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The Shimla rugby team will have a great deal of extra motivation to score tries aplenty in this year’s Varsity Cup. 

The Shimlas opened their campaign on Monday 11 February 2019 in an away fixture against the University of the Western Cape (with Shimlas handing the University of the Western Cape a defeat of 25-47).

The team launched the Shimlas4Relief campaign and will dedicate their matches to the drought-help organisation, Droogte Hulp met Burre Burger NPC, which helps drought-affected areas with financial aid, the donation of food for livestock, or water supply.

For each try scored by the Shimlas during the Varsity Cup, a donation will be made towards the project through sponsors.

The idea was the brainchild of the Shimla loose forward, Bertie de Bod.

“I myself come from a farm in Oudtshoorn (declared a drought-disaster area last year) and I know a lot of people who are affected by the drought – even some of my teammates.” 

“We have already raised R150 000 through sponsorship, which I’m sure will increase as we get feedback from sponsorship at a later stage,” De Bod said.

According to De Bod, a BAgric student, they are aiming to score at least four tries per match for the money to roll in. “Scoring tries will become an additional motivation for us during the competition and we are excited to raise as much money as possible,” he said.

The team had special T-shirts made to help promote the initiative, and a golf day is planned for 22 April as a fundraiser.

People or companies interested to sponsor the project can phone De Bod on +27 82 063 9493.