The Old Diocesan Issue 12 - Magazine - Page 100
SPORT
REBUILDING
BISHOPS RUGBY
The recent announcements of Rob
Fleck as Director of Rugby and Sam
Mofokeng as the new First XV coach
are significant developments for
Bishops rugby. Following a lengthy
period of consultation between the
school, parents and ODs, many of
whom have extensive experience in
coaching and playing the game, the
appointments mark the beginning
of a structured effort to renew and
strengthen rugby at the school.
In recent years, a clear problem has
emerged. Bishops competes in one
of the most demanding schoolboy
rugby environments in the world,
facing schools that operate with
extensive resources, long preseasons and professional-level
preparation. Many effectively plan
around rugby as a primary sport.
Bishops operates differently.
Variety and choice are defining
elements that set the school apart,
with boys participating in an array
of sports and activities. The result is
a healthy and broad sporting culture
– but also a competitive imbalance
when facing schools with rugby
programmes that run almost yearround. At its most difficult, the gap
has been visible in scorelines and
depth, with some dire Saturdaymorning results and an inability to
field as many teams as we once did.
As successful as Bishops is in so
many quarters, it is naive to think
that our rugby results don’t matter.
The school played a historical role in
bringing the game to South Africa,
and in the heritage of our national
team. As many readers know,
Springbok green is, in fact, OD
green! Moreover, strong school
rugby programmes are attractive
to high-achieving all-rounders.
With other well-placed ODs, Rob
has been part of a high-performance
advisory group that was formed to
review the school’s rugby structure
and propose improvements.
96 | THE OLD DIOCESAN
The initial concern was not simply
competitiveness, but player welfare,
with the physical gap between
teams having become increasingly
pronounced, especially in the lower
tiers. Improved physical conditioning
will, therefore, form a foundational
layer for the new programme, aiding
on-field competitiveness, while also
reducing injuries and maintaining
meaningful availability throughout
the season and throughout a boy’s
high-school career.
“Part of my role now is building
capacity,” explains Rob. “That means
more boys, teachers and strengthand-conditioning coaches involved.
We’re building sixth and seventh
teams again, like back in the day.”
Facilities will form part of the
longer-term plan. The current gym
space at the school is inadequate
for the demands of modern highperformance sport. Their upgrading
and expansion is a priority for all
sports, but for rugby in particular.
The programme will also rebuild
depth through carefully managed
recruitment. The aim is not to change
the fundamental character of the
school, but to ensure that each team
competes at an appropriate level.
“If a genuine B-team boy is playing
B team, that’s when the system works
properly,” Rob says. “At the moment,
some C-team boys are playing in the
A team against Craven Week players,
which isn’t right.”
Underlying the practical measures
is a broader philosophy about how
rugby should be played at Bishops.
Rob describes three core pillars that
will shape the programme: style
of play, character, and athletic
preparation. Those principles aim
to preserve the distinctive spirit of
Bishops rugby while ensuring that
players are physically and technically
equipped for the modern game.
Supporting this renewed direction
is a new funding structure designed
to strengthen rugby in the long term.
The Bishops Rugby Development
Fund (BRDF) has been established
as an independent, ring-fenced fund
dedicated specifically to rugby
development. With a long-term
endowment objective of about
R40-million, its purpose is to support
bursaries, coaching resources, facilities
and player development. The income
generated by this capital would allow
the school to sustain between six and
eight full bursaries each year without
drawing down on the fund itself.
The fund is overseen by the BRDF
Committee, chaired by Ian Marr (1988S).
Other members include Rob, Masterin-Charge of Rugby Ronald Jacobs,
and independent members Martin
Versfeld (1977S), Richard Neville
(1995S) and Francois Louw (2003W).
Donations are held in the Diocesan
College Council account, and are
ring-fenced exclusively for rugby
development. Contributions also
qualify for Section 18A tax benefits.
For the group involved in revitalising
Bishops rugby, the goal is not a quick
fix but long-term rebuilding. “Results
will matter, obviously,” says Rob. “But
the first priority is to restore a healthy,
competitive culture in which boys are
prepared safely for the challenges of
modern schoolboy rugby, remain
involved throughout their school
years and – most importantly – enjoy
the game and all it has to offer.”
If you’re interested in contributing
or learning more, contact:
Ian: maximarr@hotmail.com
Martin: martin@rowancapital.co.za
