Neville Rhoda was the first of his family to immigrate to Manitoba from South Africa where he had learned to play rugby in school. His five brothers and parents soon followed, much to the benefit of rugby in Manitoba. His father had played rugby in school in South Africa, teamed with the father of Desmond Walton, another member of our rugby community. Starting in 1969, Neville started playing rugby with the Wanderers, the longest established club in Manitoba rugby, and he continued to do so for about 30 years. He started his playing career as a fleet footed stand-off and he ended it as a powerful prop. No matter what position he played, he was a force to be reckoned with and a wily and productive player.
Neville played rugby for the Manitoba Provincial team for many years, where he was one of the mainstays of the team, often playing with one or more of his brothers, all of whom played rugby. He also started coaching before hanging up his boots. He has coached the Wanderers women’s` team for many years as well as coaching or helping to coach the Wanderers men’s` teams. He has coached at the school level as well. He continues coaching and contributing to the game of rugby to this day.
Neville has been instrumental in recruiting people into playing rugby by the example he set, by the attitude of fair competition and camaraderie he displayed and by his level of commitment. He has been both an elite and a social member of our community and a driving force in the continued success and spirit of the Wanderers Rugby Football Club. Neville has contributed to the growth of the game in Manitoba in enumerable ways.
Neville played rugby for the Manitoba Provincial team for many years, where he was one of the mainstays of the team, often playing with one or more of his brothers, all of whom played rugby. He also started coaching before hanging up his boots. He has coached the Wanderers women’s` team for many years as well as coaching or helping to coach the Wanderers men’s` teams. He has coached at the school level as well. He continues coaching and contributing to the game of rugby to this day.
Neville has been instrumental in recruiting people into playing rugby by the example he set, by the attitude of fair competition and camaraderie he displayed and by his level of commitment. He has been both an elite and a social member of our community and a driving force in the continued success and spirit of the Wanderers Rugby Football Club. Neville has contributed to the growth of the game in Manitoba in enumerable ways.