by Eugéne Rosant
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.”