Hoërskool Garsfontein have money and rugby ambition.
They look set to become a juggernaut amongst the Noordvaal co-eds in a few years time.
This year the Bere have an u14D team and expect to have the same in 2024 when they welcome more than 20 provincial u14’s who have already been confirmed as enrolled for next year. This number may still grow.
Their goal is to have four age-group teams from u14 up to u16 and at least six open team. That would be at least 18 rugby teams which could move the co-ed into new territory as they try to find opponents big enough to accommodate them. It might even mean leaving cup rugby behind one day.
However that is a bridge headmaster Leon Bantjes and his team will have to cross at some point in the future. For now the main focus is the Noordvaal Cup as Garsies remain on course for the opportunity to claim their third title and first since 2016.
I think the major thing is that senior school management has a collective and cohesive vision for the future.
There has been substantial changes in the Rugby Director and 1st team coaching positions over the last few years (With Rugbyman being the one constant), which is usually the antithesis of continued improvement, but the rugby program has gone from strength to strength.
A fish rots from the head (See DIE hoerskool up the road as a case in point), in Garsies case I believe the opposite to be true.
@Djou: ek glo hulle doen,Garsfontein was nog nooit n skool wat goed half half doen nie…..wel behalwe daai halwe rugby-krieket veld besigheid van julle ….maar ok spasie is maar min daar🤣🤣🤣🤣
@Smallies: Die skool werk hard daaraan. En dit sal groei oor tyd.
@Djou: ek is bly as dit die geval is ,dis baie belangrik dat die MANNE laer af hulle share games kry👍👍👍
@beet: Sjo Beet, I don’t know about the comment of having the money. I wish!!!!
But Kantman is right, no relationship between a culture and money. Culture stems more from a love for the game, commiment, discipline and lots of values. You don’t need money for that.
And it will take time. You may increase the number of teams, but to sustain it and start winning some are time dependent issues.
@Smallies: Garsies se laer spanne speel reeds teen ander skole. Van hulle verloor ver, ander wen, maar daar is genoeg skole in die omgewing om vir laer spanne wedstryde te gee.
@jakes: en as beker rugby nie meer vir Garsfontein games kan gee vir al hulle spanne nie ,hoe dan gemaak,beker rugby of games vir al die seuns ? Dis die geneuk van 20 plus spanne he daar is net n seker hoeveelheid skole wat jou kan akomodeer mbt games,dis iets waaraan Garsfontein sal moet dink in die toekoms ….
@Kantman: I love this comment about developing rugby culture. Very interesting dynamic and area to research.
In KZN we have schools like DHS and Northwood who through hard work have expanded their number of teams in recent years. We have schools like Glenwood and Westville who seem to have fewer teams than in the past and we have Clifton, a new high school that is trying hard to develop a culture for rugby. It will be interesting to find out from them where the battles are won and lost. The path to success is a lot easier for all boys schools
Amongst the Noordvaal co-eds it has been an uphill battle to keep the interest in rugby alive beyond their A & B teams in recent times.
Garsfontein will never leave cup rugby. Just saying😬😬
I saw somewhere this year that Affies have an U14i team (before you count your fingers, that is 9ths). That is fantastic! Their hockey program also seems to be growing so it’s not just rugby, rugby rugby. So whilst I’m not sure how many boys are at Garsies, I see no reason for them to not have E teams in the age groups. And as Grey, Paarls, PRG & Affies have proved – you don’t need a cup competition to strengthen your rugby……
If u want D teams, you need at least 45 rugby players per year to enroll who will be disappointed at not making A side…
Wonder of Leon Bantjes ‘n afstammeling van Jan Bantjes is wat nder andere die “Retief traktaat” met Dingaan opgestel het? Seun van Bernard Bantjes.
‘n Gemeenskap se kwaliteit manifesteer in die kwaliteit van sy skole. Garsfontein is ‘n fenomeen op baie meer gebiede as net rugby en al wat ‘n mens kan doen is om jou hoed af te haal, op te staan en ‘n staande ovasie te lewer vir ‘n besonderse gemeenskap wat ‘n uitnemende instansie bou vir die volledige opvoeding van hulle kinders. “It takes a village to raise a child”.
I assume you are talking about a long term shift.
A move from Quintile 2 to Quintile 4 requires a deep rugby culture to develop before you can expect sustainable results. Building a culture takes lots of time and is not linear to the funding available or ambition.
But I fully support the initiative and drive of the school
That will be awesome news if they manage to field so many rugby teams.
Experience has taught me that you never count your chickens before they have hatched, especially of it comes to.enrollment of Grade 8 learner’s in Pretoria. For some strange reason they commit to schools in Pretoria then end up in other provinces.