The Maties Rugby 150-year celebrations came to a dazzling climax this month with a Gala Dinner in aid of the Danie Craven Bursary Fund.
The Stellenbosch Town Hall was packed by over 300 Maties Rugby legends of old, Springboks and legends-in-the-making, who gathered to honour the club’s illustrious past and to commit support for the evolving Maties Rugby Story – A Legacy to Inspire.
The chief aim of the evening was to raise find for the Danie Craven Bursary Fund that supports talented rugby players with their academic fees, food and accommodation. Doc’s spirit and commitment to Maties Rugby was captured through moving film clips of interviews.
Highlights of the evening included guest speaker, Morne du Plessis; recollections from a panel that included Rob Louw, Hempies du Toit and Tiaan Strauss; and an auction that included rare rugby memorabilia that raised close to R500 000.
A surprise for guests was the reimagining of the Stellenbosch University “anthem”, Dis Altyd Lente, into three official languages, and honouring 90-year-old Frik du Preez. Frik was voted South African Player of the Century in 2000 and admitted to the World Rugby Hall of Fame in 1997. A larger-than-life character both on and off the field, Frik maintained that his cohorts played the game to build up a thirst. In the words of fellow legend, Doc Danie Craven: “He is the personification of Springbok rugby.”
Also honoured were the late Jan Boland Coetzee, and Dawie Snyman.
While the activities for the 150 Legacy celebrations are now done (including having played arch rivals UCT five times!), followers of Maties Rugby can watch videos from the event on the Maties Sport YouTube channel HERE
