Nailbiting rugby action in Knysna

Gallery

KNYSNA RUGBY NEWS - The Titans Women's Rugby Academy (TWRA) held its annual Knysna 7s Rugby Tournament, which was inaugurated as a women's only tournament in 2013.

The 2018 event, however, saw the inclusion of a men's section for the first time, setting the stage for the birth of a new giant for sports tourism in Knysna while the women's section was postponed until the end of October.

The University of Western Cape who were crowned the 2018 USSA 7s champions a week ago were one of the teams hosted by the TWRA.

Four teams took part in the men's tournament after a few late withdrawals. UWC 7s team dominated the one-day event. Beating the other three teams with ease they qualified as the number 1 seed team for the semifinal against Young Roses from George, while the 2016 Knysna Plett 7s champs Greater Knysna Titans finished group stages as second seed, losing only against UWC.

UWC edged Young Roses to advance to the final with Sedgefield Eagle Stars causing a huge upset, by beating the former Knysna-Plett 7s champs GK Titans in their semifinal.

Everyone expected a one-sided final with the destructive, undefeated UWC team taking on Sedgefield Eagle Stars who only managed one victory from three matches in the group stages.

Silver medalist Sedgefield Eagle Stars.

Eagle Stars, however, had a different idea. UWC scored two quick tries that made everyone believe the hammering is about to start, but Eagle Stars fought back. With about 30 seconds left in the game, trailing 26-21, they launched attack after attack inside the 22m area of the USSA 7s champs but a handling error by their star player saw the UWC team scoring on the other side of the field to secure the 2018 title with a 33-21 scoreline.

Click here for a photo gallery.

GK Titans forward player Maxwell Kiewitz running over a defender with Titans captain Radian Williams in close support.