Helpmekaar Kollege's 1stXV is known for its exciting expansive style of rugby, where the props are expected to run around like wings and the wings to do the hard yards up front when needed.
However, with Shaun Jackson being replaced as head coach one will have to wait for the first matches to see if any changes were made to the game plan by RJ Liebenberg and JJ Pienaar, who was appointed as the new coaches.
This 2022 1stXV should be a more than competitive side with both age groups (u/14 & u/15) playing in the semi-finals of the VirSeker Cup competition in 2019 with the u/15's winning the final 24-12 against Monnas. An argument is currently being waged that this could be the best Helpmekaar 1stXV ever.
Helpmekaar will travel to KZN Midlands for their first match of the season to play Michaelhouse before they host Affies who they could not beat since 1998.
At the Noord/Suid festival hosted at Affies, a great game against Durbanville will be followed by one of their biggest tests of the 2022 season in Paul Roos.
Wildeklawer will also be no easy ride with the powerfull Paarl Gim Helpmekaar's first game. On the Monday they will have to pick them up to play an exciting Maritzburg College, who many believes have one of the better backlines in the country.
Three "difficult" games await Helpmekaar at the St John's Festival. Graham College will be no walkover, will be followed by one of Helpmekaar's biggest tests this season against a "rested" Paarl Boishaai on Saturday in the main game of the day. Nelspruit who is building their way back into the VirSeker Cup competition will give both teams a great idea of their form for the 2022 VirSeker competition.
The VirSeker Cup will test this exciting team with could just be the "dark horse" in this competition in a year where there are no clear favourites in the early stages of the season. However, many see them as the favourites for the 2022 1stXV title.
1stXV Provisional Fixtures (Home team 1st)
12/03/2022 Michaelhouse vs Helpmekaar
16/03/2022 Helpmekaar vs Affies
26/03/2022 Helpmekaar vs Durbanville (Noord/Suid)
29/03/2022 Helpmekaar vs Paul Roos (Noord/Suid)
14/04/2022 Helpmekaar vs Graham College (St John's)
16/04/2022 Helpmekaar vs Paarl Boishaai (St John's)
18/04/2022 Helpmekaar vs Nelspruit (St John's)
30/04/2022 Helpmekaar vs Paarl Gim (Wildeklawer)
02/05/2022 Helpmekaar vs Maritzburg College (Wildeklawer)
07/05/2022 Menlopark vs Helpmekaar
14/05/2022 Noordheuwel vs Helpmekaar
28/05/2022 Helpmekaar vs Middelburg HTS
04/06/2022 Helpmekaar vs EG Jansen
11/06/2022 Waterkloof vs Helpmekaar
23/07/2022 Garsfontein vs Helpmekaar
30/07/2022 Helpmekaar vs Monnas
06/08/2022 Helpmekaar vs Marais Viljoen
20/08/2022 VirSeker Cup Semi-finals
27/08/2022 VirSeker Cup Final
Other important dates:
23-30/03/2022 u/14A Kwagga Week (Outeniqua)
01-04/04/2022 u/15A Francois Swart Week (Affies)
10-13/04/2022 u/16A Camp Discovery Rugby Camp
21-24/04/2022 u/15A Cap Discovery Rugby Camp
29/04 - 02/05/2022 U/14, u/15, u/16 Wildeklawer