New season, new energy at False Bay RFC

The dawning of a new year heralds the imminent arrival of a new season, and is a reminder that preparation for an incredibly tough Western Province amateur league should already be months down the track, not at the launching stage.

An action-filled season awaits, and for a fuller rugby experience, False Bay RFC offers a rugby home for those wanting to experience the magic of rugby at a rugby club, televised or live.

Super League A 2025 was a high-quality competition, with at least eight of the fifteen clubs vying for the Top Six knockout stages. Villager Rugby Club lifted the WP President's Cup on their way to launching a serious challenge for the Gold Cup, SA Rugby's knockout national club championship. They stumbled in the Final, losing to the Naka Bulls of Pretoria at Brookside in Claremont. Of the six clubs contesting the knockout stages of SLA2025, five were southern suburbs and Atlantic Seaboard-based. Along with Villager, UCT, Hamilton, SK Walmer, and Motorvaps False Bay took up the challenge.

SLA2026 sees these five clubs joined by Primrose, adding a strong southern flavour to what promises to be a highly entertaining new-format competition with a double round of 12 teams, home and away.

False Bay has been working behind the scenes in preparation, both on and off the pitch. After more than twelve years at the helm of the Constantia club, chairman Kevin Lennett has handed over the baton to Graham Oberholzer. Lennett is most definitely leaving his shirt with a proud and successful legacy, while Oberholzer, who has been treasurer for the last three years, comes with a wealth of experience. Having served as chair of Glenwood Old Boys in KZN, “Obie” is a man with Bay in his blood, having played for the club in his student days a couple of decades back.

The new leadership at the club sees a strong influx of new blood, determined to maintain momentum across the full team spectrum in Constantia. Not just the First Team, False Bay has always taken pride in the performance, success, and enjoyment of all its teams.

The incoming Club Captain, Nick Scott, is responsible for bridging the gap between the administration and the player section. The flame-haired half-back has come up through the ranks, representing the senior teams for the last six or so seasons, and is the current captain of the Second XV. An accomplished teacher, a capable First Division cricketer, and a standout Wynberg Boys’ High sportsman, Scott is the ideal man to fill a greatly under-estimated role in terms of importance and workload.

“Our members come from all walks of life, representing a wide range of professions and backgrounds. That diversity and our inclusivity are our strength. My goal for the year ahead is to build on the strong foundation laid by our former club captain, Adam Odendaal,” said Scott.

“He worked tirelessly to make the club a better place by creating opportunities for people to connect, fostering a sense of belonging, and inspiring members to invest in the growth of the club. I aim to continue that work by strengthening relationships across all teams and driving a shared ambition for success, with every side striving to finish in the top three of their respective leagues.”

Being competitive at all levels is the strong thread that runs through the club, starting in the under-20 section. Notably, several players from recent under-20 teams made their mark in the senior 1st and 2nd XVs under head coach Ashley Wells.

Under-20 head Coach Kwakhona “Kwaks” Ngwanya is keen on cementing the foundations he has laid over the last couple of years. He will be joined by former Rondebosch BHS and False Bay star wing, Justin Fillies.

“We expect 2026 to be a very exciting year for the under-20 division as we compete across three competitions,” said Ngwanya, referring to the Bay’s under-20B, an exciting team that competes in UCT Rugby’s internal league.

The under-20 section trains on Mondays and Wednesdays from 6pm.

With the exciting growth of women’s rugby in Cape Town and internationally, False Bay’s women’s team is up and running already. With a new coaching panel, recruitment is underway, and the progression of players from the junior section over recent years has seen numbers blossom with fresh energy. Coaches Nafees Francis and Richard Lawson aim to deliver the complete rugby experience.

The senior men’s section, as previously alluded to, has been busy at CrossFit False Bay since November. 1st XV head coach Ashley Wells is keeping his cards close to his chest, but the entertaining brand of rugby he and his panel have delivered, almost by necessity yet true to the unofficial club ethos of being the home of running rugby, will undoubtedly see the Bay continue to thrill, attracting supporters, recruits, and returning players alike.

It will be a season filled with activity. The Bay will defend their 2025 titles at the Cape Town Tens in February and the Score Sevens in October. Their annual friendly dates have not been finalised, but their opposition has, with traditional fixtures against Helderberg and DurBell amongst them. They will face Villager FC in March as part of the Brooksiders’ 150th Anniversary celebrations.

Not to be left out, the popular False Bay Junior Academy, where parents gather at The Toad on a Friday afternoon to watch their youngsters, aged four to sixteen, learn skills and have fun, resumes on Friday, February 4, at 4pm. For more information, contact Iriene via WhatsApp on 082 298 2399.