Eastern Cape Rugby

For a long time the Eastern Cape was the dominant sporting force in both Cricket and Rugby in South Africa. In the 90’s EP and Border Cricket had some outstanding players who represented the National team, including legends Dave Richardson and Kepler Wessels - who captained the Proteas. From that era, the region seemed to slip in stature and results for a few years but has recently found the glory it always had the potential of fulfilling by lifting a few of South Africa’s most coveted domestic competition trophies.

There has always been a rich rugby talent pool in the Eastern Cape and many Eastern Cape schools produce outstanding players only for them to be picked up by the bigger unions when they showcase their skills at Craven week level.

The most pleasing aspect for the transformation junkie is that the amount of Black rugby players coming through the ranks in the Eastern Cape is far greater than any other part of the country. Not only are there more Black players playing the game in this region but the standard of play by South Africa’s ethnic majority is higher in this region than in other parts of the country.

But rugby isn’t about race and there are also some outstanding White, Coloured and Asian players running around the rugby fields of Grey, Dale, Selbourne, St Andrews and the like. The Eastern Cape is basically a hotbed of Rugby talent and should be supported by the powers that be to set up the correct structures that can take the region back to the heights it once reached.

It is pleasing to know that SARU is initiating some momentum and all signs point to a Springbok v All Black 2011 Tri Nations Test Match.

Port Elizabeth and East London have some of the finest rugby fans in South Africa and have a lot of avid diehard supporters. The new stadium in Port Elizabeth is of world class standard and should be aptly used for world class events.

Like its sporting sister code, let’s hope Rugby in this region can replicate the recent successes of Cricket and bring some pride back to the Eastern Cape rugby fraternity!

A few top players with links to the region:

Mike Catt, Rassie Erasmus, Andre Vos, Deon Kayser, Danie Gerber, Joe van Niekerk, Ricardo Loubscher, Brent Russell, Gavin Cowley, Garth Wright, Luke Watson, Deon Stegman to name a few.