The ‘youngest’ surviving Rugby Springbok to come out of non racial rugby, Makaya Jack, today announced the inaugural Rugby Revival Weekend to be hosted by the Walmer Wallabies and Wales rugby clubs.
Jack said; “This initiative is an effort to put back the pillars that held up Walmer Township Rugby in the past and being products of that environment, we are eager to instill a sense of pride and responsibility in our youth through the sport.
“We used to call this area a respect oven – now we feel that the area has been crippled. It is time to win it back,” Jack continued.
Walmer Wales was one of the founder clubs of the famous KWARU union which became affiliated to SARU in 1971.
Walmer boats seven famous non racial union Springboks – the first of which, Gillman Noqoli, represented EP and the Springboks every year from 1950 to 1956 and the last or ‘youngest’ was Makaya Jack.
Whilst standing chatting to Michael Green I had the pleasure to be introduced to Themba Ludwaba and, whilst shaking his hand, I thought that he had the hallmark hands of a lock or a flanker charging around the scrum with the ball in one hand whilst his other huge hand palmed off a hapless would be tackler.
I was so pleased to be judged right in my assessment as Michael told me that Themba Ludwaba, who played competitively between 1965 and 1978, was indeed a lock and flanker whose playing style was often compared to the great Frik du Preez, only better. 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, 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.
This weekends Rugby Revival programme consists of the following events, all centred around the Walmer School:
- 21 September – Coaching Clinic, Parade through Walmer and Autographs opportunities
- 22 September – Fun Run – start at 07:00 and finish at Walmer High, registration closes at 06:30, R5.00 for kids and R10.00 for adults.
- 22 September – Rugby festival at Walmer High from 09:00
- 22 September – Gala Dinner at NMB Stadium to honour Springboks from non racial sport and a special award for the Watson Family, Tables are available at R5000.00 each.
- 23 September – Rugby festival at Walmer High from 09:00. Main game between Walmer Wales and Motherwell Gladiators at 14:45. Entrance free.
- 24 September – Golf Day from 07:00 to 15:00 at the Walmer Country Club
- 24 September – Heritage Day address to Walmer residents from 14:00 to 16:00.
Makaya Jack
