Mystery surrounds Griqua rugby medal
ON THE eve of the Tafel Lager Griquas’ Currie Cup promotion/relegation match against the Griffons, the South African Rugby Union (Saru) has appealed to Kimberley residents for assistance in solving a mystery dating back to the origins of this prestigious competition.
Among the many firsts for the city, Kimberley hosted the inaugural Currie Cup tournament in 1892.
A mysterious medal, dating back to this period, has both rugby aficionados and historians puzzled as to the story behind the 125-year-old token.
“SA Rugby is calling on DFA readers to help solve a mystery that started in Griqualand West,” said Saru’s head of communication, Andy Colquhoun, earlier this week.
“Does this little silver medal ring any bells? Do you have something similar in your family? Or are you related to the original owner, A Morkel, of Griqualand West? Does it relate to the Currie Cup or was it awarded for a club competition?”
The medal, which is about the size of a R2 coin, was unearthed on the farm Tweekop in the Fouriesburg area of the Free State and belongs to SA rugby memorabilia collector Hymie Sibul of Gordon’s Bay.
“On one side it says: ‘Griqualand West Rugby Union – 1st Fifteen – Holders of the Challenge Cup – 1892’,” said Colquhoun. “On the reverse is inscribed: ‘A Morkel – Forward’.”
Colquhoun said that there were currently two competing theories regarding the origin of the medal, both pertaining to the early days of rugby on the diamond fields.
“One of the theories is that it was awarded to commemorate the winning of the Sir Donald Currie Challenge Cup by Griquas in the previous season – with the medal awarded to the squad the following year at the Kimberley Show as ‘holders’ of the Cup,” he explained.
“The other is that the medal was minted by the Griqualand West Rugby Union to present to the winners of the union’s Grand Challenge Cup in the 1892 season. That year it was taken by Kimberley, of whom A Morkel was presumably a member.”
However, while the story behind the medal has left Saru puzzled, local historian Steve Lunderstedt said that he would not be surprised if there were more of these tokens that have been passed down from generation to generation as the issuing of such keepsakes was common practice when South African rugby was still in its infancy.
“As the medal was issued by the GW Rugby Union, it is most definitely for the winners of the local Grand Challenge Cup, quite aptly named the Griqualand West Challenge Cup and instituted in 1886,” said Lunderstedt.
“At the time, this was the premier inter-club rugby competition and the winners, in 1892, were the Kimberley RFC.
“We have no first name at this stage but A Morkel played for them as a forward in every game that year.”
“While still playing for the Kimberley RFC, between 1893 and 1898, he represented Griqualand West on 13 occasions. However, the medallion has nothing to do with the Griqualand West team.”