Profiling wheelchair rugby clubs competing in the South African Wheelchair Rugby League, we head to Eersterust to meet a young club
Poort Wheelchair Rugby Club, known as The Royals, was officially established in late 2022 by Coach Samuel “Sam” Ramatladi. In 2021, Coach Sam partnered with the Eersterust Community Health Centre, specifically its therapeutic services department, to host a disability sports day. The event introduced wheelchair rugby to the community for the first time.
Coach Sam has been involved in wheelchair rugby since 2015, when he was introduced to the sport by therapist and classifier Lea Swanepoel and later mentored by Victor Buitendag. He went on to coach and manage the Vikings Wheelchair Rugby Club in Soshanguve for seven years. During this time, he also helped facilitate a strategic partnership with Philadelphia Special High School, ensuring sustained access to the sport for learners and graduates with disabilities.
At the 2021 disability sports day, in a township often overlooked in formal sporting structures, Coach Sam recognised an opportunity to build something meaningful. Poort began to take shape.
The club’s first recruits were Neil Hofmeester and Deon Torris, both community leaders who would go on to become Chairperson and Deputy Chairperson of the club. They are now regarded as foundational figures, who helped turn an idea into a functioning team.
Shortly after, Lesandra Arries became the club’s first female player. Her involvement helped broaden participation and brought new energy to the group. She played a key role in recruiting Roman Cameron, one of the club’s most talented athletes, who would later earn selection into the Wheelchair Rugby Fives preliminary national squad just two years after joining the sport.
Poort represents the next chapter in Coach Sam’s journey. It is a continuation of his work and a new frontier. He remains a dedicated volunteer, deeply committed to growing the sport.
He is actively pursuing coaching and officiating development through programmes run by World Wheelchair Rugby and has ambitions to establish at least two additional township-based clubs in the near future.
Growing team with emerging talent
Today, Poort Wheelchair Rugby Club has approximately 11 active players. It is a small squad by national standards, but one rich in character and potential.
Among its rising stars is Thato Jiyane, the youngest player in the entire South African Wheelchair Rugby League at just 13 years old (in 2026). The club continues to grow its female participation with Victoria Mgiba recently joining as another promising young athlete. The Royal’s reach extends beyond Eersterust with players such as Tshepo Moakamela and Martins Thibela, based in Ga- Rankuwa and Soshanguve, joining despite logistical challenges.
Despite its recent formation, Poort has already made its mark in competition. The club has secured three bronze medals within its first four years, a strong return for a young team still building depth and experience.
Building in a challenging environment
Eersterust is a community with deep social challenges such as unemployment, substance abuse and limited access to structured opportunities. Within this context, disability often carries an additional burden. There remains a cultural perception in some parts of the community that people with disabilities should be hidden from public life.
Poort Wheelchair Rugby Club exists in direct opposition to that idea. The club is built on a simple, powerful mission: To promote disability awareness through sport while improving the mental wellbeing of individuals with disabilities.
Its vision is equally clear: To help athletes reach their full potential while creating opportunities for growth, confidence and empowerment.
As one of the first disability sport initiatives in Eersterust, the club is actively working to shift how disability is understood within the community. It challenges stigma, creates visibility and builds confidence among athletes who might otherwise remain excluded. Through unity, determination and consistent engagement, Poort is helping to reshape perceptions and inspire a new generation.
Development beyond the court
Poort Wheelchair Rugby Club is not only focused on league competition. Its broader impact lies in community development. The club hosts an annual disability sports day in Eersterust, which reaches neighbouring communities such as Mamelodi, Refilwe (Cullinan) and Atteridgeville.
It introduces participants to a range of adaptive sports, including wheelchair racing, dancing, volleyball and hockey. Wheelchair rugby sits at the centre of this offering, but the broader aim is inclusion and participation.
Poort also invests in team cohesion and wellbeing. The club organises at least two outings per year, including trips to the movies or recreational venues. These are rare opportunities for players to leave their immediate environment. In 2025, the team travelled to Bloemfontein for a joint development day with the Mustangs Wheelchair Rugby Club. For some players, it was their first time travelling outside of Pretoria.
The club is preparing to undertake a tour of Tshwane district health facilities in collaboration with therapeutic departments to promote wheelchair rugby and other adaptive sports. There are also plans to grow the annual disability sports day into a regional and eventually national event with participation from across Gauteng and beyond.
Call for support
The progress of Poort has not come easily. The club continues to face significant constraints such as a lack of a dedicated training venue, limited access to transport and ongoing funding challenges. These barriers affect everything from training consistency to player recruitment and competition participation.
To sustain and expand its impact, Poort Wheelchair Rugby Club requires financial support and sponsorship to support athlete development, transport, equipment and access to training facilities.
If you would like to support the club or learn more, reach out on e-mail at sramatladi3@gmail.com or phone 062 658 2369. Follow along with their journey on Facebook at @poortwcrugby.
