Braced for battle at Fort Hare

TWELVE rugby teams will engage in battle at the inaugural University of Fort Hare Village Rugby Festival in Alice today.

“The idea behind having this rugby festival is to celebrate the Youth Day in a different fashion than we have done in the past,” said Fort Hare director of rugby Elliot Fana.

“It is all about putting meaning to the day and create fresh memories for the youth in our area.

“We want the youth to stand up and engage about the challenges that are facing them on their daily lives and the easiest way to do that is to mobilise the young people through sport on this remarkable day.”

In total 264 players are expected to take part in the festival which features teams from Alice and Fort Beaufort.

Fort Beaufort teams in the festival are: Winter Rose RFC, Crusaders, All Stars, Rhino’s, UFH Invitation and Home Defenders while Stars of Alice, Ntselamanzi, Red Lion, Spurs, Buffaloes and All Blacks will represent Alice.

“This festival serves as a talent identification programme for the university and also Raymond Mhlaba Rugby Union.”

Some cracking games are expected between the teams with many top rivalries on show.

“The Buffaloes versus Winter Rose match and All Blacks versus Home Defenders match will be exciting,” claimed Fana.

“These are the best teams in both towns and they have quality players and good coaches.

“They have shown good quality earlier on during the league already.”

The day’s action is set to kick-off at 10am and should be finished by 8pm.

Fans from around the area are encouraged to come and support the fun day.

“It is going to be more of a family atmosphere outside the field of play” said Fana. The fixtures are: 11am: Steinhoff Stars of Alice v Steinhoff Spurs

12.30pm Steinhoff Buffalos v Steinhoff Winter Rose 2pm: Steinhoff All Stars v Steinhoff Rhinos 3.30pm: Steinhoff Crusaders v Steinhoff UFH Invitation

5pm: Steinhoff Red Lion v Steinhoff Ntselamanzi Utd

6.30pm: Steinhoff Home Defenders All Blacks v Steinhoff