In the second article on the series profiling wheelchair rugby clubs, we head to Johannesburg to meet Mandeville Wheelchair Rugby Club
Mandeville Wheelchair Rugby Club is inseparable from the history of wheelchair rugby in South Africa. Known as The Rhinos, the club was one of the founding forces behind the introduction of the sport in the late 1990s. It is also the longest continuously running wheelchair rugby club in the country.
In 1998, Mandeville hosted the first wheelchair rugby tournament ever held in South Africa. This event marked the formal beginning of the sport at a national level. Later that same year, the club won the first Wheelchair Rugby National Championships, establishing itself as both a pioneer and an early benchmark for performance.
From its earliest days, Mandeville helped shape the culture, rules and competitive expectations of wheelchair rugby in South Africa. That legacy continues to define the club today.
Jozi’s Home of Wheelchair Rugby
Mandeville Wheelchair Rugby Club is based at the Mandeville Sports and Social Club in Bezuidenhout Valley, Johannesburg. The venue is widely recognised as the premier disability sports club in South Africa and has a long history of supporting adaptive sport at both recreational and elite levels.
Within this environment, wheelchair rugby has flourished. The facilities, accessibility, and sporting culture of Mandeville Sports and Social Club provide a stable and professional home for training, competition, and athlete development. For many athletes, it is the first place they encounter organised wheelchair rugby.
Largest club in the country
Mandeville is currently the largest wheelchair rugby club in South Africa. The club fields three active teams in the South African Wheelchair Rugby League. This includes one Paralympic-format team and two Wheelchair Rugby Fives teams, known as the Red Rhinos and White Rhinos.
This depth allows the club to support athletes at different stages of their journey. New players, developing athletes, and experienced competitors all train within the same programme. The result is a strong internal pathway that supports both performance and retention.
Consistent success at the top
Mandeville’s size is matched by its competitiveness. In 2024, the club achieved an exceptional milestone by winning both the Paralympic and Fives league formats. This rare double win highlighted the strength of the club across multiple versions of the game. In 2025, Mandeville again reached the finals in both formats and finished as runners-up. This confirms the club’s sustained presence at the top of the national standings and its ability to compete year after year. Mandeville is widely regarded as one of the most difficult teams to face in South African wheelchair rugby.
International presentation
The club plays a significant role in the national high-performance system. In 2025, five of the nine athletes selected for the South African National Paralympic Squad were members of Mandeville Wheelchair Rugby Club, including Clyde Holland, Jeffrey Yates, Bonga Khumalo, More Mulder and Lucas Sithole.
That squad won the European Division C Tournament in October 2025, marking a major international success for South African wheelchair rugby. Mandeville athletes played a central role, reinforcing the club’s reputation as a producer of elite-level players.
Inclusive by design
Mandeville is home to approximately 25 active athletes with a wide range of disabilities, ranging from quadriplegia and cerebral palsy to spina bifida. The club actively accommodates athletes across all eligible wheelchair rugby classifications. Inclusion is not an add-on. It is embedded in how the Mandeville programme operates. Athletes are supported regardless of background, experience or level of impairment. The focus is on ability, commitment, growth within the sport and, most importantly, creating a healthy, safe and inspiring environment for a close-knit community of athletes.
Gauteng central and beyond
Mandeville services the Gauteng Central region, with a catchment area that extends into the East Rand. It is widely recognised as the premier wheelchair rugby club in the Johannesburg area. For many athletes in the region, Mandeville represents the highest level of club competition available locally. The club plays a leadership role in growing the sport across Gauteng Central and strengthening regional participation.
Key feeder into province
The club is a major feeder into the Gauteng Central (Lions) Provincial Wheelchair Rugby Team. Athletes progressing from Mandeville into provincial structures arrive technically prepared and tactically aware. This consistency has helped strengthen provincial performance and ensures alignment between club development and higher-level competition.
Coaching and strategic influence
Mandeville is coached by Ilan Guest, who has been involved with the club for over 10 years. During this period, the club has grown into one of the dominant forces in South African wheelchair rugby. Beyond the club, Ilan has held several senior roles within South Africa Wheelchair Rugby, including High Performance Director, Tournament Director, and his current role as Director of Fives Rugby.
In this new role, he is responsible for guiding the national development of the fast- growing Fives format of the sport. This close link between club leadership and national strategy has helped ensure consistency, alignment, and long-term vision at Mandeville Wheelchair Rugby.
High-performance training
Training takes place every Thursday from 18:00 to 20:00 at the Mandeville Stadium. Sessions are structured and purposeful. Athletes work on physical conditioning, chair skills and contact technique, alongside tactical awareness and team systems. The programme is designed to meet Paralympic performance standards while remaining athlete-centred and supportive. Development is deliberate, measurable, and aligned with national performance expectations.
More than a club
Despite its success, Mandeville remains grounded in community. The club is known for its strong culture and sense of belonging. Many athletes arrive at Mandeville during periods of personal transition. Through wheelchair rugby, they gain physical strength, confidence and purpose. The club offers more than competition. It offers identity, support, and opportunity.
More than 25 years after hosting South Africa’s first wheelchair rugby tournament, Mandeville Wheelchair Rugby Club continues to lead the sport forward. Built on history and driven by performance, the Rhinos remain at the heart of wheelchair rugby in South Africa.
Reach out to the club on 083 657 3706 or mandevillewcr@gmail.com. Following the club on Facebook and Instagram at @mandevillewcr.
