Ndlambe teams for SEDRU showcase

Marking rugby milestone

Four Ndlambe rugby teams will be among those vying for glory in an interclub tournament at the Oval in Makhanda on Saturday September 10. They are all members of the South Eastern Districts Rugby Union (SEDRU) and the tournament is one of several events being organised to mark the sub-union’s 50th anniversary this year.

This weekend’s event follows a successful coaching clinic for more than 30 under-11s and U13s from four schools last month. Coming up are a rugby day for Eastern Province and Border sub-unions and a rugby tournament for U18 school boys early next year. A gala dinner on September 23 will honour SEDRU’s past legends.

The initiatives are in partnership with the department of sports, recreation, arts and culture in the Makana and Sarah Baartman municipalities, EPRU and, imminently, Ndlambe Municipality.

Alongside these events are various fundraising initiatives including a raffle for a brand new Renault KWID (tickets are available at all local clubs).

SEDRU originated in 1972 under the then non-racial SARU. It covers the political geographical area of Makana and Ndlambe municipalities in the Eastern Cape and is an affiliate of EPRU.

The first teams scheduled to play in this weekend’s club tournament at the Oval are Klipfontein, Ndlambe Tigers, Kowie United and Trying Stars, from Ndlambe; St Marks and Rosebuds from Alicedale; and Old Collegians, Easterns, Lily Whites, Swallows and Brumbies from Makana. A sub-union day will follow on September 24.

Black rugby in this region originated in the 19th century, with the establishment of prominent community clubs such as All Blacks, Violets, Lily White and Winter Rose, later followed by household names like Ndlambe Tigers, Klipfontein, Kowie United, Eastern, Wanderers, Buffaloes, Old Collegians, Universals, Rosebuds, Rainbows, St Marks, Swallows, Vultures, Spartans, Scorpions, Trying Stars, Home Sweepers, Universal-Rainbows, Brumbies, Golden Brothers and Spring Roses. They produced stalwarts such as Sandi Maqanda, Bush Manana, Khuselo Faku, Sodunangashe Kolisi, Frikkie and Frans Coeries, Norman Xhoxho, Pepsi Twaku, Dennis Stuurman, Lex Mpati, Mntwekhaya Nkwinti, George Lamani, Allister Coetzee, Charles Wessels, Fabian Juries and Rosko Speckman. SEDRU is one of a few sub-unions with four clubs older than 100 years.

“As an EPRU sub-structure, the purpose was to establish and reconnect to our historical vibrancy prior to 1992,” chair Deon Hilpert said. “This was to remind us of our past and the fact that this region is the cradle of black rugby. We want to make it a unifying cultural tool.”