WP Rugby has been forced to push back the start of the 2018 club rugby season due to the ongoing water crisis in the Western Cape.
The club rugby season normally kicks off in April, but it has now been postponed for at least a month.
WP Rugby deputy president Zelt Marais confirmed the decision to IOL Sport, saying various fields are severely dry and damaged.
The decision follows the implementation of Level 6B water restrictions in the Western Cape, which prevents pitches and sports fields being watered with municipal drinking water.
‘The clubs are all happy about the decision taken. They understand the thinking – we are not God, we can’t change things,’ Marais said.
‘It’s just one of those unfortunate things. We’ve been asked by the City of Cape Town to put a tentative date forward, and we’ve said 1 June.
‘Some of the fields are in a really bad state, and I believe there were quite a few injuries at the Cape Town 10s at the weekend because of the state of the fields, because it’s just so dry. So, it’s about being safety-first now,’ he explained further.
‘We had a meeting with the City last week, and they are also having a mass meeting with stakeholders on Saturday, 10 February.’
Other sporting events that have been cancelled due to the drought are the Wynberg Sports Festival, as well as the Western Province Cricket Association’s club fixtures.
Photo: Durbell RFC/IOL Sport
