Avid rugby player and mother of five, Beryl Speelman’s passion for rugby and uplifting the women in her Humansdorp community led her to establishing her own all-female rugby team – and with hard work and dedication has seen her team winning the prestigious Geneva Scholtz Women’s Rugby Tournament.
Speelman initially found an interest in rugby while watching female rugby games on television.
Since she has always believed that it is important for women to remain active by playing sport, and in turn staying away from bad elements in the community – which is something she has instilled in her three daughters and two sons, she decided to establish an all-female rugby team in 2015 for the women in her community.
“Sport is good for your body, and it is important for all people, especially women, to remain active and healthy,” said Speelman.
Her rugby team initially joined the All-Blacks Rugby Club in Humansdorp which is an all-male team, while they continued to establish themselves within the rugby industry.
In 2019, Speelman’s team decided to move over to the all-female Kareedouw Tigers Rugby Club since the club needed more female rugby players.
Since the collaboration four years ago, the team has grown to at least 19 dedicated rugby players who are all good at the sport.
Speelman’s daughter, Windroniea, has also joined the team as a strong rugby player alongside her mother, the oldest in the group.
The rugby team has continued to participate in various rugby competitions against all-female teams which include African Bombers Rugby Club, Middleburg Rugby Club and Gardens Rugby Club, to name a few.
After a great deal of hard work and dedication by all of the team’s members, the Kareedouw Tigers Rugby Club participated in the Geneva Scholtz Women’s Rugby Tournament in Kirkwood last year where they walked away as winners of the tournament.
In March this year the team will battle it out at the next Geneva Scholtz Women’s Rugby Tournament in East London, where they hope to win the tournament again.
“We were very excited when we won the Geneva Scholtz. It was a great achievement for our team,” said Speelman.
“We are now preparing for the tournament in March when we will put our best foot forward.”
Before the team heads to East London in March, they will participate in the 7s’ and 15s’ female rugby camp in Hermanus, Western Cape on February 18.
To promote rugby among the women in Kouga, Speelman is encouraging all female rugby players aged from 18 to join their team.
- For more information contact Beryl Speelman on 071 816 3976.
