Elsenburg supreme during 2019 rugby season

The Stellenbosch-based Elsenburg Agricultural College rugby team excelled on the field during the 2019 rugby season. They won the first league residence tournament in Stellenbosch, as well as the South African agri colleges rugby week tournament.

Elsenburg made its mark this year in the residence league at the Stellenbosch rugby club. In the Sauer final, Elsenburg beat Eendrag, and was named the winner of the league. This was a major achievement for Elsenburg, which won the Sauer trophy for the third time since first participating in the league.

Elsenburg also received the following awards: • Residence referee of the year: Len Conradie;

• Forward of the year: Henro Meyer;

• Fullback of the year: Daniel Muller.

Nine Elsenburg players were selected for the elite merit team, which was chosen after the tournament.

Pannar Corteva

Elsenburg also won the South African agri colleges’ Pannar Corteva rugby tournament, held in June 2019 at the Glen Agricultural College in Bloemfontein. While the tournament was marked by competitive matches, it was dominated by Grootfontein Agricultural College and Elsenburg. The latter went on to beat Grootfontein in the final – described as the best match of the tournament – to take home the IPJ du Plessis Cup.

Elsenburg also received the following trophies:

• The Boland Bank Cup, for the most constructive rugby;

• The Joe Venter Cup, awarded to Brendon Botha for the best forward;

• The Pannar Cup, awarded to Slabber la Grange for best fullback;

• The Grant and Lu Kobus Cup, awarded to Brendon Botha for most influential player;

• The Willie van Zijl Cup, awarded to Elsenburg and Grootfontein for the best match of the tournament;

• The Corteva Cup, awarded to Elsenburg for scoring the most tries of the tournament (39);

• The DuPont Cup, awarded to Sabber la Grange for scoring the most individual points during the tournament.

At the conclusion of the tournament, 11 Elsenburg players were included in the agri colleges combined rugby team.

AJ de Klerk, one of Elsenburg’s current students, and André Rademeyer, a graduate of Elsenburg, were selected for the Namibian national team to participate in the Rugby World Cup in Japan.

coaches’ commitment

Elsenburg’s achievements and team spirit can be attributed to the dedication of its players, the professional coaching of Len Conradie and Ferdie van Dyk, and the involvement of various sponsors of the team.

Willie van Zijl, president of the rugby club, said he was privileged to have been involved with college residence rugby since 1982, and that this season, his last before retirement, had been the highlight of his participation.

CORNELIUS MULLER ABOVE: Rugby achievers of the Elsenburg Agricultural College, from left: André Rademeyer, Henro Meyer, Daniel Jooste and Henlo Marais. Rademeyer plays for the Namibia U20 national side, and was selected for the Namibian national team for the Rugby World Cup. Meyer plays for the Maties U20 side, as well as the WP U20. Jooste plays for the Maties U20 side, as well as the Junior Springboks. He also plays for the Stormers. Marais plays for the Maties U20 side, as well as the Maties University of Stellenbosch side and WP U21.