Kokstad Rugby Club celebrates 125th year in style

IT WAS a special weekend for club rugby in KZN with Kokstad Rugby Club, the oldest in the province, celebrating its 125th anniversary – and they certainly did it style.

There can be no doubt about it, the East Griqualand rugby club has stood the test of time, and has proved beyond doubt that community rugby is the way to go and is unquestionably here to stay.

The story of the Kokstad Rugby Club is a fascinating one. Founded in 1890, the Kokstad Advertiser published the following on May 2: “A meeting of existing members was held on Wednesday, April 23, where the only business done was to appoint Sgt Hopkins as captain of the club, the re-election of Mr Alec Barker as Honorary Secretary and Treasurer, and the passing of the Balance Sheet, which showed the sum of 85s-6d in hand.”

This was a clear indication that the club had been in existence for a year, and had amassed the handsome sum of 85 shillings an six pennies in their first season.

So many more stories abound about the famous old club, and the one that captures the imagination the most is the one that relates to farmers travelling 25km on horseback to matches.

One can see why their hospitality towards visiting sides has always been so exceptional after reading an entertaining excerpt from the Kokstad Advertiser about a game played in 1891.

It reads: “The losers dined with the winners at the Royal Hotel, and Mr G Fowle presided on the piano, and Mr T S Baker was the right man in the right place as chairman, although we fear his many toasts were accountable for numerous sore heads the next morning, and the party continued for three days.”

Going on the festivities that took place over the weekend in the lively little town of Kokstad, nothing much has changed.

We can safely say they were the founders of club rugby fines meetings, which one would be well advised to avoid at all costs.

The weekend started with the 125th Anniversary Golf Day on Friday. It saw one of the province’s best-loved rugby sons, former Gazelle’s centre out of SA Home Loans Durban Collegians, Rex Greyling, playing in a fourball with the chief executive of the KZNRU, Pete Smith.

Des McClean, a former Natal wing and a solid Kokstad old boy, played with Albert Hanekom and Jonsson College Rovers old boys Leon Swart and Dave Raw.

This was followed by a day of rugby on Saturday, starting with the under-19 development game between sides from Kokstad and Ixopo.

One has to experience just how spontaneous the youngsters of today are when it comes to mixing with each other. Indeed, it was very special being part of it all, and one would strongly recommend members of Saru to leave their desks and experience true transformation, for club rugby is really the heartbeat of the game. For the record, Matatiele beat Ixopo 71-7, the The Mighty Kokstad Blacks, Old Crocks, beat KHS Old Crocks 17-7.

Ko k s t a d beat Kapaailand 28-18 before the Cheetahs outplayed a young Sharks XV 35-18 in a Vodacom Cup game, which was much appreciated by the nearly 4 000 spectators.

This Friday evening sees the start of the Fidelity Security Premier Division league fixtures, with last year’s champions Durban Collegians travelling to the capital to meet Maritzburg Collegians at Woodburn.

College Rovers go to Mick Kelly Park in Empangeni to play Zululand Rhinos, Amanzimtoti entertain Nashua Crusaders, and FNB UKZN Impi are at home to Varsity College. All games kick off at 8pm.

Results from the Fidelity Security First Division games in the South Section saw last year’s winners, Fidelity Security South Coast Warriors, kick off their campaign on a high with a 34-0 away win against UKZN Durban.

Richards Bay thumped Ballito Dolphins 46-7, Westville had the better of Hillcrest, winning 24-10, and Fidelity Security Jaguars beat Harlequins 25-8.

In the North Section, last year’s winners and Dewar Shield holders Highlanders beat Vryheid 54-19, Newcastle beat Volksrust 45-27 and Piet Retief beat Pongola 22-5.