Wyndham rugby union fans received an unexpected treat when Super Rugby’s Sharks held a number of training sessions at Mossfiel Reserve in Hoppers Crossing last week.
The Sharks, based in Durban, South Africa, were in town to play the Melbourne Rebels on Friday night, but needed a training venue at short notice for their Monday and Tuesday sessions.
Impressed with the surface at Mossfiel Reserve, the Sharks then decided to move their captain’s run to the venue on Thursday, much to the thrill of members of the Wyndham City Rhinos, the local Victorian Rugby Union club.
Wyndham City president Ean Drummond said the club enjoyed hosting the South Africans.
“The venues they had pencilled in, they became unavailable,” he said. “The Rebels were aware that we had the second field that is not used for cricket or anything else, so they made the inquiry.
“They trained at the venue on Monday and Tuesday, liked the way our field was and the facilities, even though it’s kind of old, so they asked if they could have the captain’s run at our ground.”
Word spread on social media about the Sharks training at Mossfiel Reserve and a lot of rugby fans turned out to see them.
The Sharks’ response to the local fans was praised, as they were willing to meet and greet supporters – and even signed a ball for the Rhinos to commemorate the visit.
“We’ve got a fairly good contingent of South Africans that have got kids that play at our club … with the broader community, it doesn’t take much to spread the word that they were there,” Drummond said. “This group of Sharks players, they’re really a good bunch of fine young blokes. They were very well mannered, appreciative.”
The successful Sharks visit has opened up possibilities for Mossfiel Reserve to host touring teams in the future.
The venue will be even more desirable when the newly redeveloped clubrooms are officially unveiled in the middle of this year.
Drummond thanked the Rebels for considering his club for the host role. He said the Rebels had been more active with their involvement in grassroots clubs this season.
“We had visits from Rebels players at the beginning of our registration period,” Drummond said.
“Our under-10s played at half-time of the Super Rugby game between the Sharks and the Rebels.”
