Join as a player
Pull on the green, white and red
You might never have played, or you might be moving from another club. Either way, this is how you join Gardens: the steps, the documents you need and what the club expects of its players.
Two ways in
Gardens fields three senior men's sides, an under-21 team and a women's team. Everyone who plays must be a registered club member and must be registered with the Eastern Province Rugby Union. The club's registrar handles the union side for you.
You are not registered with any other club this season. Come and train, register and you are in.
Six steps Transfers Moving from another clubYou played for another club, in Eastern Province or anywhere else. You need a clearance before you can play for Gardens.
Five stepsAspirant players
Joining as a new player
From your first message to your first match.
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Get in touch
Send the club a WhatsApp message with your name, age, where you live, the position you play or would like to play, and any rugby you have played before. The club will tell you when and where to come to training.
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Come and train
Come to two or three sessions before you commit. The coaches will see where you fit and you will see how the club works. Bring boots, a gum guard, water and kit to train in.
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Register as a club member
Complete the member registration form and choose Senior player or Junior player. Pay the season fee, or speak to the treasurer about paying it off.
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Union registration
The registrar registers you with the Eastern Province Rugby Union on SA Rugby's player registration system. Give the registrar:
- a copy of your ID, or your birth certificate if you are under 18
- a recent head-and-shoulders photo
- the club's signed medical and consent form
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Medical and safety
Tell the coaches about any injury, medical condition or medication. Under-18 players need a parent or guardian to sign their consent form. The club follows BokSmart safety guidelines, including the concussion protocol, and players wear a gum guard at training and in matches.
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Selection
Once your registration is confirmed you are available for selection. The coaches pick teams on commitment, attendance at training and form. With three senior sides, there is a place to play.
Do not skip step 4. A player who is not registered with the union may not play in an official match, and fielding one can cost the club the result.
Transfers
Moving from another club
If you were registered with another club, your registration has to be moved to Gardens before you can play.
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Talk to Gardens first
Tell the club where you played last, which union that club falls under, the level you played at and when you last played. The registrar will explain which forms apply to you.
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Leave your old club in good standing
Settle any subscriptions you owe and return the club's kit. A club can refuse to release a player who still owes it, which delays your move.
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Get your clearance
Ask your previous club's secretary for a clearance. Transfers are processed through the union on SA Rugby's player registration system. A move within Eastern Province goes through EPRU. A move from another union has to be approved by both unions.
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Register with Gardens
Complete the member registration form and give the registrar your documents (see the list). The registrar submits the transfer for you.
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Wait for approval
You are welcome to train with Gardens while the transfer is processed, but you cannot play in a league or cup match until the union approves it. The registrar will tell you when you are cleared.
Suspensions move with you. Tell the club about any suspension or open disciplinary matter at your old club. It is normally carried over to your new club, and the registrar needs to know before applying.
What Gardens expects of its players
The club was founded in 1932 on two principles: discipline and respect. Every player signs up to the players' code of conduct.
Discipline and respect
For your teammates, the opposition, the referee and the supporters, on and off the field.
Commitment
Come to training. If you cannot make a session or a match, tell your coach or team manager in advance.
The jersey
Look after club kit, wear it with pride and return it when you are asked to.
Clean sport
SA Institute for Drug-Free Sport rules apply to every player. Check any medicine or supplement before you take it.
Look after each other
Report injuries and suspected concussion. Nobody plays on with a head knock.
Online
What you post reflects on the club. Keep team news and selections inside the team until the club announces them.
Questions players ask
I have never played rugby. Can I still join?
Yes. Many Gardens players started at the club. Come to training, tell the coaches you are new, and they will teach you the basics safely before you are picked to play.
Is there a trial?
There is no separate trial. You train with the squad and the coaches pick teams from the players who train.
Can women join?
Yes. The Gardens women's team has produced two Springboks, across XVs and sevens, and seven Eastern Province players. The steps on this page are the same.
I am under 18. What is different?
A parent or guardian must sign your consent form, and you register with your birth certificate if you do not have an ID yet. Ask the club which team suits your age.
Can I train while my transfer goes through?
Yes. You can train with Gardens while the union processes your transfer. You cannot play in a league or cup match until it is approved.
I still owe money to my old club. What now?
Speak to your old club. Agree a way to settle it, in writing if you can, because the club can hold back your clearance until it is sorted out.
What does it cost?
Season fees are in the "Who to speak to" box above. If the fee is a problem, speak to the club. Nobody should stop playing because of money without talking to the club first.
Ready to play?
Register with Gardens RFC
Register as a member online, then message the club so the registrar knows you are coming.
- Three senior sides, under 21 and women
- A club that has produced Springboks
- Club documents and codes of conduct