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Saturday will see the Villager Football Club and Hamiltons Rugby Football Club sides run out onto the Brookside turf to renew rivalries, the latest in a traditional pre-season match that was first played in 1876.
It's not a league fixture - that clash comes on April 17 - but it is one that kindles deeper emotions than any league. It is the oldest fixture in the country, played between the two oldest rugby clubs in the country. League position in September is an official barometer of success for a season but internally, getting one over on the oldest rivals in March is every bit as significant.
The balance has tipped Hamiltons' way over the past few years with Villagers suffering the effects of the economic climate. Last year saw Hamiltons record a clean sweep of victories. This year promises to be a little more competitive.
A steady rebuilding process at Brookside has seen a re-energised team go through a successful pre-season under the guidance of ex French international prop, Pieter de Villiers, and ex Boland coach, Mike Bailey, culminating in impressive wins at first and second team level over Stellenbosch Univerity at the start of March. More recently, the club completed a clean sweep of victories over the Van der Stel club in Stellenbosch, with first and second team both notching up over 50 unanswered points in their respective matches.
A confident squad has remained largely injury-free giving De Villiers a most enjoyable headache. But there's no doubting a clash against the national club champions will provide the most accurate assessment of all.
The action starts at 13h15 at Brookside, with the main event kicking off at 16h00.
It’s not all about the rugby, though. The beer patio, food counter and bar will be open all day and there’ll be live music as well as plenty of activities for children. It promises to be a grand occasion.
Hamiltons 1st XV:
15 Elric van Vuuren
14 Terry Jacobs
13 Stephan du Toit
12 Clint van Rensburg (C)
11 Alshaun Bock
10 Jason de Villiers
9 Pierre Cronje
8 Stephan Greeff
7 Wikus van Staden
6 Thabani Sangweni
5 Mzwanele Zito
4 Ashley Down
3 Bertus Smit
2 JG Giliomee
1 Pierre Bouwer
16 Louis Loubser
17 Attie Winter
18 Tian Fick
19 Rikus Smit
20 Vaughn Botha
21 Jacques Rossouw
22 Jeffrey Williams
COACH Anton Moolman
ASST Neil Penrose and Troy Lee
Villagers 1st XV
15 Henoe Stoffberg
14 conrad Marais
13 Matt van Eeden
12 Adrian Penzhorn
11 Duncan Emslie
10 Warren Edwards
9 Andy Coetzee
8 Ross Beckett
7 Neil Cleghorn
6 Theunis Lamprecht
5 Michael Poppmeier
4 Rito Hlungwani
3 Christo Van wyk
2 Boshoff Muller
1 Vermeulen Resouw
16 Patrick Holman
17 David Crook
18 Rob Tilson
19 Lionelle van Stade
20 Donovan Holmes
21 Lucian Jansen
22 Byron Mohr
COACH Pieter de Villiers
ASST Mike Bayly
It's not a league fixture - that clash comes on April 17 - but it is one that kindles deeper emotions than any league. It is the oldest fixture in the country, played between the two oldest rugby clubs in the country. League position in September is an official barometer of success for a season but internally, getting one over on the oldest rivals in March is every bit as significant.
The balance has tipped Hamiltons' way over the past few years with Villagers suffering the effects of the economic climate. Last year saw Hamiltons record a clean sweep of victories. This year promises to be a little more competitive.
A steady rebuilding process at Brookside has seen a re-energised team go through a successful pre-season under the guidance of ex French international prop, Pieter de Villiers, and ex Boland coach, Mike Bailey, culminating in impressive wins at first and second team level over Stellenbosch Univerity at the start of March. More recently, the club completed a clean sweep of victories over the Van der Stel club in Stellenbosch, with first and second team both notching up over 50 unanswered points in their respective matches.
A confident squad has remained largely injury-free giving De Villiers a most enjoyable headache. But there's no doubting a clash against the national club champions will provide the most accurate assessment of all.
The action starts at 13h15 at Brookside, with the main event kicking off at 16h00.
It’s not all about the rugby, though. The beer patio, food counter and bar will be open all day and there’ll be live music as well as plenty of activities for children. It promises to be a grand occasion.
Hamiltons 1st XV:
15 Elric van Vuuren
14 Terry Jacobs
13 Stephan du Toit
12 Clint van Rensburg (C)
11 Alshaun Bock
10 Jason de Villiers
9 Pierre Cronje
8 Stephan Greeff
7 Wikus van Staden
6 Thabani Sangweni
5 Mzwanele Zito
4 Ashley Down
3 Bertus Smit
2 JG Giliomee
1 Pierre Bouwer
16 Louis Loubser
17 Attie Winter
18 Tian Fick
19 Rikus Smit
20 Vaughn Botha
21 Jacques Rossouw
22 Jeffrey Williams
COACH Anton Moolman
ASST Neil Penrose and Troy Lee
Villagers 1st XV
15 Henoe Stoffberg
14 conrad Marais
13 Matt van Eeden
12 Adrian Penzhorn
11 Duncan Emslie
10 Warren Edwards
9 Andy Coetzee
8 Ross Beckett
7 Neil Cleghorn
6 Theunis Lamprecht
5 Michael Poppmeier
4 Rito Hlungwani
3 Christo Van wyk
2 Boshoff Muller
1 Vermeulen Resouw
16 Patrick Holman
17 David Crook
18 Rob Tilson
19 Lionelle van Stade
20 Donovan Holmes
21 Lucian Jansen
22 Byron Mohr
COACH Pieter de Villiers
ASST Mike Bayly
