The Shamboks Golden Oldies Rugby Club is looking for new players to join for the upcoming 2021 season.
What is Golden Oldies Rugby?
Golden Oldies Rugby is the largest veteran rugby movement in the world and is open to all individuals over the age of 35 years - with the average player age being 50 years old.
Currently 11 clubs from all around Perth participate in the tournament held every second Sunday
during the rugby season.
Who is the Shamboks?
Our club was established in 1991 when the Golden Oldies rugby tournament first came to
Perth. The Shamboks have since played at every Golden Oldies Rugby Carnival, and also took
part in the World Vintage Rugby festival that was hosted in Perth. We are a multi-cultural over 35's rugby team, with the majority of players being in their late 40's and 50's. What's different about the Shamboks is that we are the only other rugby club in the world whom have permission from the South African Rugby Union to use the Springbok emblem as the team logo on our jerseys.
When does the season start and when do you play?
The season kicks off on Sunday 28th March. Games are every second Sunday. The following provides a link to the upcoming 2021 fixtures: Fixtures Link
When do you train and how fit do I need to be?
We don't train during the week, the whole idea is to get fit while you play, socialize and most importantly have a few laughs. The rules allow for unlimited substitutes and you can leave and return to the game as many times as your lungs allow. The majority of players in the tournament are "weekend warriors" and 20kg overweight. Fitness is definitely not a prerequisite!
How long are the games?
We play play 2 games of 40 minutes each and which consists of 20 min halves. We usually take a breather and grab a quick beer before the next game.
Is the games competitive and what are the rules?
The Golden Oldies Laws embody and reflect the spirit of Golden Oldies Rugby. The rules are varied to provide a less competitive version of the game in which player enjoyment is maximised and the
possibility of injury is minimised. Some of the major differences:
Scrums: All scrums are uncontested.
Lineouts: Quick lineouts and lifting of players in the lineout is not permitted
Kicking of the ball: Kicking of the ball is frowned upon and you will get a lot of flack from your
team mates! A player will not kick the ball unless a penalty has been awarded, (a scrum can be taken as the option for a penalty)
Substitutions: Substitutions are unlimited. Substitution of players are permitted at any time and a player substituted earlier may return to the game at any time
Tackles, Rucks and Mauls: To minimise the chance of injury there are no “cleaning out” of players at tackles, rucks or mauls. Over vigorous rucking and counter rucking and reckless driving into tackles, rucks and mauls are not permitted
What kit do I need to play?
To start with all you need is a pair of shorts and second hand pair of footy boots from Salvos. We always have extra Shamboks player jerseys handy at each games. New players can order kit consisting out of short, rugby socks and a player jersey if desired.
How much is it going to cost me?
Rugby Australia requires that all players playing in the Golden Oldies tournament are registered with Rugby WA before playing a game. The current registration cost is $142.80 which consist of Rugby Australia and Rugby Australia registration fees as well as basic player insurance.
So what is next?
If you are interested in joining our team, or want to know a bit more about Golden Oldies Rugby in general, email us at shamboks.wa@gmail.com, or contact our club representatives on the numbers below.
- Chris Klopper - Club Chairman: 045 786 6757
- Wynand Hamman - Club Secretary: 041 668 7035
