South African Rugby League. Rugby League in South Africa.

RLIF Game Development tour to South Africa
Jan 13 –Jan 26 2010

The Rugby League International Federation along with the ARL sponsored a game development tour to South Africa in late January to conduct coaching and referees clinics with the South African Rugby League (SARL) and to promote the game in schools . The RLIF/ARL also donated a substantial amount of coaching equipment.

The touring party consisted of Brisbane Broncos development officers; Michael De Vere and Michael Hancock ,Broncos strength and conditioning coach; Tony Guilfoyle, former QRL referees co-ordinator; Richard Johnston and SARL International development officer; Nigel Goos .

The aim of the tour was to assist the South African Rugby League with the finer skills and laws of the game to enhance their chances of qualifying for the Rugby League World Cup in England in 2013.

During the tour, Senior Coaching and Refereeing seminars were held in the Vaal Triangle , south of Johannesburg and Pretoria to the north.

After the coaching seminar in Pretoria, the Broncos watched the SARL first grade Provincial Grand Final between the Northern Bulls and the Mpumalanga Panthers.
An exciting match where the Panthers scored on the siren to win the game 30-26.

Along with this , coaching clinics were held at primary and secondary schools in the provinces of Gauteng, Free State and the North West.

Whilst in the North West province, the Broncos held a coaching clinic at Technical High School in the city of Potchefstroom where the SARL high school academy is based.
It is the nursery for the country’s elite junior rugby league talent.

Rugby League in South Africa is played in a club competition with 25 first grade sides .
There is also a Provincial competition consisting of 6 first grade sides.
In addition to this, a reserves and U-20 comp is played at club and Provincial level.

The SARL national side, the Rhinos played matches in South Africa last year against the Australian Universities side and this year the Rhinos will host BARLA
and the Great Britain Community Lions from England.

South African Rugby League President, Dave van Reenen said “This is a memorable tour and the experience gained is invaluable to all SARL officials, coaches and players and
the Rhinos will definitely benefit from development tours such as these as it will assist us in qualifying for the 2013 World Cup.”

During some down time, the Broncos were lucky enough to go on a lion safari at Pilansberg National Park in Sun City and experience South Africa’s wildlife

Nigel Goos
South African Rugby League
International Development Officer

Brisbane Broncos to visit South Africa

Members of the Brisbane Broncos coaching staff will assist the RLIF by conducting coaching and refereeing seminars in South Africa in January.

The Broncos will also be holding clinics to help further develop rugby league in senior club and provincial sides , schools, Universities and indigenous communities

All SARL administrators, Officials and players in South Africa will have the opportunity to attend these seminars/clinics

This is a great honour for the South African Rugby League to learn from one of the greatest clubs in World Rugby League

The South African Rugby League would like to thank the RLIF and the Brisbane Broncos for making this possible

Feedback on this week-end’s provincial game results (5 December 09) for the Northern Bulls Squad versus Eastern Eagles Province.

All three provincial squads- seniors, B- & U/20-Squad had good fortune by winning their games.

Again this week-end the main match had to start in the rain. Either one specific player or the “Bulls” connotation had that effect. Where ever they play it rains! (Anybody out there looking for some “rain assistance”? Remember we do not come cheap!)

Score: (34-10)
In the first-half the game was close at hand due to the wet weather. In the second-half, with permission from a clearing weather, a running game could be applied.

Three tries (2 converted) by the Bulls to one converted try by the Eagles got the half-time score to 16-6 for the Bulls.
In the second-half the Bulls scored another three tries (2 converted) to the one try by the Eagles to end the game with a score of 32-10 in favor of the Northern Bulls.

           2 Tries:       Wally Page (Centurian Lions)
           1 Try:          Jean Coetzer (TuksBulls)
           1 Try:          Christo Greyling (TuksBulls)
           1 Try:          Warren Britton (Northern Barbarians)
           1 Try:          Bruce Miller (TuksBulls)
           Player-o-Match:

Bruce Miller (TuksBulls)

NORTHERN BULLS PROVINCIAL vs EASTERN EAGLES (5 Dec 09)

NORTHERN BULLS B PROVINCIAL vs EASTERN EAGLES (5 Dec 09)

NORTHERN BULLS U/20 PROVINCIAL vs EASTERN EAGLES (5 Dec 09)

Score: Northern Bulls B (28-20) Eastern Eagles B

Score: Northern Bulls U/20 (34-10) Eastern Eagles U/20

This coming week-end (12 Dec 09) the provincial commitment will be against Vaal Buffaloes. The games are scheduled for Pretoria-North (Host: Northern Barbarians).

SARL Rhino-Cup Final
28 November 09- Tuks Groenkloof Campus- Pretoria

It might be the good care of the pitch at Tuks Groenkloof Campus but “Dawie the Rhino” decided to feed, for another year, north of the Jukskei at TuksBulls Rugby League Club.
The University of Pretoria -TuksBulls RLC won 60-26 to send the high ranking Brakpan Bears RLC home with their first defeat of the year.

Click on image to enlarge

TuksBulls started with a blistering pace to outscore the Bears with regular tries. The Bears made a come-back but could not catch the Bulls. Both teams did the game proud by good structured league- plays on the day.

Stats on the game:
TuksBulls: 11 tries (8 converted) to Brakpan Bears: 5 tries (3 converted).

Player-o- Match:
TuksBulls- Jean Coetzer
Brakpan Bears- Andre Loader.

Offensive-wise the TuksBulls did what was asked of them by the coaching- staff. To identify one specific player would be unfair to the whole Tuks-squad. The squad peaked at the right time. They accumulated a staggering amount of 200 point versus 42 point from the quarter-finals to the finals.
The scores were:
• Quarter-Final: VUT (90-0),
• Semi-Final: St Helens Vultures (50-16) and then the
• Final: Bears (60-26).

In the four years of the SARL Rhino-Cup competition’s existence, the Bulls have succeeded to triumphant three times. To the benefit of TuksBulls is the factor that a lot of new youngsters have joined the RL-club. They adopted very quickly into this required format of rugby-code. The youngsters of TuksBulls have clearly sent an attention-note to the star-studded national representative team of Bears that there are new kids on the block to be aware of.

The TuksBulls management would like say many thanks to the participants, spectators, match officials and management-teams who made the play-offs and the day possible.
Special thanks to Lucille and maintenance staff at Groenkloof Campus. Last but not least- Jaco and team from Herr Gunters (Sponsor of TuksBulls and of the final) – you are the heroes of the day!

The players will now be eligible for the senior and junior provincial sides that will start again this coming week-end against the Eastern Eagles province @ Brakpan.

Dave Van Reenen (SARL Chairman) &
Officials of the Final match:

Kallie (Touch-in-Goal Official)
AJ (Touch Line Official)
Johan (Match Official)
Shaun (Touch Line Official)
Gerhard (Touch-in-Goal Official)
Hendrik (MOC)

Guests of Honor:
Jan Prinsloo	Daantjie V/d Walt	Nols Greyling	John Callaghan
Oom Jan, Daantjie & Nols are some of the 60’players that had the honors to play Rugby League in those days when RL was an illegal sport in SA whilst uncle John was one of the pioneers to start Mini-League in SA in the 80’. Jan & Daantjie represented the Pretoria boys in those days whilst Nols did his thing at Boksburg. Thanks for your gentlemen’s contribution!

Australia University touring team july 2009

Fotos of Rugby League launch - Potchefstroom

From left to right: Shawn McCallaghan (National Secretary) Koos Blomerus (Deputy President (Finance) Jan Prinsloo (Vice President) Dave van Reenen (President) Kobus Botha (Deputy President, Provinces).	Two sides: Group photo: Players in white jerseys (Academy) Other: Players from ED-U-COLLEGE, Welkom in the Free State.

From Jan Prinsloo, vice president of the SARL.

On 14th of November,The South African Rugby League Academy was opened at the Technical High School in Potchefstroom, North West Province.

Potchefstroom is where the historical test between the Australian Universities and the South African Rhinos took place in July this year.

The day was 100% success with a large crowd and after all formalities the academy was officially opened by the Executive Mayor of Potchefstroom.

To open the academy ,Technical High (The academy side) played Ed-U-College, a private high school from Welkom, Free State.

The academy side proved victorious 54-28.

The win means a lot to the academy and the Headmaster of Technical High sees this as a tremendous breakthrough for rugby lLeague.

Jan Prinsloo said the day was magnificent, the grounds were lovely and the spectators loved what they saw.

The well known South African business group ITEC is the sponsor of the very first rugby schools team, officially integrated with the SA Schools Rugby League Academy. ITEC is the sponsor of the school jersey for the academy .

Technical High School will be the headquarters of the academy where South Africa’s elite student athletes will learn the skills of rugby league.

League clinics will be introduced to other high schools throughout South Africa where there elite players will be identified and earn selection into the academy.

By doing this we will have trials from which a Rhinos high school side will be selected for touring purposes and to play visiting international schools.

This event is of historical value seeing that South Africa now has its own Rugby Schools Academy and that the proposed schools clinics will participate to make this Academy is winning formula in the preparation of young future stars

A Seven Man Committee was formed by the Department of Education and the Departmnent of Sport in co-operation with SA Rugby League to investigate the introduction on schools level of Rugby League as a sport.

Having the academy ensures the SARL of a new senior provincial team next year, the Western Warthogs.

Super 8 Results 14/11/2009

TEAM PLAYED	FINAL SCORE	TRIES		FINAL SCORE	TRIES	TEAM PLAYED
Kempton Wolwe	50	11	VS	12	2	Witbank Hurricanes
Falcons	8	2	VS	18	4	Nashua Bears
Tigers A	30	7	VS	26	5	Silverbacks
Ermelo Thomahawks	50	8	VS	14	3	Kungweni Scorpions
Northern Barbarians	60	12	VS	6	1	Boksburg Hooters
Centurian Lions	6	1	VS	78	14	Bears A
Tuks Bulls	90	23	VS	0	0	VUT
St Helen Vultures	32	6	VS	28	5	Vaal Mambas

Vaal Buffaloes u 20 16 - 34 Eastern Eagles u20

Vaal Buffaloes B 40 - 54 Eastern Eagles B 54

Vaal Buffaloes A 19 - Eastern Eagles A 40

Bulls u 20 52 - 12 Central Lions u20 12

Bulls B_______________No Game - Central Lions B___________No Game

Bulls A 64 - 8 Central Lions A

Mphumalanga Phanters 56 - 12 Goldfields Phantoms

Andre Loader one of RLIF Nations’ Player of the Year


Click on images to enlarge	Click on images to enlarge	Click on images to enlarge

RLIF Player of the Year awards
RLIF Tue, 10 Nov 2009 09:53:00
Jarryd Hayne tonight collected the most prestigious individual award in Rugby League when he was named International Player of the Year for 2009. The Parramatta Eels and Australia full-back was presented with his medal at the star-studded Rugby League International Federation Player of the Year gala dinner in Leeds by former Great Britain captain Ellery Hanley.

Hayne, 21, beat Kangaroos team-mates Greg Inglis and last year’s winner Billy Slater to become the second recipient of the award, which recognises individual excellence during the period between and including last year’s Rugby League World Cup and this season’s NRL and engage Super League Grand Finals.

Hayne was an outstanding figure in the Fiji team that reached the 2009 World Cup Final and in 2009 proved himself as the most influential player in the NRL. His form earned him a call up by New South Wales, for whom he was the most consistent performer in State of Origin.

He collected six successive man of the match awards with Parramatta between rounds 19 and 24 and was an inspirational presence for the Eels as they swept into the NRL Grand Final. During the NRL season, Hayne ran for 4,429 metres, over 1,000 metres more than his closest challenger, and he also broke more tackles and made more line breaks than any other player.

The award is the second major award of 2009 for Hayne, who was also the Dally M player of the year in the NRL.

Hayne has played on the left wing for Australia during the Gillette Four Nations, the same position as England’s Ryan Hall who was tonight named RLIF Rookie of the Year following his outstanding exploits for Super League champions Leeds Rhinos.

Hall, 21, topped the try-scoring charts with 28 in the regular Super League season and was the only player to score more than 20. His scoring prowess has been matched by strong defence, which he showed when making a try-saving tackle on Ade Gardner of St Helens in this year’s Super League Grand Final.

The award for RLIF Coach of the Year was won by Craig Bellamy of Melbourne Storm, who reached the NRL Grand Final for the fourth season in succession under his guidance. Bellamy beat off stiff competition from his assistant, Stephen Kearney, the New Zealand Test coach, and Kevin Moore of Sydney Bulldogs to take his award.

Hall and Hayne were also named in the RLIF Team of the Year, which features two other England players in Leeds Rhinos captain Kevin Sinfield, who was named Loose Forward of the Year, and Wests Tigers forward Gareth Ellis, the Second Row of the Year.

The RLIF made a special award to Ken Arthurson, the former Australian Rugby League Chairman and ex-Manly coach and secretary.

The RLIF Spirit of RL Award is given to a person deemed to have made a significant contribution to the game in their lifetime.

The full list of awards presented at the RLIF International Player of the Year dinner at Alea Casino, Leeds, tonight is:

Player of the Year Winner: Jarryd Hayne (Parramatta and Australia)
Shortlisted: Greg Inglis (Melbourne and Australia), Billy Slater (Melbourne and Australia).

Rookie of the Year Winner: Ryan Hall (Leeds and England)
Shortlisted: Michael Jennings (Penrith and Australia), Richie Myler (Salford and England).

Referee of the Year Winner: Shayne Hayne (Australia).
Shortlisted: Steve Ganson (England), Ashley Klein (Australia).

Team of the Year:
Full-back: Jarryd Hayne (Parramatta and Australia).
Winger: Ryan Hall (Leeds and England).
Centre: Greg Inglis (Melbourne and Australia).
Stand-off: Benji Marshall (Wests Tigers and New Zealand).
Scrum-half: Jonathan Thurston (North Queensland and Australia).
Prop: Fuifui Moimoi (Parramatta and New Zealand).
Hooker: Cameron Smith (Melbourne and Australia).
Second row: Gareth Ellis (Wests Tigers and England).
Loose forward: Kevin Sinfield (Leeds and England).

Coach of the Year Winner: Craig Bellamy (Melbourne and NSW).
Shortlisted: Stephen Kearney (New Zealand), Kevin Moore (Sydney Bulldogs)

Nations’ Player of the Year
Cook Islands: Karl Temata
Czech Republic: Josef Kucera
Estonia: Alex Janov
Fiji: Jarryd Hayne
France: Olivier Elima
Germany: Jimmy Keinhorst
Ireland: Damien Blanch
Italy: Giovanni Franchi
Jamaica: Roy Calvert
Japan: Hiroshi Miyazak
Latvia: Kristaps Jakushs
Lebanon: Ramy Rassi
PNG: David Mead
Russia: Nikolay Zagoskin
Samoa: Kylie Leuluai
Scotland: Iain Morrison
Serbia: Soni Radovanovic
South Africa: Andre Loader
Tonga: Richard Fa'aoso
Ukraine: Mikhail Troyan
USA: Siose Muliumu
Wales: Jordan James

Feedback on the Northern Bulls RL Club Final held at a soppy/wet Tuks Groenkloof Campus on Friday-night.

Somebody in the team must be “privileged” for attracting rain for finals. Last year’s provincial final held also at Tuks Groenkloof Campus was repeated with rain from the kick-off until the end.
Fortunately this time we were aloud to “finish” the game – including some “swimming-competition” rugby.

The running game-plan had to change on short notice due a wet outfield as also the ball-handling had to be minimized to a one-handler approach. The heavier players of TuksBulls started to have a superior hold on the game especially in the second half. Also the TuksBulls- experience against a young upcoming squad from the Bronkhorstspruit-based team was also a key-factor.

Defensive the TuksBulls had one of the best games and could be proud to slip only on two occasions allowing the Kungwini Scorpions to score.

Scoring:
• For the TuksBulls Marchell Slabbert got the first try.
• Then Allen Kasselman crossed the line with a very nice cut-in move catching the defensive off-guard.
• Bruce Miller then decided to repeat his good season performance by scoring a hat-trick on tries.
• Jean Coetzer was successful on 4 out of 5 kicks to ensure a victory score of 28-8.

One trophy down –another one to go! This coming week-end is provincial games at Silverton against Wild Cats (Free State) and Central Manes (Johannesburg) and then from next week TuksBulls will be in the Super RL Club-competition defending the “Rhino-Cup” title that was won last year. Hopefully “Dawie the Rhino” will stay in Pretoria.

Keep your fingers crossed for us.

SOUTH AFRICAN 2009/2010 PROVINCIAL RUGBY LEAGUE SEASON - GOOD START.

Mpumalanga Panthers vs. Eastern Eagles
Mpumalanga Panthers defeated Eastern Eagles 34-30(tries 7 - 6) in a Provincial a match at Middelburg on Saturday 26/9/2009.
Eastern Eagles took an early lead of 12-0, but Mpumalanga Panthers fought back courageously with good team play to clinch the match.
Players of the match: Morne Verwey(MP) and Andre Lauder(EE).

The curtain raiser was won by Mpumalanga Panthers B ,defeating Eastern Eagles B, 30-26 (tries6-5).

Northern Bulls vs.Goldfield Phantoms
Phantoms took an early lead by scoring the first try ,but gradually the NG Bulls took control of the match ,defeating Goldfield Phantoms 48-28 (tries 9-6).
The new look Bulls ,only playing two Rhino players signalled a warning to the other Provinces – it will not be easy to beat them this season.

Curtain raisers:
NG Bulls U/20 defeated Goldfiels Phantoms U/20 56-12-(tries 10-2).
Ng Bulls B DEFEATED Goldfield Phantoms B 36-12 (tries 7-2).

The matches between Free State Wild Cats and Vaal Buffaloes will be played at a later stage.

5-Sep-09 (Northen Bulls Results A Division)
Playmakers	8 - 54	SilverBacks
Kunkweni Scorpions	34 - 16	Northen Barbarians
Centurian Lions	28 - 24	TuksBulls B
TuksBulls A	(bye)

5-Sep-09 (Eastern Eagles Results A Division)
Bears A	42 - 32	Vultures A
Kempton Wolves A	56 - 0	Boksburg Hooters
ERP Falcons	(bye)
5-Sep-09 (Eastern Eagles Results B Division)
Benoni Vipers	52 - 8	Tembisa Bulldogs
Bears B	54 - 12	Kempton Wolves B
Vultures B	(bye)

click on image to enlarge

The Australian University makes it 3-0

The Australian university did it making it a white wash on their tour to South Africa. Showing the South Africans how to play Rugby League. What we as Rugby League players can take out if this tour is how to really play rugby league. We thank the Australian university for their tour and we will take all the knowledge that they have show on this tour and build on this we hope to see them again soon!
The score against the Tuks Bulls was as follows Australia University 62 – 14 to the Tuks Bulls

With a crowed attendance of approximate 100

Tuks Bulls to face the Australian Universities


Loose-Forward	13	Dolph Nel (Invitation Player)
Lock-Right	12	Rik Els
Lock-Left	11	Bennie Hoffman
Loose-Head	10	Johan Smit
Hooker	9	Wayne v/d Westhuizen
Prop	8	Frans Parsons

Half-Back	7	Deon Kraëmer (Capt)
Stand-Off	6	Christo Greyling
Wing-Right	5	Arno Wagner
Centre-Outside	4	Chester Mbekela
Centre -Inside	3	Pieter de Jager
Wing-Left	2	Derrick Reed
Full-Back	1	Henry Wiggins (Invitation Player)

Extra-Back	14	Rudi Coetzee
Reserve -Back	15	Ashley Hills (Invitation Player)
Extra-Forward	16	Werner Olivier
Reserve-Forward	17	Tewis Pretorius
Extra-Reserve	18	Marchelle Coetzee

COACH		Fanie Bredenhann
TEAM MANAGER		Stef Nel

TRAINER		Ronnie Erasmus
PHYSIOTHERAPIST		Carla Taljaard

Historical first for a South African University
The Tuks Bulls Rugby League Club(Pretoria University )will make history tomoorow at LC de Villiers Stadium,Pretoria when they become the first University in South Africa to play Rugby League against a International representative side. Tuks Bulls will play against the touring Australian Universities touring side in the last match of their tour.
The Australian Universities defeated the Rhino A side 52-6 at Bosman Stadium on Wednesday evening . Tomorrow’s match promise to be another good entertaining match . Kick off 14H00.

Match Preview – South African Rhinos A vs. Australian Universities

The Australian Universities touring side arrived in Pretoria yesterday after their 2 day safari outing to Sun City/Pilanesberg.
The Australian Universities defeated the Rhinos 46-12 at Potchefstroom last Saturday .

They are not overcautious for the match tomorrow evening at Bosman Stadium ,Brakpan – indeed they have respect for the South African defence – experience made the difference on Saturday.
All eighteen players are fit for the match .

The Rhino A side showing 8 changes to the side that lost 42-22 against the British Army on 24 June 2009 have a big task ahead of them – they only practised once together as a team – South African Rugby League is in their off season .
However Coach John Bishop is confident the Rhino A side will give their best.

Rhino A side:
1.Wally Page(NG Bulls)
2.Lukas Pruis(Vaal Buffaloes)
3.Christiaan Botha(Free State Wild Cats)- Captain.
4.Yogi Fourie(Mpumalanga Panthers)
5.Rupert Wells(Northern Bulls)
6.Riaan Botha(Northern Bulls)
7.Jaco Schoeman(Goldfield Phantoms)
8.Raymond Taylor(Free State Wild Cats)
9.Raymond Hitchcock( Free State Wild Cats)
10.Charl v/d Merwe(Goldfield Phantoms) – Vice Captain.
11.Johan Roodt(Eastern Eagles)
12.Jaco Mouton(Free State Wild Cats)
13.Nelson Themba(Goldfield Phantoms)
14.Amedi Bull(Northern Bulls)
15.Nico Prinsloo(Vaal Buffaloes)
16.Hynie Sheperdson(Free State Wild Cats)
17.Kobus Nel(Free State Wild Cats)
18.Gerry Gendall(Mpumalanga Panthers)
Coach: John Gibson
Assistant Coach/Trainer: Clinton Thomas
Team Manager: Mossie Pretorius
Physio: Frankie
Medical: Karin

Kick Off 07h30 (19H30)

Curtain raiser 6H30 PM – BEARS vs. TEMBISA TROUNCERS

Entrance Fee:R20 (adults) R10(scholars)

The Australian University side defeated the South African Rhinos

Australian University 48(22) - 12(4) South African Rhinos

Match Preview –South African Rhinos vs. Australian Universities

Match Preview –South African Rhinos vs. Australian Universities
The Australian Universities touring side arrived in South Africa yesterday and immediately departed by bus to Potchefstroom/Tlokwe for the match against the South African Rhinos at the Ikageng Stadium tomorrow.
The team and officials were in good shape after spending almost 40 hours in transit (via Singapore) since their departure from Sydney.

The team had a good workout yesterday afternoon and attended the official reception last night which were hosted by the Executive Mayor and City Council of Potchefstroom /Tlokwe.

The Aussies will practice twice today and will name their squad this afternoon for tomorrow’s historical match – the first Rugby League representative Side from Australia to play on South African soil.
Also a first for the Ikageng Stadium.

Previous Australian sides that visited South Africa were the North Sydney Bears Club and a School side .

The Australians are confident that they will start their tour on a high note and they are looking forward to the match.

Rhino Coach Steven van Zyl is confident that the Rhinos will take it a step further after his teams splendid second half performance against the British Army which the Rhinos lost by 38-34 ( the difference in the score 2 penalties).

SARL Referee and touch judges will control the match.
Referee : Shaun Kelly
Kick Off : 14h30 pm.

RHINO SQUAD ANNOUNCED TO PLAY AUSTRALIAN UNIVERSITIES AT POTCHEFSTROOM(18 JULY 2009)

Coach; Steven van Zyl
Team Manager: Johan Roodt
Trainer: Wickus Pretorius
Medical Officer: Trudie Vorster

Christiaan Grobler
Gerrie Slabbert
Werner Booysen
Shaun Bouwer
Dolf Nel
Gideon Fick
Bruce Miller
Andre Loader
Meyer van Deventer
Jonothan Soares
Franna Greyvenstein
James Hunter
Riaan Engelbrecht
Henry du Toit
Andre Olwagen
Robbie Oosthuizen
Rudolf Prinsloo
Henry Wiggens
Ryno Steenberg