Womens Rugby

Rugby runs through the veins of Jancke van Tonder (22) from Randhart.

She is the new coach for the women’s rugby teams at the Alberton Rugby Club and is excited about her new journey.

The Alberton Record talked to her about her rugby career and the exciting, new adventure.

Rugby or nothing

From playing rugby to analysing a rugby game, rugby is all she wanted to do.

She started playing women’s rugby competitively at 16. She played for the U16, U17 and U18 teams.
Just like her father, she plays flanker.

“I love this position because I am everywhere on the field. It is one of the positions where you have to have one skill of each position in rugby,” she said.

The best thing about rugby for her is its channelled aggressive physicality, strategic nature, fast pace, team play and diverse nature of participants.

“Rugby is a game for all genders, shapes and sizes.”

Van Tonder said that some of the challenges for her are getting sponsors, especially for a women’s team, and the development for women that is not up to standard in our country.

Her career highlights include playing for the Golden Lions’ U16 and U18 teams.

“I was also the captain of the U16s and under captain in 2017 for the same team.”

In 2018, during a game against the Griquas, Van Tonder was chosen as the player of the match.

During the Craven Week, after playing a match against the Griquas, she was chosen to play sevens rugby for the U21 Lions team, but could not because of her age.

In 2019, she was chosen for the U21 Springbok squad but could not participate because of injuries.

Not the end

In 2016, Van Tonder sustained her first shoulder injury and, in 2017, her first shoulder operation.

“I could still play rugby in these times, and I remember pushing my recovery because I just wanted to get back on the field.”

In 2019, doctors repaired her shoulder socket and the ligaments.

The following year she underwent another shoulder operation. Doctors broke the news that if she continued to play rugby she would lose the use of her arm.

“It felt like my world was tumbling in. What now? Rugby is all I want to do because it makes me happy.”
She then made peace with her situation.

“It was not easy, and there were times when I lost myself. I still wonder why, but God had bigger plans for me,” she explained.

Her new journey

Last year she received a message asking if she was interested in promoting and coaching women’s rugby teams.

“I could not believe my eyes and immediately said ‘yes’.”

On January 16, Van Tonder started coaching players at the Lifestyle Alberton Rugby Club.

She is excited and looks forward to teaching her talents and knowledge of the sport.

Her goals include reaching large numbers of players so that there are enough of them in each team. She also wants to grow the structure.

“I can still do rugby, just not as a player but as a coach.”

She looks forward to working with other coaches and promoting and improving the sport for all women.
She invites everyone to come and see what it is all about.

“There is always room for improvement, and skills can be developed. Take a chance.”

This and that

Van Tonder was born and raised in Alberton.

She went to Laerskool Orion and matriculated at Transvalia.

She is one of five children. Her fondest childhood memory is when The Boma was still in Alberton.

“I remember sneaking into shows and those delicious buffets. We ate and ate,” she said with a laugh.
In her spare time, she privately coaches athletic codes like discus and shot put. The athletes coached by her are her role models in life.

“To see them succeed and their facial expressions. They have these fearless attitudes.”

Something not everyone knows about her is that she writes poetry.

A quote she lives by is Hamlet saying, “To thine own self be true.” (Stay true to yourself)