Phakisa Pumas return to action
After months of having to exercise at home, the Phakisa Pumas were finally able to return to the field on Monday.
This came after SA Rugby announced on Friday that professional rugby teams may return to non-contact training. The confirmation followed several weeks of preparation and consultation with government, and all provincial unions to ensure compliance with regulations and to minimise the risk of Covid-19 infections.
The Pumas director of rugby, Jimmy Stonehouse, was thrilled just to have the players back on the field and to witness their spirit and hard work.
The Phakisa Pumas are among eight teams that resumed training with a view to compete in a domestic competition to be integrated into the remainder of the year.
Other teams include the Vodacom
Bulls, Emirates Lions, Cell C Sharks,
DHL Stormers, Southern Kings, Toyota Cheetahs and Tafel Lager Griquas.
Due to the economic impact of the pandemic on the sport, the remaining professional teams are to remain under lockdown.
“This is an important first step back to playing, and we have approached it carefully to ensure full compliance and thoroughly interrogated the regulations with government,” said Jurie Roux, SA Rugby CEO.
“Contact training will not be permitted for the moment, but the players will be allowed back onto the field with a rugby ball and back into the gym - while observing strict protocols in both areas which comes as a great relief.”
Roux said all players and management teams has been being screened before Monday’s return and training venues had been prepared to conform to protocols.
Several competition formats with various start dates featuring eight teams had been modelled for the return to competitive play, as it was highly unlikely that air corridors would be opened to allow international travel.
Roux said the only teams expected to appear in 2020 were the eight professional ones and those that fielded under-21 teams. All other competitions as well as club rugby were cancelled.
“The risk associated with a mass return to train and play has been highlighted by government and the timelines and practicalities are such that it is unrealistic that there will be a general return to play this year,” said Roux.
“Therefore the members of the CovCom (the standing committee of member unions and experts which has been managing rugby’s response to the pandemic) opted to formally confirm that the only rugby to take place under their jurisdiction this year would feature the eight senior teams.”
Roux added that schools’ rugby did not fall under SA Rugby’s jurisdiction and any decisions in that regard would be handled by the Department of Basic Education.
With limited time to the start of the Currie Cup (SA Rugby should announce details and fixtures within the next two weeks), Stonehouse said hard work, under unusual circumstances, lies ahead for the players and staff.
"The guys are following Covid-19 protocols, maintaining social distancing and sanitising. There is a value that they are learning from this.
"The biggest thing is to get back onto the field, to give exposure to our sponsors that carried us throughout this year. Once we play there will be television rights and an income from this.
"To practise in preparation for a double-round Currie Cup against teams with Springbok players means so much for each Puma," said Stonehouse.