stage, only be drafting in five new players for the 2018 season, but who they are and from which provinces they will be coming from is at present unknown, whilst the main core of the squad will remain in an effort to improve and do much better than they did this past season.
The good news is that Griquas will be playing in the SuperSport competition as well as the Currie Cup Premier Division in the new season, as well as maybe an overseas league, should the South African Rugby Union (SARU) give their blessing.
However, the fixtures for all SARU competitions have not yet been drawn up for the new season yet, but it looks like there could be great times ahead.
In the Promotion/Relegation fixture between Tafel Lager Griquas and Down Touch Griffons at Tafel Lager Park on Friday, it was the home side who came out tops after Griffons played negative, spoiling rugby in an effort to upset the apple cart.
After the match, conditioning coach, Neil Murphy told the DFA, “It was a great last game to prove that, we as Tafel Lager Griquas, deserve to remain and play in the top Currie Cup league.
“We are very proud of all our players and very excited and looking forward to the new season, but we will be taking a week off now, and return early in November to start with our pre-season training for the 2018 season.
“We would like to say thank you to all the fans that came out to support us during this years tough campaign. Thank you Kimberley and Northern Cape”.