MasterCard Pirates Women’s Grand Challenge returns

5 May 2021 - Tshepiso Mametela

The MasterCard Pirates Women’s Grand Challenge makes a scheduled return to play on 8 May with the Wits Rugby Women vying for a solid showing in their debut campaign.

Founded in 2019, the new kids on the block heralded a historic chapter for women’s participation in rugby at the University when they appeared in the USSA 7’s and subsequent Golden Lions 7’s Tournament, before the Covid-19 pandemic wreaked havoc on the 2020 season on the way to rendering it null and void.

But armed with the resolve of experienced campaigners, the newbies have no plans of playing second fiddle when they navigate the women’s game in their first-ever Grand Challenge.

Describing what an ideal campaign would be for the still wet behind the ears Wits Rugby Women here, the team’s manager, Amanda Dukada, said striving to win their games and also having fun while at it will be first prize.

“To win at least four or five of our league fixtures.

To make the girls show unity as a team and to go out and have fun. We are still new but the desire to play is there ...

“[Also] we are far behind the other teams but with everyone’s willingness and desire to learn and play this beautiful game, we can make a success of the season,” explained Dukada.

“In 2019, we were still very much new to this game of rugby and our numbers were fewer. The timeframes before the two tournaments we played in were quite short and we didn’t really have the time to prepare well.

“I think we will be a much stronger outfit come 8 May when we play our first league game but results are definitely not our main focus. Our focus is to develop a healthy, determined and disciplined team that will have a never say die attitude.”

Commenting on his side’s preparations, the team’s coach, Marius Adams, lamented the bevy of challenges the plucky group of novices have had to contend with but said their grit and determination remained absolute.

“It’s been tough as first phase of return to rugby was all about fitness and strength and conditioning exercises. We all had to adapt to the Covid restrictions at training,” said Adams.

Coach Marius Adams

“It was an unusual return for us under the conditions because normally, at this point, we would have already had a couple of warm-up games behind us. However, the spirit in the team is exceptionally high despite all the challenges.

“We lost players and valuable training time to enhance skills. Our playes are still very rusty, which is expected ... [However] we are in a rebuilding and development stage as it is a new group.

“Our focus will largely be to ease ourselves into the league — keeping to the structures and slowly building on our strategy and gameplan as the season progresses. The well-being of our players will be of utmost importance.”

In terms of personnel, Adams said a full complement to go on was available. He hopes the game situations his players will be cast into will enhance their confidence as the side moves forward in the competition.

“I’m very happy with our training sessions, so far. The true test will, obviously, be when we play in game situations. I’m confident each player has the ability to give their best and to play together as a team.

“We will continue to work hard on our fitness, strength and skill levels during our training sessions. Our culture is: ‘No negativity, it’s all about the team’. More importantly, if we stick to our game plans, the rest will undoubtedly follow.”

Chardele Williamson, who captains and plays prop for the Wits women, said the goals are clear as the institution aims to punch above its weight despite their newbies status.

“We want to improve on our current skill set and learn as much as possible about the game, from not only our coaching team, but also the well-established teams we will be playing against.

“As we are a relatively new team and sport at Wits, with many in-experienced players, progress and learning is top of the list for us,” said the skipper.

Right wing, Thato Thema, described wearing the Wits colours in the MasterCard Pirates Women’s Grand Challenge as “an honour”. “This is mostly because I did not think I would be able to play competitively after I shattered my anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) and medial meniscus in 2015.

“More so, I love the team we are about to be. We have put in the hours and I am looking forward to wearing the Wits colours with my team ... We are a diverse group that is still learning to play with each other,” said Thema.

Wits Women's Rugby Team at training