Source: This article is taken from the July 2011 issue of Sports Illustrated
Many of South Africa’s most talented rugby players never had the opportunity to play for the Springboks.
Former SARU player Gary Boshoff details the history of black rugby in SA, and chooses the 10 best players never to have played for the Boks.
Just like erstwhile (but now forgotten) black sports heroes such as football’s Baboo Kallicharran and Smiley Moosey, golf’s Papwa Sewgolum and tennis’ David Samaai, there are many talented South African rugby players who also missed out on national and international recognition by choosing to play non-racial sport as opposed to the more lucrative and glamorous ‘establishment sport’ (the sport structures recognised and supported by the apartheid regime).
For these sportsmen and women, electing to play non-racial sport was much more than a sport decision: it was a conscientious rejection of the apartheid system as a whole, a form of deliberate protest against injustice and oppression under apartheid.
History of black rugby
The circumstances and experiences of white and black (coloured, African and Indian) rugby players were markedly different during the apartheid years. Firstly, one has to accept that prior to 1991, no one national team – be it the South African Rugby Board (Springboks), the South African Rugby Union (SARU), the South African Rugby Federation (Proteas) or the South African Rugby Association (Leopards) – was truly representative of all the rugby players in the country and as such could not have claimed to have had all the best players on offer in South Africa at the time in their respective teams. In fact, they were all selecting ‘national teams’ of some sort, well aware of the fact that they only represented sections of the rugby-playing population and not all of it.
This historical context is crucial to understanding the particular circumstances under which members of SARU had to administer and play the game: a lack of facilities, limited resources, absence of international competition, lack of sponsorship from big business, and constant harassment of its administrators and players by the Special Security Branch of the SA Police. It certainly wasn’t ‘normal’, as was supposedly the case under the South African Rugby Board of Danie Craven. Notwithstanding the perceived ‘normality’ of SARB, the integration of SARF and SARA into the establishment system (in 1978) was based on the apartheid model of separate development. Black players were only token selections in representative teams, to advance the establishment policy of multi-racialism as a strategy to regain entry to international competition. Throughout this era, SARU officials were approached by the establishment structures to merge on numerous occasions, but resisted until a proper democratic dispensation was on offer after the release of Nelson Mandela in 1989.
In fact, it was Danie Craven himself who on more than one occasion recognised the rugby talent evident in the black communities. He first made the comment when Green Vigo, a coloured fisherman from the Cape West Coast, was contracted by English rugby league club Wigan to play professionally in England. For what it was worth, Craven stated at the time (1973) that Vigo was good enough to play for the Springboks.
The separation of the various rugby-playing communities on racial grounds under apartheid made it virtually impossible for white South Africans to notice the available rugby talent within the numerous rugby- playing communities and structures affiliated to non-racial sport.
There were many great players that came through the SARU structures and represented their respective provinces in the South African (SA) Cup (SARU’s inter-provincial competition prior to unification in 1991).
Many of these brilliant rugby players left an indelible record of excellence which has since been recognised by their peers, and which is documented (though inadequately) in the history pages of non-racial sport. Sports Illustrated’s list of top rugby players (see further down) was compiled based on the input and recollection of former ‘national and provincial players and administrators, as well as sport journalists who reported on many of the matches in which these legends played.
Though many of their exploits and achievements were not documented and remained untested, the testimony of their accomplishments has endured and has indeed become part of local community folklore. Notwithstanding this, most of the player credentials reflected here are based on reliable and valid assessments of the abilities of these players, the leagues they played in and the quality of the competition to which they were exposed. After analysing the available information and testimonies supplied by reputable former rugby administrators and teammates it can be established with reasonable certainty that the following 10 players would indeed have gained selection to an integrated national team if they had been given sufficient opportunity to play under a fair and equal dispensation.
Piet Jooste [1970-1985]
A former SARU captain and presently convener of selectors for the Springboks, Jooste was known as one of the toughest, most robust rugby players ever produced by the non-racial rugby system. He led from the front as a lock is supposed to and commanded much respect throughout the non-racial rugby community. He still does.
Salie Fredericks was one of a kind: Intimidating, huge and oozing authority on the field
Salie Fredericks [1958-1978]
Every single one of Salie Fredericks’ contemporaries swears that he was one of a kind: intimidating, huge and oozing authority on the field. He was the leader of the Western Province pack that ran roughshod over the opposition and was feared throughout South Africa. He played over 200 provincial matches for WP and captained them to three successive Rhodes Trophy titles. A rugby legend in the true sense of the word.
Cassiem Jabaar [1968-1978]
Cassiem Jabaar was famous for his ability to control and dictate the game from behind the dominant WP pack of forwards. His strengths were his ability to combine with his loose forwards and to dictate play from the set-pieces. He is generally acknowledged as the best scrumhalf from the non-racial fold. He just edges out Julian Smith, who played for Tygerberg in the 1970s and ’80s and who was renowned for his tactical approach to the game and his precision kicking from behind the scrums and line-outs.
Gabriel Noble [1976-1991]
Described by many as SARU’s Mike Gibson (the Irish back who played in numerous positions in the 1960s and ’70s). His main asset was his tactical awareness and his uncanny ability to create space for his outside centre. He had a strong hand-off and scored many tries because of it. He also had excellent kicking abilities and slotted many drop goals when most needed. Mature and calm, he was an ideal leader who marshalled the midfield to perfection.
Godfrey Simons [1977-1991]
In the 1984 SARU celebrations at the Athlone Stadium, Gabriel Noble and Godfrey Simons were the centre pairing in the match against a Western Cape XV. Their performance that day has been recognised by many as one of the best displays of centre play seen in SARU jerseys: Noble the creator of space and Simons the creative runner – stepping, swerving and accelerating past the opposition, at will. Godfrey Simons was a balanced runner if ever there was one – confirmed by every single person who saw him in action.
Themba Ludwaba [1965-1978]
A player both revered and feared by forwards across South Africa, some of his contemporaries compared him to the great Frik du Preez, only better! That in itself is an endorsement for national colours. Ludwaba was part of the indomitable KWARU side that dominated the SA Cup competition in the early 1970s and, together with Archie Mkele and Valance Watson, he formed the core of the rampant KWARU forward pack. There is consensus among Ludwaba’s contemporaries that he would have been selected for a unified national side if the opportunity had arisen during his prime.
Peter Mkata [1970-1976]
Another player on whose quality there is general agreement among his peers and administrators. Peter Mkata was in a class of his own and was by far the best flyhalf produced in SARU. He was a master tactician and had an eye for the gap, but most importantly he had theability to create so much time and space for his centres, which made him invaluable as an attacking flyhalf. The greatest accolade for a flyhalf often comes from a scrumhalf, and Julian Smith (former SARU captain) rates Mkata as a definite choice for any national team.
Desmond Kramer [1974-1991]
Desmond Kramer was one of the formidable ‘EP Twins’, together with Desmond Booysen. He was a fitness fanatic who was likened to Grant Batty, the short New Zealander who toured with Andy Leslie’s All Blacks in 1976. Kramer was extremely quick off the mark and very elusive – which allowed him to score many tries for Eastern Province in the SA Cup competition. He gets the nod ahead of his wing- partner Desmond Booysen and the formidable Cyril “Wonderhorse” Booysen from Tygerberg.
Clive Thomas [1970-1978]
This outstanding back-row forward made his mark for Tygerberg Rugby Union and was part of the triumphant Tygerberg side that won the SA Cup in 1978. He was extremely unlucky not to get a SARU cap, but distinguished himself as a classy, skillful eighthman. More than one coach from the non-racial fold compared him to the great All Black No 8 and captain Wayne ‘Buck’ Shelford. Millin Pietersen, the legendary SARU coach, made no secret of the fact that he regarded Thomas as the most gifted eighthman he had ever coached.
September could drop the ball through the posts from anywhere on the field….
Daniel September [1976-1988]
‘Spokie’ September, as a prolific goal- kicker and drop-goal specialist, won so many matches for the Tygerberg RFU and his club, Hands & Hearts, that it is almost impossible to recall how many there were. He could drop the ball through the posts within 60m of the opposition’s tryline from anywhere on the field. His extraordinary achievements with the rugby ball can be found documented in the newspapers of the time and he will go down in our book as the most prolific points-scorer with the boot ever in non-racial rugby. He was the kind of player every captain longed to have in his team.
The majority of Sports Illustrated’s readership has in all probability never heard of any of these players, yet at one point they were national icons, heroes and celebrities in their own right. During their playing years they represented a distinct section of the rugby-playing community and today they represent a very important part of our rugby history. They were the ‘Rugby Freedom Fighters’, the ones who sacrificed their dreams for the future of their children, for our children; they pursued liberation so that the present generation of rugby players would be able to play in a unified Springbok jersey.
Stars of the non-racial game
The records of non-racial rugby list the following players as some of their most talented recruits…
Fullbacks: Irven October [Tygerberg & Somerset Board]; Daniel “Spokie” September (Tygerberg); Anwar Majiedt (WP)
Wings: Desmond Kramer (EP); Zola Yeye (KWARU); Desmond Booysen (EP); Faik Davids (City & Suburban); Cyril Booysen (Tygerberg); Newton Kennedy (EP); Cheeky Watson (KWARU); Clemmie Strydom (SWD)
Centres: Gabriel Noble (Tygerberg & Somerset Board); Christy Noble (Boland); Godfrey Simons (Border); Joslyn Ontong (Boland); Nolan Grove (Tygerberg & Boland)
Flyhalves: Kosie Welman (Tygerberg & Central Karoo); Peter Mkata (KWARU); Norman Xhoxho (KWARU); Fagmie Solomons (WP)
Scrumhalves: Julian Smith (Tygerberg); Ronnie Korkee (Tygerberg & Uitenhage & Districts); Allister Coetzee (EP); Timmy Gelderbloem (City & Suburban); Cassiem Jabaar (WP)
Eightmen: Richard Britton (WP); Clive Thomas (Tygerberg); Terence Dean (Tygerberg); Calla Joseph (Boland); Yagya Sakier (WP); Chris Brown (Uitenhage & Districts)
Flankers: Randy Marinus (Boland); Basil Mitchell (Tygerberg); Makaya Jack (KWARU); Nazeem Moerat (Boland); Bernard Pietersen (EP); Ockie Morkel (City & Suburban); Archie Mkele (KWARU); Joey Moses (Boland)
Locks: Salie Fredericks (WP); Pieter Jooste (Tygerberg); Mtedile Kondile (KWARU); Themba Ludwaba (KWARU); Kalile Arnold (Somerset Board)
Frontrowers: Osman “Vleis” Daniels (WP); Bruno Mbulo (KWARU); Lucky Mange (KWARU); Lindsay Botha (City & Suburban); Godfrey “Doring” Thorne (EP); Japie van der Linde (EP)
Hookers: Mervyn Samuels (Tygerberg); Ishmail Khan (WP); Trevor Adams (Boland); Jumbo Neer (KWARU)
Thanks to those players and administrators from the former non-racial rugby structures who supplied unique insights and information on non-racial rugby for this article.
References: Booley, A [1998]: Forgotten Heroes: History of Black Rugby 1882-1992. Manie Boo ley Publications, Cape Town. Roberts, C [2011]: No Normal Sport In An Abnormal Society: Struggle For Non-Racial Sport In South Africa – From Apartheid To Sports Unity. Havana Media, Cape Town
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