Rhinos' departure depletes Super Rugby
Calistus Kolantsho | Friday June 14, 2019 12:46
The Super Rugby division now has only Gaborone Hogs, BDF Cheetahs and Canon Jaguars.
Rhinos assistant coach, Tiger Masinki told Mmegi Sport that they took an unpopular decision to focus their attention on the President’s League.
He said the club has been hit hard by injuries and many players are leaving Gaborone upon completion of their university studies. Masinki said there was nothing they could do, except to drop to the lower division.
Masinki said the injured players are recuperating and would rejoin the top three clubs during the knock out cup in August.
“We have exhausted all avenues of trying to keep the club in the Super Rugby league, but it was not possible,” Masinki said.
“Remember, we have retention of four years, then we lose players who either go back home or get jobs outside town. If they find jobs in town we are lucky, but this year we have been unfortunate.”
Rhinos have lost five players who completed their studies and six due to injuries. Masinki said the other option they had was to recruit from Rhinos B team.
However, there was a challenge as most of the players are still fresh at school, doing first and second years and at the moment, are on semester break, only returning in August.
“In August, we intend to bring them into the current team and join the top three teams. Our move would not kill the club, but rather get the young players ready for A Division next season,” he said.
Masinki accepted that as a club they have not done enough to recruit from other clubs this season.
He said this would be a lesson for them to come up with structures they previously had. He said the other challenge is that as a club they are not able to offer players employment.
“Even on the women’s side, we are struggling. Clubs come and poach from us, offer them jobs and the best we can do is to wish them well. So far, this season, we lost three women to other clubs. This season has been worse,” he said.
Masinki added that the way forward is to adopt schools like they have done with Naledi Secondary.
Botswana Rugby Union (BRU) vice president-technical, Tosca Segaise said Rhinos’ decision to pull out would weaken the league.
“The pull out will weaken the national team as there are players at the club who are national team material. BRU needs a strong Rhinos taking part in the Super Rugby,” he said.
Meanwhile Jaguars chairperson, Feddy Mutenheri said the relegation of Rhinos would not affect the Super Rugby format.
In Super Rugby the team at the top of the log
automatically qualifies through to the final, position two and three play a semifinal to determine who goes to the final.
Position four plays a relegation match against the top team in the President’s League. Mutenheri said Rhinos was at the bottom of the league and decided to relegate.
“However, the effect of them pulling out is that the league shrinks and it is not good for our rugby,” Mutenheri said.
“I would really want Rhinos to be alive in Super Rugby as they are an integral part of rugby growth in this country.”