Sarel's Lions roar in Zimbabwe
The Rugby Lions of Sarel Cilliers High School have just returned from Zimbabwe where they enjoyed roaring success in the 14th annual Cottco Rugby Festival hosted by Prince Edward School in Harare.
The Glencoe team, which consistently tops the local schools’ rugby log, won all of the three games they played.
Coach Dave van der Westhuizen said 23 players and eight back-up staff travelled by bus to their northern neighbours.
Van der Westhuizen said: “It was an amazing experience. One hundred and seventy four teams competed on five fields. There were more players than in the World Cup!
“The enthusiasm from the large crowd was overwhelming as was their knowledge and passion for rugby.”
According to Van der Westhuizen, the players enjoyed the attention from the newspapers and the television cameras too!
Coach Steven Brown, whose son captained the team, said with a smile: “They thought they were TV stars or something.”
Their closest game was against Churchill School whom they narrowly beat 24-20. They beat Lomagundi 27-10 while the last game against host school, Prince Edward (The Tigers), was watched by 30,000 people, who saw their local team get thrashed 31-3 by the South African Lions.
Prince Edward’s rugby team was unbeaten for eight years and the local newspaper was scathing of their criticism and full of praise for the Glencoe Lions.
Brown said: “You would never think people in Zimbabwe would care so much about rugby – a lady who was over 50 come up to me after one game and commented that our team had completed 17 phases and had lots to say about tactics… that was a revelation.”
Teams from around Africa – including Botswana, Uganda and other countries – played in the festival. Sarel Cilliers was one of two South African teams – the other school team being St Martin’s from Johannesbrug.
Van der Westhuizen said they were made to feel very welcome and would certainly consider a return visit in 2013.
“It was a wonderful experience and one that has forged new friendships across the border. We feel proud that our players represented their school and country with such aplomb.”
He thanked the Umzinyathi District Municipality for their financial assistance for the trip.
Next on the Lions’ agenda is Ferrum High School, mighty Pionier away in Vryheid, and then there is the little matter of the Dundee High Derby which this year will be played in Glencoe.
By Terry Worley, Northern KZN Courier
