Johan Melenephy, the beloved superfan of Darling Rugby Club, captivates the hearts and embodies the spirit of the #BlackMagicFaithful. Meestertjie as he is better known has an unwavering dedication, and vibrant passion, and holds a firm and sound presence at every home match.
With the black and white Darling flag proudly waving from his designated parking spot, he passionately supports the team, stating that his commitment stems from a deep-rooted love for rugby and a desire to uplift the players and community.
“As a resolute supporter of Darling Rugby Club since its inception, my passion for the sport is deeply rooted,” Melenephy said. “Having played as a loose forward and centre during my school days and witnessing the legendary rivalry between Staffie of Young Stars and Dikkop of Swallows during the Young Stars’ glory years is something I remember to this day.
“A very fond memory among years of some excellent moments that I have enjoyed.”
For Meestertjie, being Darlings’ superfan is not just about cheering from the sidelines; it is about enjoying a sense of unity and pride in the club, inspiring both players and fans alike to share in the joy of the game.
“With a rich history of competitive spirit since the 1970s, I have made it a tradition to attend every Saturday match and proudly represent a club that not only has remarkable and very proud athletes but also inspires our youth to pursue rugby excellence.
“I am grateful to the players who honour our club’s legacy and to the community that unwaveringly supports them, with a special thanks to our Heavenly Father for guiding us.”
Gebore en getoë in Paarl, die jongste van twee kinders, Colin April lei die span as kaptein in die klub se geskiedkundige eerste buiging in die Sanlam Boland Top 12.
‘n Kranige losvoorspeler, word April se vroeë jare gekenmerk deur ‘n diepgewortelde passie vir sport, spesifiek rugby, wat uiteindelik gelei het tot vele suksesvolle hoogtepunte. Hy matrikuleer by Hoërskool Labori in Paarl in 2014. Dit was daar waar April werklik sy stempel begin afgedruk het en sy uitsonderlike talent en leierskapsvaardighede op skoolvlak se rugbyverhoog ten toon gestel het.
Hy word ook as Rugbyspeler van die jaar aangewys in sy laaste jaar op skool en boonop vaar hy goed in die Cravenweek proewe, maar as gevolg van ‘n besering, kniehalter dit sy kanse om verder te vorder.
Die jaar daarna word hy gekies in die Boland onder-19 span om deel te neem aan die Curriebeker 1ste Divisie, waar hy baie goed gevaar het.
As gevolg van die goeie spelpeil, nooi Boland hom in 2016 na die Boland Rugby Instituut, waar hy as die eerste keuse beskou was om die skrum van agter te beheer. Hy speel vir die Boland onder-20 span en na ‘n puik seisoen moes hulle die knie buig teen die Griffons onder-20 manne, dit na tawwe eindstryd wat die manne van die Wes-Kaap verloor.
“Dit was ‘n groot voorreg om vir Boland in beide ouderdomsgroepe te verteenwoordig en om my talente op ‘n provinsiale vlak ten toon te stel,” het April gesê.
In 2018 toets Colin die waters in die Westelike-Provinsie (WP) en sluit aan by sy tuisdorpklub, Paarl Rugby Voetbalklub (RVK), onder die afrigting van die ervare Herman Masimla, en speel ‘n groot rol om gekroon te word as die WP Superliga B kampioene. Hy ontvang ook in daardie jaar die Voorspeler met die beste vordering.
Gedurende hierdie tyd beywer hy homself as ‘n B-Tech (in Koste- en Bestuursrekeningkunde) student aan die Kaapse Skiereiland Universiteit van Tegnologie (KSUT). In sy finale jaar, in 2019, verteenwoordig hy KSUT in die Varsity Shield en maak geskiedenis om die beker te wen vir die eerste keer. April eindig ook die seisoen as een van die kompetisie se top drieëdrukkers en word by KSUT se jaareind-funksie as die Voorspeler van die Jaar aangewys.
April meld aan in 2023 by Newtons Rugby Voetbalklub en met die intrapslag na ‘n paar vriendskaplike wedstryde agter die rug sien afrigter Nazeem Jooste sy potensiaal as leier en kies hom as die eerste span kaptein.
Hy beleef ‘n betowerende seisoen en in sy eerste jaar word hy aangewys as Rugbyspeler van die Jaar en gesamentlike top drieëdrukker. Een van die hoogtepunt tydens hierdie seisoen was ‘n driekuns teen die magtige Roses United. Newtons mis egter die geleentheid om vir die Sanlam Boland Top 12 te kwalifiseer. Maar, in 2024 lyk die prentjie heeltemal anders en die span, onder die leiding van April, word as die Witsentraal liga kampioene gekroon en maak sodoende geskiedenis om vir die eerste keer in die klub se geskiedenis te kwalifiseer vir die Sanlam Boland Top 12.
Colin sê: “Dit was nie net ‘n spanpoging nie, maar die toewyding en harde werk van die klub as ‘n geheel het ‘n groot bydra tot die sukses van klub gelei. Ons kan nie die Bombela supporters vergeet nie want sonder hulle ondersteuning, veral in tye wat dinge nie altyd in ons guns gegaan het nie, het hulle ons deur gedra met hul ontwrikbare en lojale ondersteuning.
“Ons eerste van twee doelwitte vir 2024 was om die liga te wen. Daai boksie is gecheck. Nou gaan ons vir ons die tweede een, en dit is om die Sanlam Boland Top 12 beker bo ons koppe omhoog te lig.”
Young Spurs Rugby Football Club (Young Spurs), from Doornbaai, was established in 1986 when a group of teenagers decided to start a club. Through the years this club was faced with numerous challenges, including no sports grounds to call their own, when they did find a field with no floodlights, minimum sponsors, and transport challenges.
The Sanlam Boland Top 12 is unfamiliar territory for the club, but through diligent, dedicated, and hard-working efforts, Young Spurs believe that with the backing of their community, players, and management this team will be successful in the competition.
Doornbaai is situated about 400 km from Cape Town, on the West Coast of South Africa. This fishing community is dependent on the sea to make a living.
“There is a saying that can help me sum things up in our fishing village, and that is ‘the struggle is real’,” said Clayton Kordom, chairperson of Young Spurs. “The most effective way for the youth to escape the socio-economic challenges and bad peer pressure is through rugby. But through all the challenges we have managed to clinch the Noordweste Grand Challenge title in 2017 and again now in 2024.”
This is no mean feat given that the club, like many amateur clubs in South Africa, face so many challenges, but what makes it very special for them is the balance that exists within this group of players. During the non-racial SARU and SACOS era, Young Spurs produced a few provincial players.
“One of the main reasons for the success of our club is a well-balanced group of players with experience mixed with youth. A young and fresh management team. Our head coach Sameul van Rooyen has a never-say-die-attitude even when the going gets tough, he never gives up.
“His right-hand man, Eckard Warne has adopted this die-hard attitude and together they form a formidable coaching team.”
As the current Sanlam Boland Top 12 champions, Safcol United Rugby Football Club (Safcol) gear up for an exciting opening weekend of the competition, the atmosphere is electric with anticipation. In 2023, the team celebrated an incredible year, clinching titles including:
Overberg Challenge
Saldanha Super 8
Overberg Grand Challenge League Title
Sanlam Boland Top 12
This success was not just a testament to their hard work but also set a high bar for the excellent results they would enjoy from that point on.
“Fast forward to 2024, and we are proud to say we have successfully defended three out of four titles,” said Dimitri Jacobs, chairperson of Safcol United. “This weekend, however, we face a different challenge against Ceres as we kickstart our defence and aim to secure our last remaining title for the season.”
The Group of Death
Many have dubbed Group B as the “group of death.” The competition will be fierce, but the Safcol team is known to thrive on challenges. For the first time, they will face Ceres and Young Spurs—both formidable teams that promise to test their skills and resilience.
“We’re eager to revisit last year’s final against Robertson Town, but this time, it will be in their own backyard. Our other regular competitors are Darling and Saldanha Bay.”
#SeasonGoals
“Our main objective this year is clear: to defend all our titles and achieve back-to-back tournament titles. With the experience from last season fuelling our passion, we are prepared to face any obstacle. The spirit of teamwork and determination drives us forward, and we can’t wait to showcase our growth on the field.”
Nestled among rolling vineyards and sun-soaked fields of Darling exists a community-driven organisation, The Darling Rugby Club. For five years, like a proud lion prowling its territory, the club had fought bravely in the Sanlam Boland Top 12, but it had always seemed to fall just short of the ultimate prize. This year, however, there is a sense of change and hope that they will go the extra mile despite their tough fixture draw.
As the club gathered for their first training session of the competition, coaches barked commands that intermingled with laughter and camaraderie, fuelling the energy that electrified every young player. Their hearts were set, not just on competing but on conquering their darkest memories: last year’s agonising semi-final loss to Safcol United RFC, the reigning champions left them gutted, to say the least.
Captain Mitchum Fortuin, a stalwart of the team known for his leadership and resilience, gathered the players in a huddle. “This isn’t just another year,” he said. “This is our time! The ‘pool of death’ may have its formidable foes, but it also has us! We will harness our strength, our strategy, and our spirit. We will not just play; we will fight!”
His words ignited a passion and fire within each player. They know what is expected of them and that the path ahead will have many challenges, but they also recognise that every challenge presents an opportunity to grow stronger.
Redemption may come sooner rather than later, Safcol and Darling are both in Pool B, and the thought of getting the chance of a victory over the Sanlam Boland Top 12 champs is motivation enough.
The weeks of training for the competition were tough and the players were pushed, at times, beyond their limits. But these times helped solidify some strong bonds and helped perfect innovative tactics.
Following the practice session, the team would gather and end up sharing stories and dreams while enjoying a healthy, chocolate milk drink, proudly sponsored by Darling Romery. They are more than just teammates; they are brothers, united with a common goal.
As the tournament draws closer, the matches will be intense and fevered, each one a testament to their hard work and determination. The Darling Rugby Club will face teams that have underdog stories of their own, and with each match, the club will not only hope to bag the victory but win some hearts along the way as well. The community rallies behind them, and soon the stands will be filled with families and friends, cheering their beloved Darling charges reminding the players that they are never alone on this journey.
Excitement is contagious as last year’s semi-finalists prepare for the intense competition that lies ahead but they are determined to make a deep run and reach this year’s finals.
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.
Photo: Connor Mahoney in action in the 2023 Sanlam Boland Top 12. Photo credit: Sanlam Boland Top12 Media
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.
