Komani produces top rugby players

DESPITE rugby showing a decline locally and internationally, Komani keeps producing magnificent players each year. These players are snatched up by top provinces.
A couple of years ago, Komani used to be the Mecca of rugby in the region, competing with rugby destinations like East London.
Swifts-Police won the Border title many times, producing top players for the Border Bulldogs. In recent years, Swifts-Police, Breakers, Old Collegians and Progress played in the top tier league of Border.
Since then, Swifts-Police has ceased to exist, Progress now finds itself in the sub-union league and Old Collegians is plying its trade in the Premier League, after been relegated last year from the Super League. Breakers continue to be the top team in Komani and still play in the Super League.
Shining Stars also participates in the Premier League, resulting in only three competitive teams from Komani.
Queen’s College continue to be the beacon of hope for local schoolboy rugby, featuring consistently in the top 20 schools nationally.
The level of rugby at Hangklip has, sadly, also taken a nosedive. Gone are the days when a “derby” between Hangklip and Queen’s was a tight affair.
What is shocking is, while there is an abundance of talent in both teams, there is no team in the suburbs. What is more disheartening is the fact that there is no schoolboy rugby for the predominantly disadvan-taged schools. The schoolboy rugby league has collapsed with no Wednesday or Saturday matches. The Queenstown rugby Sub-Union, administrators and the teachers and coaches should be held responsible for this. There is much talent in the township schools, but a lack of resources and playing time means a lack of development.
Despite these factors and lots more, Komani has a vast representation in various provinces. Roelof Smit has been called up to the Springboks with his Blue Bulls teammate Joshua Stander doing well. Allan Dell will represent Scotland, while Simon Bolze has left Pretoria for Port Elizabeth. Justin Hollis is also on the books of the Kings, and so is Anda Ntsila, who is contracted to SWD.
Recently, players like Reagan Oranje, and Ferdinand Kelly started rising to prominence at junior rugby and Varsity Cup. With the abundance of talent locally, Komani can be a Mecca in rugby circles again but it seems the recent sports indaba has so far failed to yield the results.