About

Rhodes>Sports>About

About

From basketball to rowing, mountain climbing to cricket, and underwater diving to soccer, Rhodes University has a large number of active sports clubs for you to choose from.  The wide range of activities is well supported by excellent competitive and recreational facilities and equipment, and students are able to experience and participate in pursuits not offered at school.  All the sports facilities, excluding those required for rowing, sailing and canoe, are located on campus and within easy walking distance from the residences.

Involvement in sport at Rhodes holds the promise of opportunity, achievement, enjoyment, the establishment of lifelong friendships and, above all, a well-rounded university experience.

If you are serious about your sporting and recreational pursuits and also want to experience the enjoyment and camaraderie that sport can provide, Rhodes University is the place for you!

Sports people at Rhodes form a closely knit community.  The friendly, intimate experience of the campus makes it easy to meet new people, and each sports club is a centre of social activities with meetings, practices, fixtures and fun events organized by students who are assisted by professional sports administrators.

All students are entitled to make use of the excellent facilities provided.  All levels of sport are catered for, enabling both competitive and recreational sports people to fulfill their sporting ambitions.  In addition, the inter-residence programme remains popular.

There are some 31 sporting codes on offer covering a wide variety of interest areas and students are encouraged to take part on a social, recreational or competitive level.

Contact Sports Administration:

Tel:  046-603 8366

Fax:  046-603 7354

rhodessport@ru.ac.za

Website Link:  http://www.ru.ac.za/sportsadmin

Facilities

Rhodes University boasts a vast number of sports facilities, all of which are available for students.  Access to most of the facilities is free, although student cards must be provided as a means of identification.  The facilities may be accessed at any time except during specified Club times. 

Rhodes University provides the following facilities:

1 Swimming Pool

1 Table Tennis Hall

1 Multi-user Clubhouse

8 Tennis Courts (6 floodlit)

1 Floodlit Rugby Fields

1 Indoor Climbing Wall

1 Beach Volleyball Court

9 Squash Courts

2 Cricket Fields

1 Basketball & Volleyball Hall

1 Martial Arts Dojo

1 Rowing Tank

1 Floodlit Artificial Hockey Surface

1 Outdoor Floodlit Basketball & Netball Court

1 Rowing / Sailing / Canoe Clubhouse at Settlers’ Dam

1 Floodlit Grass Athletics Track

1 Health Suite (Weight Training, Spinning, Aerobics)

1 50m Floodlit Rifle Range

3 Floodlit Soccer Fields

1 100m Floodlit Archery Range

1 Multi-purpose Mini Astro (Soccer, Hockey, Cricket)

3 Netball Courts (floodlit)

 

Health Suite

The Rhodes Health Suite is managed by a full time member of staff, the Health Suite Manager, who is available to assist members as required.  The Health Suite is comprised of a weight training facility as well as an aerobics studio and a spinning/indoor cycling section.  The weight training facility offers cardiovascular, circuit and free weight training and staff are available to assist with training programmes.  There are approximately four aerobics and five spinning classes per day during term time, which are led by qualified instructors.

Archery

The Archery Club caters for both beginner as well as advanced archers.  The Club has access to a 30, 50, 70 and 90m range.  Equipment is provided and qualified coaches assist members.  The more competitive members participate in the Eastern Province Championships, South African Nationals, Indoor Championships as well as other postals and other shoots in the Eastern Cape.  All forms of Archery are practised including standard bow, compound and recurve.  Adult or junior, the Club welcomes all.

Athletics

The Rhodes Athletics Club caters for athletes interested in road running, cross country, track & field, duathlon, triathlon and biathlon.  The Club organises regular training runs.  The members compete in Eastern Province Athletics events, as well as races further afield such as the Comrades and Two Oceans Marathons.  The Club is also affiliated to USSA Athletics, which enables its members to compete against other tertiary institutions in South Africa.

Basketball

The Rhodes Basketball Club competes successfully in the Nelson Mandela Bay Basketball Association and Campus Basketball Leagues.  There is one indoor court at Rhodes with a sprung wooden floor, and an outdoor, floodlit, all weather surface.  The facilities are available for use by all Rhodes students.  The Club provides numerous players, on an annual basis, to the Nelson Mandela Bay senior and Eastern Cape students’ teams.

Canoe

The Rhodes Canoe Club caters for both social and serious canoeists, with members training at Settlers’ Dam.  The Club is affiliated to the Eastern Province Canoe Union, which has a full race calendar through the year.  Members travel across the whole country to all major races.

Chess

The Rhodes Chess Club is affiliated to USSA Chess and Eastern Province Chess.  The Club provides chessboards and sets, clocks and coaching books.  The Club competes in all tournaments organised by either of the two bodies it is affiliated to as well as open tournaments.  The Rhodes Chess Club hosts an annual Open Tournament at which players from across the Eastern Cape compete against each other.

https://www.facebook.com/Rhodes-University-Chess-Club-2019-551236612053545/ 

Cricket

The Rhodes Cricket Club competes successfully in both the Eastern Province and Grahamstown Leagues.  The First XI are dominant in the Nelson Mandela Bay Premier League, while we have two sides competing in the Grahamstown First League.  In addition a Fourth XI competes in the Grahamstown Second League and the Club participates in both the Grahamstown Night League and the annual Pineapple Tournament.  A number of players have represented Border/EP at the senior and Colts level while the Second XI regularly provides players to the EP Country District Team.  Rhodes competes successfully in the USSA Cricket Week held in December each year.  The club organises a very popular internal T20 league.

Dance Sport

Dance Sport was established in 2009 and offers a variety of dance classes from beginner to advance level. The Club also offer social dance lessons to staff members and other students who do not want to pursue dance as their main sport. Dance Sport is affiliated to FEDANSA and participates in various competitions provincially and nationally.

First Aid

The First Aid Club was formed in 1998.  The Club is affiliated to St John Ambulance.  Foundation Courses are run to train members at both elementary and more advanced levels each year.  Practical experience is gained through providing first aid at university sports matches.

Fly Fishing

Rhodes University Fly Fishing was formed in September 1994.  The Club has grown in size and reputation over the past few years with organised events including fly fishing evenings, video shows, casting clinics and trips to both salt and fresh bodies of water.  Annual trips include visiting dams in King Williamstown, Maclair, Hogsback, Queenstown and local dams around Grahamstown.

Golf

The Rhodes Golf Club offers exciting opportunities for competitive and social golfers.  Events and tournaments include Night Golf, Intervarsity and the USSA Golf Tournament.  The Club also operates on a programme which caters for beginners.

Hockey

The Rhodes Hockey Club is the biggest competitive club on campus, fielding 3 men’s and 3 ladies’ teams in the Eastern Province and Grahamstown Leagues.  We also cater for social hockey league.  We are fortunate to have our own artificial hockey surface, which provides outstanding opportunities for our players, it is situated in a corner of campus. Our Astroturf has witnessed blood, sweat and tears as we leave it all out on the park when it comes to game time.  The Club provides numerous players to Eastern Province and South African teams and is competitive throughout the leagues. Our club has good people and good energy with a passion for hockey, we are typically known as "Gees Rhodents who hit hard balls with sticks."

https://www.facebook.com/Rhodes-University-Hockey-Club-1476572715889352/

Karate

The Club is affiliated to Eastern Cape Shotokan-Ryu.  Members participate in regular training sessions and can advance towards grading sessions and competitions at the club on provincial and national level.  The club has a number of highly qualified coaches.

Mixed Martial Arts

Based on the Cobra, this is a practical form of self-defence, which leads to the development of a sense of awareness.  The Rhodes Mixed Martial Arts divides their training sessions into beginner & advanced classes, with each group training 3 times a week.  Also included are lessons in Goshin Ruy Ju Jutsu.

Mountain

The Rhodes University Mountain Club (RUMC) is a club that offers a wide range of activities aimed at those passionate about the outdoors. We offer hiking, camping, rock climbing, abseiling, slack lining and the chance to meet awesome like minded people. All this while exploring the Eastern Cape and beyond. We also pride ourselves in our community engagement efforts and are actively involved with the Grahamstown/Makhanda scout cubs as well as other initiatives. There is organised indoor sport climbing twice a week and the Club members compete in local and national climbing and hiking competitions.

You can find us on Facebook @Rhodes University Mountain Club, and on Instagram @rumc_adventures

Netball

Netball is popular with students both on a social and competitive level.  The Rhodes Netball Club is affiliated to the CACADU and Nelson Mandela Bay Leagues.  This Club consists of highly competitive women and it continues to grow from strength to strength. It is this growth that has seen three new netball courts established in order to cater for growing numbers.

Pool

Pool is popular with students both on a social and competitive level.  The Rhodes Pool Club is affiliated to the Grahamstown and Eastern Province Leagues.  This Club consists of highly competitive men and women and it continues to grow from strength to strength.  All Club activities are hosted on campus at the “Purple Horse” where its tables are housed.

Rifle

This is the only university club of its sort.  It caters for both beginners as well as advanced shots.  The Club supplies all necessary equipment and ammunition is partially subsidised.  The Club participates in shoots in Port Elizabeth, Grahamstown and the Nationals in Pretoria.

Rowing

The Rhodes University Rowing Club is one of South Africa’s top university rowing club with a proud history of competing at the highest level of South Rowing and competing on the international stage. The club prides its self on achieving top results at national level races including numerous victories every year on a national level as well as regular podium results at the biggest events on the USSA Rowing calendar. As well as providing opportunities for athletes to make the step to competing on an international level against the worlds best. Along with the competitive side of Rhodes rowing the club offers rowing to all levels from those trying to race the worlds best to anyone looking to try out the sport for the first time. Rhodes rowing provides an opportunity to try a new sport, pick up some fitness, make lasting friends and have a great time doing it! #livingthedream

https://www.facebook.com/rurc1934/ 

https://www.instagram.com/rurc1934/?hl=en

Rugby

The Rhodes University Rugby Football Club is affiliated to the Eastern Province Rugby Football Union, and participates in the EP U/21 League.  The Club has a 1st XV, 1st Reserve team and U/21 teams.  The University has one floodlit field.  In the past Rhodes has been well represented in the Border U/19, U/21, and 'A' teams.  The Club organises an Internal League which is highly popular amongst residences that compete fiercely for the champion’s title.

Sailing

The Sailing Club offers sailing in the Rebel, Sprog and Laser categories, whilst kite-boarding is growing in popularity.  The Club competes annually in the USSA Sailing Regatta as well as regional and provincial regattas. Boat activities take place on the nearby Settlers’ Dam to which aspirant sailors are transported.

Soccer

There are 20 men’s teams that take part in the Rhodes Internal Soccer League.  From these, teams are selected to represent Rhodes at inter-tertiary and inter-club matches.  The selected Rhodes soccer teams compete in the USSA Eastern Cape Football League with the aim to qualify for USSA Football National Championships at the end of the year. The Club has also established a 5 a side indoor soccer (futsal) league that caters for both men and women. The futsal league matches take place every Friday during term from 18:00 – 21:00

Squash

The Rhodes Squash Club caters for both competitive and social players – with 8 teams (men’s and ladies’) participating in the Port Elizabeth and local Grahamstown Leagues.  The Rhodes Ladies’ Internal League ensures regular matches for all levels.  Members are encouraged to participate in Graded Tournaments in Port Elizabeth, to ensure selection to provincial sides.  The squash courts are also available for social games by non-member students at no charge.

Surfing

The Rhodes Surf Club is a social surfing and body boarding club, which welcomes members of any skill level.  Several internal competitions are held to select an Intervarsity and USSA team, but apart from these, lifts ferry surfers to the beach every week.  The local break is in Port Alfred (55 km from Grahamstown), where surf is particularly consistent and those dedicated enough to get there are seldom disappointed.

Tae Kwon Do

Rhodes TaeKwondo is affiliated to Unified TaeKwondo. Unified Taekwon-Do is an international Taekwon-Do organization dedicated to the preservation and teaching of Taekwon-Do as set out by founder, General Choi Hong Hi. Join our growing global community of talented and dedicated practitioners.

Classes every Monday and Wednesday (17:30-19:30), also Sundays at 14:15 (will confirm this at classes during the week).

Rhodes Dojang (Next to Alec Mullins). Contact us at taekwondo@ru.ac.za or taekwondorhodes@gmail.com

Tennis

The Rhodes Tennis Club has six courts which are floodlit and a newly renovated club house. There are official practices twice a week with extra squad practices in the lead up to tournaments. The Club competes in the Grahamstown Night league, the annual USSA Tennis tournament and also has tours to Stellenbosch every second year. The Club has equipment for members to use and has coaches to assist players of all strengths. A number of Rhodes students have represented both Eastern Province and the South African Students’ Teams.

https://www.facebook.com/pages/category/Sports-Club/Rhodes-University-Tennis-Club-790211624657311/   

Underwater

The members of the Rhodes Underwater Club play underwater hockey and do scuba orienteering at social, club and provincial levels.  The Club also offers a wide variety of (NAUI) training courses from beginner to dive master.  Limited club equipment is available for its members.

Volleyball

The Rhodes Volleyball Club is affiliated to the Eastern Province Volleyball Union and has both men’s and ladies’ team which compete in the EP league.  The teams practise twice a week and qualified coaches assist members.  The Club provides numerous players, on an annual basis, to the Eastern Province senior and Eastern Cape Students’ teams.  The Club boasts a beach volleyball court, which is available for use by all students.    

Water Polo

 The Rhodes Water Polo Club caters for students who not only enjoy Swimming and Water Polo, but also a little competition and fun. As an old club resurfacing, we are laying new foundations and encourage beginners through to advanced players to join! 

We have a mens and women’s teams. We plan on competing regularly against the local schools as well as amongst ourselves. In 2023 we plan on joining a PE league. 

 

Last Modified: Wed, 26 Jul 2023 09:01:17 SAST