Border endured many ups and downs in 2022, but the highlight of the year was undoubtedly when SA Rugby lifted the union’s suspension.
The decision meant the union could get down to proper planning for the future.
Border was suspended from membership in October 2018 because of its dire financial position and ongoing administration issues.
An administrator was appointed, and the union’s voting rights were suspended during the period of administration.
In May, the union elected an interim committee which saw chair Zuko Badli voted in as president. Committee secretary Asanda Simoyi became his deputy, ending four years of leadership absence.
Regardless of having a new executive in place, BRU were still under Saru administration until the mother body gave them the green light on September 5.
Border Bulldogs had a dismal Currie Cup First Division season as they finished bottom of the Combined Log and Barometer (SA teams only) and were winless in their nine encounters of the single-round competition.
The disheartening results were the result of poor preparation, which saw the team being in the dark about their participation in the campaign until very late.
This was due to the BRU being under SA Rugby while the provincial department of sports, recreation, arts & culture ended the Bulldogs’ funding after the expiration of the three-year contract.
This left the Bulldogs unable to engage in friendly matches or recruit players for the new season, relying mostly on the players from the clubs which participated in the Super 14 club rugby competition and Varsity Shield.
On the positive side, Border Ladies stood firm and protected the dignity of the Union.
The team led by inspirational captain Lusanda Dumke won the Women’s Premier Division in great style in Cape Town in a closely-contested final at Hamilton’s Rugby Club in Green Point when they defeated their fierce rivals Western Province 19-16.
The girls made history by winning the trophy for the sixth time since the introduction of the National Women’s Interprovincial League in 2003.
They won the title in 2013-2016 and 2021-2022 and have featured in 10 finals.
The other teams who had a good run in the history of the competition are Blue Bulls, Eastern Province and WP.
The Bulls dominated the early years, winning the title four times in a row from 2003-2006.
Their success saw props Asithandile Ntoyanto and Yonela Ngxingolo, loose-forward Lusanda Dumke, scrumhalf Unam Tose, centre Aphiwe Ngwevu and wing Eloise Webb book their tickets to represent the national team at the 2022 Women’s Rugby World Cup in New Zealand.
The Border junior team reminded the country how rich the sport is at grassroots level in the region.
They received official confirmation of the team’s participation only on April 13 when the competition had already started a week earlier.
Ludwe Booi’s hastily-assembled team managed to reach the First Division Shield final, but fell short of claiming the silverware as they went down 43-34 to the Valke in Vanderbijlpark.
The Craven Week team had a disappointing Craven Week campaign.
Chase Morrison’s charges lost two of their three matches. However, the positive aspect of their campaign was the selection of loose forward Sibabalwe Mahashe to SA Schools, scrumhalf Michael Maseti, fullback Onelisiwe Fani and outside centre Sesethu Mpaka for the SA Schools A side and assistant coach Lwazi Zangqa as one of the A side’s coaching staff.
In club rugby, East London Rugby Police completed their first ever domestic treble.
Yongama Mkaza’s men won the Border Super League, Heritage Super Tournament and the Challenge Cup.
They finished their Super League campaign with 47 points and were crowned the competition's champions for the first time since 2017, securing automatic qualification to the 2023 EC Super 14.
Lingering in the third position for most of the season, Police managed to close a nine-point gap with three games to go and leapfrogged Ncerha Leopards, who with eight matches played, were unbeaten and sitting on top.
Three months down the line, the Bobbies then defeated Ducats Young Leopards 15-10 at Police Park Stadium to win the Heritage Super Tournament. After that they edged the University of Fort Hare 15-12 to clinch the Challenge Cup.
Founded in 1979, Mooiplaas’s Moonlight earned themselves promotion from the Border Premier League to the Super League for the first time in their history.
The team, led by head coach Bongani Zene, won all 11 matches they played in the competition to become the first Premier League outfit to be unbeaten in the competition.
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