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69 CONTENTS PUBLISHER/EDITOR 07 superheroes live among us 08 vodacom cup the challenge 10
08 12 16 26 superheroes
vodacom cup
to wing or
VODACOM BULLS
live among us
the challenge
not to wing
BABES
to wing or not to wing 16 BLOU MENSE 22
t direction 28 30 32 34 petrolheads 24
VODACOM BULLS BABES 26 SCIENCE OF THE GAME 28
from the centre 30 a strap in the right direction 32 RUGBY LAWS 34 AMATEUR SIDE DR. EUGENE HARE 37
SCIENCE OF
FROM THE
A STRAP IN THE
THE GAME
CENTRE
RIGHT DIRECTION
RUGBY LAWS
publisher/editor
editor/publisher SHIFTING FOCUS With the Vodacom Super Rugby series nearing its final throws before the Super18 next year, the Bulls and other unions focus will now start shifting their focus to the Absa Currie Cup. I many ways the Currie Cup series will be of even greater importance for the Blue Bulls than in past years as they have to start rebuilding for 2016 when some of their stars of recent years turn to Europe and Victor Matfield retires. Some of those who are leaving have, over the years become super heroes at Loftus. With a tongue-in-the cheek, augmented by a serious, look at what the Bulls stand and strive for, Bulls centre William Small-Smith looks at some of his colleagues and compares them to the Superheroes such as Thor, Superman, Jack Frost and the likes. He draws an interesting comparison between these super heroes and Bulls who are working and grinding to be the heroes people want and need them to be. Keeping these Bulls and Blue Bulls players fit is an art of its own. Sports scientist Lee-Anne Diab, who has daily contact with the players, explains some of the secrets in her second column on rugby science. In this issue of BLOU there is also a look at the World Cup and the wings fighting it out for a berth in the tournament team; and Dan Lombard explains how coach Nollis Marais must balance his Vodacom Cup player preferences with the demands from other competitions. Dan, who is also the man who looks at laws and law issues, this time discusses the suggestion that there should be two referees in the Super Rugby matches. The Bulletjie rugby day early in May was yet another rousing success, and is the focus in the column of the BBRU CEO Eugene Hare.
PUBLISHERS: BLUE BULLS COMPANY (Pty) Ltd Shanil Mangaroo Managing Editor: Wim van der Berg GRAPHIC DESIGN: Apple Undo ADVERTISING SALES: Eben Venter cell: 082 780 6674 P.O.Box 27856, Sunnyside, 0132 tel: 012 420 0700 e-mail: bloumag@bluebull.co.za JOURNALISTS: Dan Lombard, Adriaan Scheepers, Murray Marais, Willaim Small-Smith, Lee-Anne Diab PHOTO’S: Johan Rynners - johan@rynnersphotography.co.za (BBM) Beeld
TICKET OFFICE: 012 420 0700 WEBSITE: www.thebulls.co.za Copyright Š 2005 Blue Bulls Company (Pty) Ltd. The opinions expressed in the publication are not necessarily those of the Blue Bulls Company (Pty) Limited.
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? 8 www.thebulls.co.za
The Greeks had Hercules, the Vikings had Thor, the Americans had Superman and today we have all of these above; or at least their doppelgängers! Throughout history people have been fascinated by people with power that is out of this world power. Every superhero has a different origin, but they all made their believers believe that anything is possible and provided a glimmer of hope in troubling times. During the Second World War, heroes such as Captain America and Superman gave hope to many Americans by creating a character that could conquer the impossible, directed at their struggle against the Nazis. Today we don’t face a threat like that, but we do face
14 Super Rugby sides determined to battle for ultimate glory! And just as in the past, heroes have heard our call! Jacques du Plessis is the closest thing to the Norse legend Thor, with the same muscular physique, long blond hair and a mighty hammer! Of course, Jacques does not carry a physical hammer, but being hit by the 115kg monster of a man, one might prefer a hammer! It is said that Jacques power stems from his long blond hair and that when he gets mad, thunder shoots from his arms! Another superhero living amongst us as a commoner, but who originated far away on Krypton, is Jessie Kriel. It is still not known if
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he is man or machine, demi-god or human.
to be.
All that is known is that Jessie is made of a compound harder than steel; that he can fly after giving his unique side-step; and that his only weakness, Kryptonite, is not found on earth! Some might say he’s Superman!
The hammer of Thor gives whoever is worthy the power of Thor. Being worthy does not mean never failing, it means continuing to fight no matter the consequence. It means giving hope and courage to those who need it through the way they conduct themselves.
Jack Frost, the original “Snow Day” creator, has hair as white as snow whose goal is to make people laugh and enjoy a fun day out playing in the snow! Tiaan Schoeman copied Jack Frost’s hairstyle, but when one sees how he lights up his playgrounds – the rugby field and Presley’s dance floor – you might think Jack and Tiaan to be one. It is true that Jacques, Jessie, Tiaan and the rest of the Vodacom Bulls team might look like some of the fictional superheroes of the past, but of course they are not these characters. Instead they are living examples of people reaching and working and grinding to be the heroes people want and need them 10 www.thebulls.co.za
People tend to draw strength from other people’s strengths, and in such a manner the Vodacom Bulls team hopes and works to be a pillar of strength to its supporters. If I had to pick an all-time rugby team made out of superheroes, the Hulk would be my prop, Wolverine my flank, the Flash my wing and Iron Man my Fullback. But all of those heroes combined could never do what the Vodacom Bulls strive to do. These heroes might star on the big screen or in a book, but the Vodacom Bulls strive to give hope in your everyday life. The Vodacom Bulls strive to be the heroes you want them to be.
GET YOUR VERY OWN SEAT AT LOFTUS FOR LIFE Introducing the new Bulls Seat for Life:
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Get yours for just R155 per month! SMS “TLC” to 43129 for a call back. Standard SMS rates apply.
www.thebulls.co.za 11
12 www.thebulls.co.za
by Dan Lombard THE Blue Bulls success, with just three wins in the 18 years of the Vodacom Cup competition, has at first glance been rather modest compared to their success in the Currie Cup and that of the Bulls in the Super Rugby competitions over the years. The Vodacom Cup is the third strongest competition in South Africa behind Super Rugby and Currie Cup. All fourteen unions participate as well as international teams such as Pampas XV (Argentina), Welwitschias (Namibia) and Simba Tusker (Kenya). The Limpopo Blue Bulls, a sub-union of the Blue Bulls, have participated in the competition since 2013. A possible explanation for the Blue Bulls lack of titles is the balancing of the player resources they have at their disposal. Head coach, Nollis Marais, has the arduous task of scraping together players week by week and turning them into a competitive team. “Coaching the Vodacom Cup team is very challenging. The competition runs simultaneously with the Varsity Cup and Super Rugby. There are a handful of players who are not part of the Super Rugby squad. The rest all train with the Super Rugby squad for the majority of the week. “This means we usually get the players on a Thursday and have one or two sessions of preparation before we play.” “Because we are a feeder team to Super Rugby we have to deal with sudden changes. Last year we were told two hours before kickoff that a player had to be excluded as he was needed in New Zealand. “We will do the video sessions as coaches, select two or three things and try to thrash them out in a session or two. We always battle in the initial weeks of the competition as the guys try to settle so we try to have a bit
of consistency in selection to aid the process.” The Varsity Cup has become a high profile competition on the South African rugby calendar. It provides an entertaining brand of rugby and is a breeding ground for young talent to excel. Marais was the man at the helm when UP-Tuks won back to back titles in 2012 and 2013. Nowadays he serves as a consultant to UP-Tuks head coach Pote Human. The Varsity Cup adds a different dimension to Marais’ responsibilities. “There is a massive balancing act involved. We need to send out the strongest possible teams twice a week. Varsity Cup selection is a bit easier as the players have to be students which cuts the pool to select from down. www.thebulls.co.za 13
Teams from the Vodacom Cup South section didn’t have to deal with this issue as their season started three weeks after ours and as the Varsity Cup was wrapping up.” “A positive is that it provides management the opportunity to identify talent that we would not otherwise have noticed. Guys like Kefentse Mahlo and Jade Stiglingh started out as Varsity Cup players and were never part of our Vodacom Cup plans. Their performances forced us to change our minds.” The Vodacom Cup is not just used by the Blue Bulls to develop talent but a place where some players rejuvenate their careers or experience their twilight seasons. Marais has an unwavering mentality when it comes to his players’ attitude towards the team. “We have our own structures that we put in place at Vodacom Cup level. It is sometimes
14 www.thebulls.co.za
difficult as Vodacom Cup is seen as a lesser competition by the players so we try and let them see that it can be a good platform.” “I have one rule. If you play for me you play your heart out. The players always have a choice. Frans (Ludeke) and I agree that players must be committed. I have carte blanche when it comes to selection. I would much rather give a player who wants to work hard in the shadows an opportunity than a hero who thinks the world owes him a favour. I’m fortunate not to have experienced a player like that in all my time at the Bulls.” Nollis Marais and his coaching team have to deal with many issues and challenges that coaches at other levels don’t have. That does not stop them from fielding the best possible team each and every week. Under Marais the Vodacom Cup will remain an important competition for him and his charges.
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www.thebulls.co.za 15
To wing or not to
wing? by Murray Marais ONE of the most debated issues in rugby this year, and not only in Pretoria, was the best position for Vodacom Bulls player Francois Hougaard. The decision by the versatile player, who has played with great success at scrumhalf for the Springboks in 2014 and played at outside centre for the Vodacom Blue Bulls earlier in his career, to concentrate on wing duties in 2015 was initially frowned upon by most. Not that there was doubt about the friendly player’s ability to wing it, but there was concern about the rather bleak picture of scrumhalves available to light up back-line play. This concerned the national team in particular with RWC 2015 approaching. But Hougaard found his groove with ease while out on the wing. His revelled in the extra space, the freedom to roam and pop up anywhere on the field; and yes, the opportunity to score tries soon brought back the permanent smile on the face that had 16 www.thebulls.co.za
some frowns for the last two seasons or so. The Bulls website states that ‘when Hougaard plays well, the Vodacom Bulls normally play well’ and it proved to be exactly like that. Hougaard’s work rate has always been a strong virtue in his play and with the new-found freedom to roam, he could do even more in 2015. But will those inspiring performances on the wing take him to the World Cup in a couple of months? In fact, if so, some people argue, it will still be at scrumhalf, where he hardly played this year, with the wing performances just adding to the established notion that he is a great all-round player and could be fulfilling the ‘utility back’ role for Heyneke Meyer. We will have to wait and see. Much of the debate is not whether Hougaard is good enough to play wing for the Springboks. Of course he is. The question is rather who he should replace. South Africans fans have been spoilt for many years to have the great Bryan Habana on the wing. Even approaching the end of a magnificent career, the Toulon-based winger is still mixing it with the best. He should be a shoe-in for England in September and will in fact be one of the key players for Meyer, as his European experience will add to the strings in the team’s bow.
wing could well be doing midfield duties for the Boks at the RWC. Playing in the 14 jersey in that same Nelspruit test match was Cornal Hendricks, probably the world’s stand-out test match rookie in the world in 2014. The former Blitzbok just took test match rugby in his stride and delivered. He took his opportunities well and finished the season as one of the best Springboks of 2014. Things did not go that well for him in 2015. It seems that he fell out of favour of departing Toyota Cheetahs coach Naka Drotske. How much his reported move to either the Bulls, Sharks or Stormers has impacted on Drotske’s decision is unclear, but it is doubtful that Meyer will turn his back on Hendricks who served him so well in 2014. Losing form and after that also your Bok spot is something try-scoring Bulls ace Bjorn Basson knows all about. He has been there before. A very strong 2015 season for the Pretoria
Ditto for his regular Springbok partner out on the wing, JP Pietersen. Also part of the Springbok backline for many years, the Sharks player has this amazing ability to bring it on when in green and gold. He has almost slipped off the radar while playing in Japan for long periods, but one just needs to think back to Nelspruit last year to recall how devastating the long-striding Pietersen can be. He did that playing at 13 though and with the number of strong contenders on the www.thebulls.co.za 17
team has pushed his claims for RWC inclusion and depending on the way Meyer is going to approach the world tournament tactically, Basson might just be on route to England. The winger is now physically at the top end of this abilities and playing great rugby. He is fully fit with no niggles and is reminding all just why he became a Springbok and a record try-scorer for the Bulls in the first place. His ability in the air remains the best in the country and he is playing with lots of energy, with his running meters stats the best in years. More importantly, Basson is scoring tries again and that brought a swagger to his play that was missing for the last couple of seasons. There are not many wings in South Africa as dangerous as Basson with ball in hand and no one remotely as good in aerial play. Basson clearly worked hard during the offseason and returned stronger and fitter than ever before. A weakness in his game has been his defence (or rather lack of it), but a mind shift has changed that. He has been
18 www.thebulls.co.za
strong on defence and amongst the best on attack this season. Will this form be enough to see him forcing his way back into the Bok squad? I believe so. There are a number of other very credible names in this conversation. Incumbents include Lwazi Mvovo, who keeps on delivering solid performances for the Springboks when called upon. The winger can also play fullback, just as incumbent fullback Willie le Roux can be moved to the wing if required. There is also a strong case to be made for JJ Engelbrecht to move one channel wider and wing it. The Cape Town crowd will certainly expect you to bring up Seabelo Senatla in the conversation as well, and not without merit. Fact is, Hougaard and Basson did enough to be considered serious RWC contenders. And one only hope those efforts will be rewarded.
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BULLS TV IS HERE! BlueBulls TV, a South African first, delivers a unique mobile TV content offering, available on mobile phones via www.bluebullstv.mobi. The unique mobile TV offering takes fans behind the scenes at the Vodacom Bulls and Blue Bulls, offering exclusive insight into the workings of one of the country’s most-successful rugby teams.
Delivering ‘Everything but the game’, Blue Bulls TV will give the country’s most passionate fans the chance to get to know the players, coaches and everyone associated with Blue Bulls with unprecedented ease.
BlueBulls TV’s unique content, created specifically for mobile devices, gives fans the chance to hear and see what goes on off the pitch in ‘Locker Room Chat’; meet the team behind the team with‘Inside the Bulls’; learn about the medical side of things with ‘Ask the Doc’; experience a super-fan perspective with ‘Fan Cam’; plus many more exciting video-ondemand (VOD) channels.
Log on to www.bluebullstv.mobi and get closer to the action than ever before.
BLOU MENSE 22 www.thebulls.co.za
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OPEL CORSA… PERFECT EVOLUTION! by Shanil Mangaroo In the late 90’s, Opel launched a small little hatch called the Corsa, an overall cost effective little city runner that was the perfect ‘starter-car’. For those of us who can actually remember that far back, or were even allowed to drive, you’ll probably also recall the hilarious ad campaign that involved two animated characters, Raj 1 and Raj 2, with their strong yet entertaining accents. A campaign relative to a product targeted to the young and playful market. Almost 20 years later, the guys from Hatfield GM found another pair with almost equally strong accents to comment on the new 2015 Corsa… there is certainly a sweet irony about this whole situation. This little beauty has certainly evolved over the years into a car that the brand can truly be proud of. Opel have released three editions: the Essentia, Enjoy and Cosmos, ranging form R185 500 to R236 300. We got to drive the COSMO edition, which is considered the top of the range. As with the other two options it is powered by a more than adequate 1,0 liter
24 www.thebulls.co.za
turbo charged engine, giving the driver amazing economy, while allowing the turbo to deliver just the right amount of grunt (85kw at 170NM) to have a bit of fun.
new Opel Corsa’s Bi-Xenon headlights (Cosmo only). The integrated cornering lights give you a better view of what’s ahead while the Opel LED Daytime Running Lights make sure you are seen.
Even though I must admit that the Corsa was never built for a family of rugby players, I must certainly mention that the interior does not bring on a strong case of claustrophobia. It is in fact rather decently spacey… up front anyway. Enough for two larger than normal sized adults, and perhaps two children, or dwarf-midgets – which ever may be at your disposable – to fill up the back seat.
A few additional amazing bits of innovation: • Advanced Park Assist detects open parking spaces and computes the perfect maneuver. Simply select forward or reverse, step on the accelerator or brake pedal and park like a Pro (optional on Opel Corsa Enjoy and Cosmo models). • Stay in control on slippery, slick or dirt roads in the new Opel Corsa with ESP Plus. The Hill Start Assist will also prevent you from rolling backwards when you take your foot off the brake. • CITY MODE - Driving through the city has never been this efficient and effortless. The Opel Corsa has speed-dependent electric power steering that adds precision, while saving you fuel at the same time. When parking or maneuvering at low speeds, the City Mode button is also there to assist.
The highlight of the vehicle for me has to be the 7” Intellelink entertainment centre, which is pre-loaded with Stitcher, TuneIn and a Navigation App. From the outside, the Corsa draws you closer with its uniquely sculpted contours and sporty looks. From the motorsport inspired grille, precision headlights and flowing rooflines, to the powerful rear proportions, the Opel Corsa is easy on the eye from every angle. Exceptional night vision comes standard with the
The guys at Opel have really gone the extra mile to take what started of as a basic ‘starter-car’ for students, and evolve it into something special.
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SCIENCE OF THE GAME A DAY’S training at Loftus starts early morning, with the players being divided by the conditioning personnel into pairs/playing position for their gym sessions. This ensures that the players, who are grouped/ paired for particular reasons, get the necessary individual attention. Now I will write a little about how the players take care of their bodies. Foam rolling is an expression used for selfmassage, which is, if you want to use the fancy term, “self-myofascial release.” The importance of foam rolling and stretching with a resistance band on a daily basis is verified by the fact that it is used by professional athletes to release muscle tightness daily. Foam rolling: At the crux of it is the application to specific points on your body which aids the recovery of muscles and assists in returning them to normal function. Normal function means your muscles are elastic, healthy, and ready to perform. When foam rolling, or working on tight/sore muscles, players will experience discomfort or pain – much like the pain you get while stretching. It should be uncomfortable, but not unbearable, and when done the muscles should 28 www.thebulls.co.za
feel better. The advantage of self-myofascial release provides the player with the ability to control the healing and recovery process himself by applying pressure in precise locations. The player, after all, is the only one who can feel exactly what is happening. Releasing the trigger points helps to re-establish proper movement patterns and pain free movement. This ultimately enhances performance. Stretching alone is not always enough to release muscle tightness, which is why foam rolling is of high importance and a handy tool to make use of. As a practical example, imagine a bungee cord with a knot tied into it, and then envision stretching the cord. This creates tension, stretching the unknotted portion of the muscle and the attachment points. The knot, however, has remained unaltered. Foam rolling can assist in breaking up these muscle knots, resuming normal blood flow and function. The goal to any corrective or recovery technique is after all to get the player back to the point of normal functioning, and that can be
done by using foam rolling Use of the foam roller: • Apply moderate pressure to a specific muscle/ muscle group using the roller and your bodyweight • Roll slowly, no more than one inch per second • Pause for several seconds and relax as much as possible on tight areas. You should slowly start to feel the muscle releasing, and after 5-30 seconds the discomfort or pain should lessen • Drink plenty of water, get enough sleep, and eat clean. This will help to flush your system and fuel your muscles more effectively. Give
it 24-48 hours before focusing on the same area again. Resistance band stretches: This is a great addition to any strength training routine or rehabilitation program and used by players on a daily basis. The bands provide variable isotonic resistance As resistance changes throughout the range of motion, the exercise bands come in a range of resistance levels – from highly stretchable to heavy-duty strength for various uses, i.e. basic stretching, running-band-speed exercises and the likes.
#WomanInAMansWorld #StayTrueToTheBlue www.thebulls.co.za 29
FROM
THE
CENTRE
Fearful vs
Fearless by William Small-Smith WAYNE Gretzky, regarded by many as the greatest hockey player ever, once said: “You miss 100% of the shots you don’t take.” For someone who played 20 seasons in the NHL to say that gets one thinking… It’s not that Wayne didn’t know how to shoot; he is the leading point’s scorer in NHL history. So why then did he sometimes not take the shot? I believe fear plays a big part in it. Fear in sport differs from dangers in sport. Fear exists only in one’s mind over a future scenario that might happen and which you are afraid of, while danger is the present obstacles you face. People tend to spend so much time in fear that it consumes their mind and affects their actions. Playing sport, whether its rugby or hockey, while 30 www.thebulls.co.za
in a state of fear is like trying to swim without your arms. It constricts your thoughts and talents and before you know it, you end up not taking the shot because you fear the possibility that you might fail. Now some of you might think I’m exaggerating. But, for one moment put yourself in a defensive line and Sonny Bill Williams is running towards you. Those three seconds before you collide are enough for your head to fabricate the possible outcome – and if you don’t like what you think and fear takes a hold of you, you’re not going to make the best possible decision for the present danger heading your way. Fear affects our ability to handle danger. Wayne’s quote reminds us that, while we might fail, we fail every single time we don’t even try.
It means that fear wins when we decide to not take the shot. Now in professional sport today spectators expect us to never fail, thus we don’t try what we don’t know for certain will work. But what would we try and do if we knew we could not fail? What would we attempt to do if we realise that failing while trying something new is better that not trying at all? It is only when we realise that we have to try regardless of whether we succeed that we become fearless. When we realise that the fear we feel we put on ourselves, we are able to break the chains, we are able to swim using our arms, and we are able to take the shot!
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Professional support
a strap in the righ A Vodacom Super Rugby tour to Australasia is always testing on a team. The Vodacom Bulls travelled a total of 21 198km over the four week period. The total time in transit was just over 50 hours. Among a mass of other luggage and equipment, the team carried just over 2000 roles of Leuko strapping tape and other products from the BSN range.
OFFICIAL STRAPPING SPONSOR TO THE NATIONAL RUGBY, SOCCER AND HO
The tips discussed in this article are those used by the Vodacom Bulls and Blue Bulls physiotherapist. All sporting injuries should be taken very seriously – and one should always consult a professional as soon as poss Leuko Sports Strapping is endorsed by the South African Society Of Physiotherapy.
ht direction
OCKEY TEAMS
sible.
RUGB Y RU L E S
two refs,
or better refs? by Dan Lombard
THIS column deals with the vast and complicated laws that govern the game we love. It is our contention that these laws have in recent times failed the rugby players and the public. In this issue, therefore, we look at the implementation and understanding of the laws. These appear to be the two main reasons for causing confusion.
Rather than having yet another official on the field, he argues that better referees are needed, not more.
He uses the scrum, the greatest cause for disruption, penalties and lack of flow, as an example of how the workload can be divided among the officials already part of the game’s control. Bringing the nearest assistant referee onto the field to the other side than where the ref is standing makes perfect sense, because it is invariably the side of the scrum that collapses, he writes.
In recent times, especially after the cases of refereeing shambles that Sanzar has clamped down on in mid-May, there have been many suggestions of how the present unhappiness can be allayed.
Will that solve the problem of better referees? Because the question remains: will the scrum laws be uniformly?
One of them is the proposal that the two-ref system should be employed. It is working well in the Varsity Cup competition and did so years ago when he Maties first trialed the system in their Koshuis rugby at Stellenbosch. But at professional level there are more factors to consider than in the above competitions.
The matter of TMO’s who have taken over more and more of the decision making is probably easier to resolve.
Rugby, writes the experienced Spiro Zavos on the website theroar.com.au, already has three referees – a field referee and two assistants on the side lines. There is of course also the TMO’s who he feels are increasingly trying to take over the referee’s function. 34 www.thebulls.co.za
After all, uniformity is at the very root of the confusion.
Savoz’s example of how Craig Joubert (who he calls the best the referee in the world), seems to have much merit. Joubert tells the TMO what he is seeing and then acts on it. The referee, after all, is the man who should make the decisions on the field.
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publisher/redaktuer
BLOU: 2015 Vodacom
Bulletjie Day FUTURE Blue Bulls and Springboks accompanied by their parents, grandparents, uncles, aunts, brothers and sisters stormed Loftus Versfeld on May 9 for the annual Vodacom Loftus Bulletjie Day.
BBRU, the Blue Bulls Company and the main event sponsor Vodacom. A big thank you also goes to Afgri, Isuzu and ABI who were also involved in the event, the first year of involvement for AFGRI and Isuzu.
This year was Bulletjie Rugby’s 22nd year of existence and a record day was hosted by the
This year’s Bulletjie Day attracted children and schools from all over the Greater Tshwane
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region to attend one of the world’s largest gatherings of mini rugby players. “In 2014 we had roughly 5100 children participating while in 2015 a record breaking 5839 young participants from over 100 schools attended the event,” says Riaan Langenhoven, the Bulletjie management’s chairperson. Matches kicked off at 08:00 on the Saturday morning. Each of the teams played a minimum of 2 matches during the day in Under-6 to Under-8 boys and girls age groups, with the final matches of the event only starting at 17:15. All three of the outside fields of Loftus Versfeld were used for the future stars. These fields were also divided into smaller regulation size grids to ensure every single champion gets a fair amount of playing time on the historic Fortress Loftus. There were roughly 1 000 children from the
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black communities participating in the event. And the feedback from the BBC and the BBRU was as positive as the experience of the participants and their families of supporters: “The children cannot wait to come to Loftus, it’s absolutely the highlight of the year for them and Bulletjie Rugby.” – Marguerite Prinsloo, Vodacom Bulletjie Day coordinator: Blue Bulls Company. “Bulletjie Rugby is an amazing beginner platform for future rugby stars. This Vodacom Bulletjie Day was special as it hosted the most players. The parent and family involvement was once again an outstanding feature which is such an important component in any youngster’s rugby career. “Bulletjie Rugby is healthy and is the largest mini rugby programme in South Africa.” – Johan Schoeman, BBRU: General Manager Department Game Development and founder of Bulletjie Rugby.
BECOME MORE THAN JUST A FAN. BE A PART OF THE FAMILY! JOIN the Vodacom Bulls Supporters Club and get these exclusive benefits: • VIP Stadium experience through your NFC supporter card: - Supporters Club Chill Zone, PLUS FREE beer (Pre-game at selected matches) - Electronic (Ticketless) stadium • Invitation to special supporter events giving you the opportunity to meet the players and get the chance to collect as many signatures as you like • Entry to win game tickets, merchandise and many other supporter prizes • Discounts on Tsogo Sun accommodation, Puma merchandise • Official Blue Bulls supporter cap after 3 months membership • Monthly BLOU E-Magazine and much much more... Full benefit schedule at www.bluebulls.co.za (T&Cs apply)
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