by Heinrich Robertson
Abbotsdale Rugby Club, one of the oldest rugby clubs in Boland, was crowned as the Swartland Grand Challenge Champions for 2024. The club, established in 1929, has a rich history in Boland club rugby having produced provincial rugby players both in the historic and modern era. Surnames such as Arendse, Fry, and Mahoney, to name a few, have become synonymous with Abbotsdale Rugby and bring back fond memories of the club’s rich history.
In 2005 the club was promoted to the well-known Boland Super League and managed to compete with the best clubs across Boland until the union changed the competition to the new geographical-based competitions.
It was during this era after 2005 when players such as Lauhan Arendse, Milroy Isaacs, Adam Barlow, Mario Fortuin and the late Alain Mahoney became household names across the Boland. More recently Harlon Klaasen went on to represent the Sanlam Boland Kavaliers, Western Province and Southern Kings before opting to continue his rugby career in France.
Harlon will represent Safcol United Rugby Club during the Sanlam Boland Top 12 competition in 2024. Connor Mahoney is another Abbotsdale-born player who represented Griquas in the Currie Cup and recently joined DHL Stormers for the 2024/2025 URC campaign.
The current Abbotsdale team, coached by Denna Koopman, have been performing very well in the Boland club rugby competitions for the last four years but failed to get over the line due to a lack of consistency.
During the 2024 season, the team hit a purple patch winning the Swartland Mayoral Cup, Thurlow March Easter Tournament, and the Swartland Grand Challenge title. Now the team will face off against some of the very best clubs in Boland when they represent the 95-year-old club on the biggest stage of club rugby in Boland. Their first fixture will be on 12 October 2024 when they face Vanrhynsdorp Eagles in a home fixture.