The characteristics of a winning rugby club
A rugby column by Mr H
THE FOLLOWING TEAMS MOVE UP AND THE FOLLOWING MOVE DOWN.....Congratulations to the following clubs that gained promotion for the 2011 season:
* Super League A - Belhar;
* Super League B - Brackenfell;
* Premier A - Langa;
* Premier B - UWC;
* Division 1 - Busy Bees and either Blue Jets/Young Wesley;
* Division 2 - Blue Stars, Rocklands;
* Division 3 - Cor-Serv Violets, Young Brothers.
The following teams were relegated to following leagues:
* Super League B - NNK;
* Premier A - Kraaifontein;
* Premier B - Strand United;
* Division 1 - Paarl Region;
* Division 2 - Hamediehs, Atlantis;
* Division 3 - Whistling Wheels, Perseverance;
* Division 4 Bishop Lavis, Thistle.
What are the characteristics of a winning rugby club? The season has come and gone and there are a few successful clubs and many more that were not successful.
What is the difference between winning clubs and less successful clubs?
Herewith are 10 of the characteristics of a winning rugby club:
1. Organised in his decisions and actions;
2. Act in time;
3. Find solutions before a matter becomes a problem;
4. have leaders that lead from the front;
5. leaders who make things happen and do not wait for things to happen;
6. a respect for tradition and the value of a togetherness. An example: an uniform dress code will be part of a winning club’s culture;
7. attention to detail regarding the facilities of the club;
8. people with the appropriate skills will be elected in positions on the committee – not because they are popular members;
9. solid finances. A once-off financial injection does not compare to stable finances year after year;
10. a good system of networking. The emphasis is on good communication to the players, ex-players; sponsors, officials, committee members, communities surrounding the club headquarters and the WP Union.
WARNING SIGNALS FOR CLUBS;
1. Decreasing membership
2. meetings without a plan and objectives;
3. lack of planning – especially on the training ground;
4. bad infrastructure;
5. bad communication with major role players;
6. lack of motivation and ideas;
7. bad decision making;
8. one man shows in stead of a team effort;
9. ignoring club protocol – example: members who are late for meetings;
10. in-fighting amongst the committee members.
11.
12. LEAGUE WINNERS 2010.... The following clubs were the league winners for this season:
13.
14. 1st Teams: Super League A - Maties; Super League B - Belhar; Premier A - Brackenfell; Premier B - Langa; Division 1 - UWC; Division 2 - Busy Bees; Division 3 - Blue Stars; Div 4 - Cor-Serv Violets; Paarl Region - Vineyards.
15. 2nd Teams: Super League A - Maties II; Super League B - Belhar II; Premier A - Brackenfell II; Premier B - Sir Lowrians II; Division 1 - UWC II; Division 2 - All Saints II; Division 3 - Blue Stars II; Division 4 - Cor-Serv Violets; Paarl Region - Young Gardens 2.
16. 3rd Teams: Super League A - Victorians 3; Super League B - Bellville III; Premier A - Paarl III; Premier B - Maccassar III; Division 1 - UWC III; Division 2 - Young Wesleys III; Division 3 - Blue Stars III; Division 4 - Titans III; Paarl Region - Riverstones III.
17. Reserve - UCT 5.
18. Under 20 - Super A - Maties A; Super B - Collegians A; Group A - UCT B1.
19.
PRAISE FOR UNION AT NATIONAL CLUB TOURNAMENT
A very successful SAA National Club Tournament was held at Stellenbosch.
Although this is a SA Rugby Tournament the WP Union act as the host union and had a lot to do with the organisation.
The matches were played at the grounds of the Stellenbosch University.
The players really enjoyed the tournament and were full of praise for the organisation.
“We were treated like professional players since day 1 and it was a real treat to play in the Club Champs,” was a regular comment from the players.
A big thanks to all the officials from the WP Union who helped to make this tournament a big success.
Also my thanks to Belius Potgieter from Maties and his team. Thanks for a job well done!
The 2 teams from WP, Maties and Hamiltons, clashed in the one semi-final and it was the Maties who reached the final, but they lost narrowly against College Rovers (KwaZulu-Natal).
WELL DONE TO THE DISA TEAM. … The WP Disa Team won the national sub-union tournament at Margate and my congratulations to all the players as well as the management team and the coaches. Well done to the team as well as Irvin October (head coach) Winston Baard (deputy coach) and Johan Arendse (manager).
THUMBS UP FOR WP AMATEUR TEAM.... The WP Amateur Team participated in the Central Region of the SARU Amateur Team Competition and qualified to play a semi-final against the Central Region. This match will take place at Newlands on Saturday.
The winner will play the Northern Region in the final.
The WP Amateur Teams was selected from club players who did not have provincial contracts. The team was well lead by captain Jody Burch of UCT and won all their matches.
The results were: beat Griquas Rural 42-19; beat Boland 30-20; beat EP Rural 52-18; beat Border 69-0; beat Border Rural 57-20; beat EP 41-7; beat SWD 44-29.
PAARL CLUBS WILL KICK FOR R1000….In Die Burger’s kicking competition this Saturday at Newlands, two clubs from Paarl, Young Peoples and Paarl Rangers, will kick for the prize money of R1 000.
Rugby greetings
Herman Abrahams