Amateur rugby club signs former national players

An amateur rugby league club from Norfolk has signed a former South African international for the coming season.

The East Anglian Vipers have secured two international players and one international rugby sevens player as a reserve for this season.

Both Dylan Venter and Mike Mavovana have represented South Africa internationally and will join the Wymondham-based club.

Rob Humphries, chairman of the club, said: “We want to build on a foundation of local talent.”

Andrico Johannes will also join the club after a period playing rugby league in the USA.

Mr Humphries said: “We don’t want to be a team full of foreign players who have no connection to the local community.”

“We want to build on a foundation of local talent, but if we can add a dash of class, it will help everyone get better.”

“Exciting” professional ambitions

The Vipers are aiming for a professional career and are in talks with the Rugby Football League (RFL) about possible professional membership in 2025.

To boost their reputation, they are trying to get more people interested in the sport by hosting a festival this weekend.

“It’s really exciting to think that young local rugby players could potentially have a professional rugby league team on their doorstep,” Mr Humphries said.

The Vipers women’s team will play on Wymondham Rugby Club’s main pitch for the first time this weekend.

“It is fantastic to be able to host an event of this magnitude,” said the chairman.

It all starts at 12:00 (BST) on Saturday at Wymondham Rugby Club.

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