Exciting Rugby Week for SA Agricultural Colleges

Six of South Africa’s agricultural colleges, fielding a total of eight teams, competed for the coveted IPJ du Plessis trophy in the annual PANNAR Rugby Week in June. 

Held for the first time at Fort Cox College of Agriculture and Forestry in the Eastern Cape the teams from Cedara College of Agriculture, Cape Institute for Agricultural Training: Elsenburg, Fort Cox College of Agriculture and Forestry, Grootfontein College of Agriculture, Potchefstroom College of Agriculture and Saasveld (part of the George Campus of the Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University) played typical college rugby – fast-moving and exciting to watch.

Elsenburg won for the 20th time since PANNAR began sponsoring the event in 1987. The PANNAR Academy side won the plate competition. At the end of the tournament a SA Agricultural Colleges (SAAC) team was selected to play against the Border U21 side in future. It comprises M le Roux (Grootfontein), K Frick (Grootfontein), T Alexander (Grootfontein), H Koch (Captain) (Grootfontein), H Esterhuizen (Elsenburg), TC Botha (Elsenburg), G Marais (Grootfontein), D Slabbert (Elsenburg), E Wentzel (Elsenburg), A Beswick (NMMU), M Guilitshana (Fort Cox), Z Jansen (NMMU), KH Schuld (NMMU), R Bekker (Vice Captain) (NMMU), B du Preez (NMMU), H Barkhuizen (Potchefstroom), SW Rabie (Elsenburg), P Blake (Elsenburg), T Derksen (NMMU), J Streicher (Elsenburg), H Strauss (Potchefstroom), TC Smith (Elsenburg), N Nortje (Elsenburg).

The trophies and cups awarded at the PANNAR Rugby Week were as follows:
IPJ du Plessis Trophy (winners) – Elsenburg. Glen Cup (runners-up) Saasveld. Piet de Jager Cup (winners of the plate competition) PANNAR Academy. Boland Bank Trophy (team that played the most constructive rugby) Saasveld. Louis Luyt Trophy (team that scored the most tries) Elsenburg/PANNAR Academy. Joe Venter Trophy (best forward) T Alexander (Grootfontein). PANNAR Trophy (best backline player) A Beswick (Saasveld). Willie van Zijl Trophy (best game) Grootfontein versus Elsenburg. Du Pont Trophy (player who scored the most points) – T Smith (Elsenburg). Grant and Lu Kobus Trophy (most influential player) G Loubser (PANNAR Academy). TOTPACK Trophy (player displaying most spirit): W Botes (PANNAR XV). 

“As a proudly South African agribusiness, PANNAR SEED is pleased to sponsor this event, which offers an ideal platform for us to engage with young agriculturalists and to contribute to their development in a constructive and enduring way” said PANNAR SEED Managing Director Deon van Rooyen. “We believe that many of life's lessons can be learned most successfully on sports fields and hope that each player benefited from the interaction, both personally and socially.”

Twentieth-time winners of the PANNAR Rugby Week for South African Agricultural Colleges since 1987 Cape Institute for Agricultural Training: Elsenburg.