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From trials to triumph: How our four Up & Under stars helped secure the national title for Western Cape.
The Up & Under Rugby Club is beaming with pride as four of our young athletes — Amy Barnes, Charlize Langeveldt, Laghan de Jongh, and Megan Abrahams — who played their hearts out for the Western Cape U15 Girls Rugby Sevens Team and brought home the National Championship trophy!
The Journey to the Championship
In August 2024, Amy, Charlize, Laghan, and Megan attended trials for the Western Province (WP) U15 Girls Rugby Sevens Squad. Their impressive skills earned them spots on the team, where they played matches against Boland and SWD as part of the selection process for the Western Cape (WC) U15 team.
From there, it was weeks of hard work and preparation. They trained tirelessly with our very own Coach Regan Petersen, to best prepare them in advance. On 9, 16 & 23 November 2024, they then joined the Western Province Elite Squad under Coaches Jongi Nokwe and Rodger Smith. By the time they attended the Western Cape U15 Sevens Training Camps on 30 November and 10-11 December, these girls were ready for anything.
A Memorable Send-Off
On 12 December 2024, our girls departed from Cape Town International Airport for OR Tambo in Johannesburg, but not without a heartwarming surprise. The Chair of Up & Under Rugby Club, Viaan Jonker, and Vice-Chair, Theriza le Roux, made a special visit to send them off in style.
In a heartfelt gesture, the girls were given special bracelets to wear and share with their teammates and coaches. These bracelets stood as a symbol of unity, support, and the club’s deep pride in them. The warm send-off, filled with good wishes and encouragement, gave the girls an extra dose of confidence as they headed off to represent their province on the national stage.
The Championship Weekend
The National U15 Sevens Championship was held from 13–15 December 2024 at Menlo Park Hoërskool in Pretoria. The excitement was electric, and the competition was fierce — but the Western Cape team showed everyone why they deserved to be there.
Here’s how the tournament unfolded:
13 December 2024: WC 45 - 0 Limpopo & WC 45 - 0 Northern Cape
14 December 2024: WC 7 - 0 Gauteng & WC 47 - 0 Free State
15 December 2024: Semi-Final: WC 38 - 7 Mpumalanga & Final: WC 19 - 7 Eastern Cape
It was an unforgettable weekend. Addditionally, Megan, Charlize, and Laghan all scored tries, helping the team dominate game after game. In the final, their determination and teamwork paid off with a decisive 19-7 victory against Eastern Cape, crowning them National U15 Sevens Champions!
Celebrating Our Girls
Amy, Charlize, Laghan, and Megan didn’t just play; they inspired. They showed what happens when hard work, passion, and opportunity come together. Their journey is a testament to the incredible talent we’re nurturing at Up & Under Rugby Club, and we know this is just the beginning for them.
A huge congratulations to the entire Western Cape team and coaching staff for this amazing achievement. And to our four girls — you’ve made us, and the whole Up & Under family, so proud.
Here’s to many more victories, on and off the field!
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