The new-look Grootuitdaag Top12 competition – The Sanlam Boland Top12 – has left an indelible mark on the community of Boland. Let us take a look at twelve significant facts of this year’s competition.
Photo credit: Nasief Manie
1 – First time that Safcol United qualified for the prestigious Grootuitdaag Top12 – the Sanlam Boland Top12 – and they went all the way unbeaten claiming the coveted Sanlam Boland Top12 trophy.
2 – Only two teams – Safcol United and Robertson – were unbeaten ahead of the final.
3 – Three trophies that Safcol United have won in the 2023 season.
4 – Number of finals (four) – Grootuitdaag (Sanlam Boland Top12), Gemeenskapskild, Streekuitdaag, and Dames – contested on 2 December in Wellington.
5 – Five Robertson Town players named in the Sanlam Boland Top12 – Team of the Tournament. Jashierie Karriem, Gurshwin Africa, Jovelian de Koker, Curtly Timm, and Jumainuine Arendse.
6 – Top try-scorers scored six tries – three players feature on this list. Matthew van der Westhuizen, Gavern Skippers (both from Wesbank), and Wildon Marsh (Darling).
Photo credit: Tersia van der Westhuizen
7 – Seven weeks of intense travelling and playing. Five weeks of round-robin matches, including two weeks of semi-finals and final, in which no two teams from the respective Grootuitdaag regions played against each other in the pool match stages.
8 – Eight Boland club rugby semi-final matches streamed on SuperSport Schools App on 25 November, across four different leagues and divisions
9 – Safcol United is the ninth Boland champion. Wellington, Roses, Rawsonville, Ceres, Saldanha, Villagers Worcester, Hawston, and Robertson are all previous winners.
10 – Lehnrho Julies, Safcol United number 10 is the Sanlam Boland Top12 top point scorer on 84 points.
11 – 11,000 the number of supporters that attended the finals on 2 December in Wellington.
12 – Number of clubs out of 64 Grootuitdaag that qualified for the Sanlam Boland Top12.