SUPER LEAGUE C CROWN for CPUT Rugby The CPUT Rugby Club crowned Super League C 2022 champions.

The winning trophy was presented to the club during the recent Western Province Rugby Awards Dinner, held at Kelvin Grove.

“CPUT Rugby Club will be promoted to Super League B in the 2023 season, which is the second best League in Western Province Club Rugby,” said Bulelani Mlakalaka, Sport Development Officer: Rugby, Boxing and Tennis.

“It was a great honour to accept the award on behalf of the university. I must say the CPUT rugby club is very happy to be promoted to the second best club rugby in the Western Province Rugby Union Club Rugby,” he added.

He accepted the trophy at the event with club captain Siyasanga Ngubelanga. Mlakalaka said the Club was only four years old.

“For many years CPUT Rugby was in a merger with Gardens Rugby Club and the club was called CPUT Gardens. In 2018, Mr Siyabulela Mkwalo, who was a manager of Sport Arts and Culture, and myself wrote several proposals to the Western Province Rugby Union, seeking a breakaway from the merger and forming a University rugby team like other sister universities in the Western Cape.”

Once the proposal was approved Mlakalaka had to draw up a five-year plan in 2019 with the aim of taking CPUT rugby to the top club league in Western Province Club rugby, called Super League A.

“In 2019 we had to start from the lowest league, called City League, which is the fourth division. At the end of the season in 2019, we managed to get promotion to Super League C although we did not win the trophy.” When the Covid-19 pandemic struck, the plans had to be delayed for two years.

“On our return to the Western Province Club Rugby League after two years we had to push with our five-year plan. The League started one day after we lost the Varsity Shield finals against Fort Hare in Alice, Eastern Cape but the CPUT Rugby Club did not sit down and lick their wounds.”

Written by Ilse Fredericks, CPUT Marketing and Communications Department

CPUT Rugby Club was placed second on the final log and according to the format of the league, the top four teams play against each other in what Western Province Club Rugby called promotion and relegation semi-finals.

On 17 September CPUT defeated Macassar Rugby Club in the semi-finals with a final score of 22-12. CPUT then club qualified for the finals.

On 24 September the club faced Strand Rugby Club and won the finals 26 -19.

“On behalf of CPUT, I would like to congratulate the student athletes (players) and coaches. They all put their body on the line to represent CPUT. It is my dream to put CPUT rugby on the map. I will always push my technical staff and players to work extra hard so that our team can be recognised all over South Africa,” said Mlakalaka

He thanked all CPUT supporters, the Vice-Chancellor, Prof Chris Nhlapo and the SRC for their support.

The team’s head coach is Alastair Theys, the assistant coaches are Jongi Nokwe and Sentle Lehoko, the strength and conditioning coach is Brandon Isaacs, the physiotherapist is Byron Isaacs, the team managers are Bongani Ntshobodwana and Theo Lwandile Ngqwala and the club captain is Siyasanga Ngubelanga.