An Easter weekend of superb rugby
The Thanda ZRA Empangeni Rugby Club are geared for a feast of rugby over the Easter weekend. I am referring to the National Easter Academy Tournament, taking place at Mick Kelly Park from Wednesday 31 March to Monday 5 April. This is a high profile event and will be a tournament to look forward to and worth diarising. Eight of the 12 academies in the country have accepted invitations to participate in what will be the first national tournament of this kind to be held in South Africa. The teams participating are the Zululand Rugby Academy, Midlands, Bulls Academy, Lions Academy, Legends Rugby Academy (Border), Eagle Academy (Free State), Griquas Rugby Academy and an invitation academy side.
Beauty contest
Of course, rugby will be the main event, but there will also be the Champagne Nooitjie competition, a beauty contest, commencing at 2.50pm on the Saturday, which will be a big attraction as well.
Each team is allowed to enter one girl of their choice and with SuperSport lurking in the wings, they will have to be at their very best.
SuperSport have promised to run a 26 minute slot of the weekend sometime in the future.
All this is part of a carnival day on the Saturday, which will also include East Coast Radio and John Allan’s SA Legends programme.
All teams have been requested to register on Wednesday 31 March, with the welcoming party being held in a marquee on the B field.
The rugby commences on Thursday 1 April at 1.30pm.
Zululand
It is more than likely that Zululand will take on Midlands in the opening match.
This could possibly double up as a Frank Norris U20 A fixture as well.
No matches will be played on the Friday.
On the Saturday, the rugby commences at 1.20pm, with a break for the Champagne Nooitjie and then it’s back to the action from 3.30pm.
It is hoped matches will be completed by 10pm.
There will be no matches on Sunday. Then on the final day, Monday 5 April, the action starts at 8am.
The closing match of the tournament, which will no doubt have a major bearing on who wins the event, gets underway at 12.30pm, hoping to finish at 2pm.
The closing ceremony will take place straight after, bringing the curtain down on what will be a fabulous weekend of entertaining rugby.
