For over 80 years, Atlantics RFC has stood as a pillar in the coastal community of Hermanus. Through years of financial strain and lack of resources, the club’s leadership and players face immense pressure. This narrative took a turn for the better, however, following a chance meeting with Lord’s Taverners SA (LTSA) Managing Director, David Ralph, which laid the foundation for a powerful partnership.
Before the partnership, Atlantics battled a shortage of basic training equipment and struggled to pay for floodlights and field rentals. Today, thanks to the Spirit Foundation and Lord’s Taverners SA, the club boasts new tackle bags, goalpost covers and help with core expenses — changing how training sessions have developed by lifting the burden from club administrators.
The impact has been immediate and remarkable. Atlantics are unbeaten this season, having won all twelve of their league games to date. Supporters pack the sidelines every weekend, and the club has become a rallying point for the entire community.
“This partnership changed everything,” says Isak Henecke, executive member at Atlantics. “We’ve moved from surviving to planning for growth. We’re aiming to compete in the Grand Challenge next year and become a force for youth development – keeping young people away from drugs and gangs by bringing them into rugby.”
What makes Atlantics’ story even more powerful is the way it continues to honour its legacy. In 1972, tragedy struck when 63 members and supporters of the club died in a bus accident — a scar that the community still remembers. “We’ve been through hardship before. That pain taught us resilience. Now, with the Spirit Foundation partnership, we’re building something hopeful on the foundation of that history.
“We’re more prepared, more disciplined, and more connected. Training with proper gear makes us take ourselves seriously, and the results show it.”
Off the field, the partnership has allowed the management to focus on more than just survival. With support for electricity, equipment, and rental costs, leadership has been able to look beyond matchday logistics and invest in long-term development. Programmes for junior players and school outreach are already underway.
Community involvement has also soared. Supporters do not just fill the stands during matches; many now attend training sessions and volunteer their time. There is a definite buzz around the club. The partnership has helped reignite a sense of pride and ownership among residents, proving that rugby, when properly supported, can anchor and uplift a whole community.
