The UB Rhinos rugby team is in Cape Town, South Africa, to compete in the annual Cape Town Tens rugby challenge.
Rhinos left the country yesterday (Tuesday) and are expected back in the country on Sunday.
The tournament, which is open to both professional and non professional teams as well as the veterans, is the brainchild of former Springbok greats, Bob Skinstad and Robbie Fleck.
Speaking in an interview with Telegraph Sport, Rhinos’ chairman, Lesedi Keekae, said they were invited to attend the tournament by its organisers.
“Actually, we were first invited to the tournament last year but could not attend due to financial constraints. We communicated this to the organisers and they said we can come this year. We have already received the formal invitation and we are honouring it,” Keekae said.
He says while they had intended to participate in the tournament’s non-professional category, dubbed the Beer division, last year, this time around, they will be competing in the tournament’s premiere division.
The premiere division is made up of local and international professional clubs and top touring sides.
According to Keekae, the Rhinos have been drawn into the tournament’s Group B, which comprises of, among others, one of South Africa’s biggest clubs, the Western Province, as well as Hamiltons, who are also the tournament’s hosts.
The Rhinos’ chairman says while they could have decided to participate in the Beer division, they took the hard option of premiere division in order to give their players good international exposure.
“We would like to see our players develop to a level where they can compete internationally. The current system where players only get international exposure in the national team set up is not good for the development of rugby sport in the country. We need to have the same exposure at club level if we are to successfully compete in the international stage,” Keekae told Telegraph Sport.
While admitting that they are facing their toughest test in the tournament, Keekae is optimistic that his youthful team will be out to compete.
Rhinos have sent a very strong team that will include the likes of their speedy versatile winger, Tshoganetso “Shakes” Katse, as well as two pacey wingers, Biki Mawela and Tebogo Mosinki, as well as the player they call the “magician”, Tefo Keotshepile.
The team will, however, miss the services of their fly-half maestro, Jerome Malabu, who did not go with the team.
“This is a good platform for our players to market themselves to clubs across the world. We will be happy if we can lose at least two players to the professional setup, whether it is in a first team side or even in development sides,” Keekae said.
He added that they have already informed players interested in playing professional rugby of the opportunity presented to them by the tournament and says he is hopeful they will do all their best in the tournament.
