The 2015 season was probably Grahamstown Brumbies' best ever.
The 2015 season was probably Grahamstown Brumbies' best ever.
Several of their players were selected for various provincial teams and they finished in fourth in the Eastern Province Grand Challenge competition, where they competed against top opposition from around the province, and also automatically qualified for the prestigious Super 12 Competition this year.
The club also participated in the 2015 Eastern Cape Super 12 competition, featuring the top six clubs from both EP and Border.
The Brumbies 1st XV reached the quarter-finals of the event and their U21s also did well under trying circumstances.
They won four tournaments last year: The Makana Mayoral Cup, Lily White's Anniversary Easter Tournament, King Brumbies Easter Tournament in King William's Town and the Evergreens Tournament in Cradock. They were also crowned the Auto Clinic Derby Cup winners after defeating Trying Stars 28-20 at the Oval on 11 July 2015.
The following made the EP Country and Districts team which took part in the National Week in the Boland in 2015:
Monray Evans: This is the fifth year in a row that the big Brumbies lock forward represented the EP side. He is known for his all-round ability on the field.
He is an excellent line-out jumper, a powerful ball carrier, solid defender and has great handling skills. Monray is also a former Player of the Year for the club and in the past represented the EP Rural side. He also captained the SEDRU side last season in their 40th anniversary celebrations.
Vince Mains and Jason Potgieter were also part of the squad, but withdrew from the team due to work commitments.
Young Ethan September made history when he became the first Brumbies player in their history to be selected for the EP Kings Senior 7's side that took part in the Inter-Provincial 7's Tournament in Mpumalanga.
The young promising future star of the club made the side after his first outing in the 7's code at the EP trials at the Oval, where he impressed head coach Fabian Juries. He was later crowned as the most promising player at the Brumbies awards ceremony in November.
Duane Brown, Mfazwe Taka Oku and Edgar Tarentaal were also part of the SEDRU 7's side that took part in the trials at the Oval alongside Ethan.
Jason Potgieter was crowned Brumbies Player of the Year as well as the best 1st XV forward player in 2015 at the awards ceremony. He was a stalwart and the most outstanding player during the year and very consistent. He received numerous man of the match awards for his outstanding performances in 2015.
Brumbies also hosted a successful Fabian Juries Community Fun Day at the Oval where hundreds of people from different communities supported the teams. Currie Park Rebels were crowned the champs in the 10's rugby after back-to-back tournament wins, while Verries United done the same by defending their title in the netball competition.
The club celebrated its 15th anniversary at the Recreation Hall, where they launched their new Lotto rugby apparel and kit, and honoured some of their past presidents, life members and current executive with ties.
The club gained a lot of new talented players who fitted into the system with ease and proved themselves. One of the new recruits was Steward Morris, at 50 the club's oldest player, who had a good season, his maiden try for the club being the winning try for the 1st Reserves against Spring Roses at the Oval.
He received the President's award at the Brumbies Awards Ceremony from the president, Giuliano Vincent Flotman.
