Former player turned coach aims to revive rugby at Strandfontein High

Strandfontein High School faced Fairmount Secondary in their first friendly rugby match of the season, in Grassy Park, last Saturday, winning 24-21. Despite going down by big margins against Spine Road High in their first boys’ and girls’ schools league matches a few day’s later, coach Leandi Smith is not too concerned, saying it’s been a while since Strandfontein fielded a rugby side.

The former SA under-20 player arrived at the school in January 2023 and immediately got the ball rolling to get a girls’ team off the ground.

“We only played two official matches under the Western Province Festival fixtures. Some of the challenges we experienced were getting sponsors for our first aid as we need our own for the rugby specifically, transport, some of the students don't have boots, protection gear and equipment,” she said.

Herself once a prolific player, Smith hung up her boots following an ankle injury in 2022 and decided switch her attention to coaching as soon as she started teaching at Strandfontein.

She is following in the footsteps of her mentor and coach, Jeanette Bailey, from Portland, whom she has known since her school days when she was coached by Bailey and former Princeton High rugby coach, the late Shafiek Murphy, from Westridge, who died in 2020. Over the years Bailey and Murphy laid the foundation to develop girls’ rugby in Mitchell’ Plain, producing a number of promising players like Smith and others who went on to earn provincial and national colours.

Now it’s her turn to work with the next generation of players, boys and girls and help to revive rugby at school. However, putting together a squad is a team effort. Thankfully, she said, with the help of fellow coaches Igshaan Carstens and Kurt Stigling, who joined earlier this year, and teachers Kirsty Kellerman, Bianca Campbell Dilyncia Eckhardt to assist with managing the teams and helping out with first aid, things are coming together slowly but surely.

On Saturday, four tries- three by hooker, Zolisa Langa, who is currently in matric, and Aiden Brooks, a Grade 9 pupil, plus two conversions from Rowan Harris helped them to a 24-21 victory against Fairmount after trailing 14 - 5 at the break. For Fairmount, Angelo Thys scored two tries. Juan Witbooi scored one try and converted all three tries.

Stigling joined the coaching staff when his nephew, a pupil at the school, showed an interest in playing. “Being a coach of a rugby club, I approached Ms Smith, when I heard that they'd be including the sport, and offered to lend a hand and assist with coaching,” he said.

“Things started quite slow, about a month ago, with only a few players showing interest, but it grew, and now we have a squad of approximately 25,” Stigling said.

“I am confident that the sport will grow, especially after Saturday's game, as there are a number of pupils, who fit the profile of rugby players, and just need more motivation and encouragement.”

His side got off to a shaky start against Fairmount but managed to regain their composure to steal the win, he said.

“Our boys seemed unsure of things in the first few minutes of the first half. Many of them had not played rugby before, so it would have been understood. Fairmount capitalised on the inexperience, and scored two quick tries, converting both.

“Once the boys got into the game, they started scoring, but couldn't take both conversions, so were a few points down, by half time.”

• If you’d like to assist the school in any way, call 081 045 0836.