Toti to host rugby beach spectacle

The predominant theme for the Oppi Beach festival is family and fun and what better way to get the community involved than the proposition of sun, sea, sand and rugby?

The South African Beach Rugby tournament is a full contact tackle tournament that will offer some great cash prizes and is open to teams at primary school, secondary school and open level.

Each team can have 10 players, five on the field and five on the bench, and will receive branded t-shirts and caps as well as other goodies from the event’s sponsors. Teams will, however, be responsible to supply their own jerseys and other required apparel.

Tournaments will start at 9.30am (this is subject to tides affecting the playing areas) and entries will be on a first come first serve basis.

On Day One, all games will be played in pools. Thereafter the pool winners and those placed second will play in a knockout competition for the Cup.

The third and fourth pool teams will play in a knockout competition for the Plate, the fifth and sixth pool teams will play in a knockout competition for the Shield and the bottom-placed teams will play for the Spoon.

“We found that beach rugby is huge overseas especially in countries like Spain, Italy and Mexico,” says Jannie Pretorius, a former well-known Transvaal rugby player and one of the event organisers.

“We decided to go that route because in South Africa you hear very little about beach rugby.”

Nel adds that, with beach rugby being a first of its kind in South Africa, it leans itself to becoming not only a local but a national event with games being played on all beaches.

Pretorius goes on to explain that the series is all about having fun and giving the opportunity to experience beach rugby on this level and environment.

“Although it will be a fun event, it will be competent as some great prizes await the winners.”

(File photo:Gallo Images)