Gasbottels secure eighth straight title at Henties Bay

Walvis Bay team 'Gasbottels' were crowned champions of the main cup division at the 2025 Sparta United touch rugby tournament in Henties Bay on Friday 26 December, securing their eighth consecutive title at the annual beach event and walking away with a N$5 000 prize. The tournament, staged on the Henties Bay main beach, featured 17 teams competing across two divisions and attracted large crowds throughout the day, with play continuing into the late afternoon. Despite a slightly delayed finish, organisers described the event as a clear success. Morne Schloms, president of the Sparta Rugby Club, said the club works closely with Sparta United Recreational, the main organisers of the tournament. Schloms said Gasbottels had to work hard to raise the trophy again. “This team has won for several years in a row, but they had very good competition this year. You could see the players were hungry for touch rugby, and the standard was at 100% throughout the day,” he said. Teams competed in a Premier or Club Division and a Plate Division. Gasbottels won the main cup, while Western Cape visitors 'Strand Honde' claimed the Plate Division and walked away with N$3 000 in prize money. According to Schloms, the tournament has been hosted annually for the past six to seven years consecutively, building on a festive tradition stretching back for decades, and continues to attract teams from Namibia and South Africa, with entries typically filling the maximum capacity. Beyond the rugby, the event offered a full social programme, including food stalls, drinks and live music, creating a festive beach atmosphere. Schloms said the tournament serves as an informal warm-up for players ahead of the new rugby year. “It was a good day of touch rugby, good music, good food and a real family day,” he said.