Moonlight president says they will be competitive in Eastern Cape Super 14
We will not be there to just add numbers. We will be a competitive team
Team look forward to playing some of the big teams in province, says president
Moonlight president Nkululeko Nyangiwe has vowed that his side will not be whipping boys in the Eastern Cape Super 14 next year.
The Super 14 rugby tournament kicks off on January 21 and will run for 10 weeks, finishing with the final on March 25.
It will be the first time the Mooiplaas team will be playing in the provincial competition since it was founded in 2020. They come in as the Border wild card.
Earlier this year Moonlight earned promotion from the Border Premier League to the Super league, winning all 11 matches they played.
They will be led by head coach Bongani Zene and will be one of seven clubs representing Border Rugby Union.
They will be joined by Border champions East London Police, Ncera Leopards, 2022 semifinalists Swallows and Old Selbornians, Young Leopards and Ntlaza Lion.
Defending champions Progress of Kariega in Nelson Mandela Bay will be looking for a hat-trick of titles when the 2023 championship gets under way.
Progress will be joined by Eastern Province Rugby Union-affiliated clubs Harlequins (2022 finalists), Park, Jeffreys Bay, Kruisfontein, Gardens and wild card Kirkwood.
“We will not be there to just add numbers. We will be a competitive team,” Nyangiwe said.
“We will not be easy targets. We have enough depth and confidence in our young players; we have experienced players who will lead them.”
Moonlight finished third in the Super Heritage tournament that was held at Police in September.
Nyangiwe said the tournament helped his team to prepare for the EC Super 14.
“It was our first time that we had played against teams playing in the top league,” he said.
“We were beaten by EL Police in the semifinals and that showed that in terms of playing we are close to those teams because they were crowned the champions.
“We got to feel the intensity at which they play and the areas that we need to improve in were exposed.”