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Pretoria rugby club fights metro for survival

Pretoria Harlequins are facing an uncertain future after the Tshwane Metropolitan Municipality ordered the site to be restored to its “original condition” by 13 April. Civil rights organisation AfriForum has stepped in to provide legal assistance, questioning the basis of the notice and calling for clarity from the metro. The dispute centres on the club’s zoning status, which the municipality says remains “unallocated” – typically reserved for agricultural land. Harlequins applied as far back as 2021 to have the land rezoned for sport and recreation, but the application has yet to be finalised. “The Tshwane Metro’s failure to fulfil their administrative duties could now lead to the closure of a club that has played an important role in the community since 1903. We are already consulting with our legal team on our next steps,” said AfriForum district coordinator Maree van den Berg. ALSO: Former Bok to coach Harlequins Founded more than a century ago, Harlequins has produced 64 Springboks and remains a key hub for youth development across multiple sports, including rugby, cricket, hockey and athletics. The club has around 800 members and supports several jobs. “In a country where unemployment is a significant problem, it cannot be afforded that a single job is lost due to a metro’s administrative negligence,” Van den Berg added. AfriForum has launched a petition in support of the club, while a community gathering is planned for 11 April to rally backing and increase pressure on the metro. The post Pretoria rugby club fights metro for survival appeared first on SA Rugby magazine.

4 hours ago

Sharks rest Boks as Eben returns

Eben Etzebeth is back but the Sharks have left several stars behind for Friday night’s EPCR Challenge Cup last-16 clash against Connacht in Galway. Etzebeth has completed his 12-week suspension after being found guilty of eye-gouging Wales flanker Alex Mann in Cardiff last November, and his return is a big boost for the Sharks heading into the business end of the season. However, SuperSport.com reports that the Durban-based outfit has travelled to Ireland without regular captain André Esterhuizen, Siya Kolisi, Bongi Mbonambi and Grant Williams, among others. The Sharks are clearly prioritising their Vodacom URC campaign – they are 10th on the log with four rounds remaining, seven points behind the eighth-placed Bulls. But No 8 Nick Hatton insists they can compete on both fronts. “When you get to this stage and you are committed to two competitions, you do require a squad effort,” Hatton said on Wednesday. “We’ve had a good few days of preparation back home in Durban, and hopefully the squad will get us through. We are looking forward to what we can put out. KEO: JP’s Sharks mirror his mindset “We are excited,” he added. “This is knockout rugby. We know we need to win if we are to progress. Galway is not an easy place to go out and win, but we have belief in our systems. We feel there is a good chance of us doing something special here.” Photo: Steve Haag/Gallo Images The post Sharks rest Boks as Eben returns appeared first on SA Rugby magazine.

5 hours ago

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