Rugby clubs gearing up for 2023 season

GARDEN ROUTE NEWS - Rugby clubs up and down the Southern Cape are gearing up for the 2023 season which is set to kick off this weekend with home fixtures for each of the three Knysna/Plett/Sedgefield clubs in SWD Rugby's top two divisions.

The 2023 SWD Rugby club rugby season sees another change in the division names, only three years after they were changed in 2020 before the season was halted due to the Covid-19 pandemic.

As no rugby was played in 2021, only one season (2022) was played under the division names that had been adopted in 2020.

The Super League A (the old Premier League) division will retain the same name, while Super League B (the old President's League) will have its name changed to First Division A.

The First Division East and First Division West leagues will remain largely the same in name, but these will still change to First Division B East and First Division B West.

There is at least one Knysna, Sedgefield and/or Plettenberg Bay club playing in each of the three club divisions. In Super League A, Plettenberg Bay and the CX region is represented only by Jaguars, after the Sedgefield Eagle Stars were relegated from the league having finished last in 2022.

Eagle Stars (green and yellow) engage in a scrum against Crusaders last season.

Eagle Stars will now play in First Division A this year, alongside Knysna United who narrowly missed out on a play-off spot last season. Furthermore in First Division B West, Knysna/Plett will be represented by Bitou Rugby Club, who will once again make an effort to earn promotion, having also narrowly missed play-offs last year.

Of the four clubs, it's only Bitou who won't be in action this weekend as the two First Division B leagues get started in April. They played two friendly games on Saturday 11 March though, with the second team beating Plett United 19-11 and the first team beating Western Tigers 19-3.

Looking forward, all three Knysna/Plett teams in action this weekend will have home starts to their season. Jaguars will face Bridgton in Plettenberg Bay, Eagle Stars will welcome Spring Roses to Grassy Park in Smutsville and Knysna United will take on Thistles, with all games played on Saturday 18 March.

During the 2022 season, Franklin Plaatjies in action for Jaguars. Photos: Blake Linder