Historic clash as oldest recorded rugby match in SA celebrates 150th anniversary
It will truly be a momentous occasion on Saturday when Diocesan College and SACS take the field on Piley Rees to continue the tradition of South Africa’s oldest rugby clash.
This Saturday will be the celebration of 150 years since these two schools played in the first ever recorded rugby match in South Africa.
Bishops will be captained by inside centre, Nic Allison, while loose-head prop, Ali Osman-Bosch, will be leading SACS out.
SACS won the first recorded match between the two schools back in 1873 by two goals to nil. Both schools has since that first match played a major part in developing Springboks.
Bishops have suffered only one defeat so far this season in their previous match again Paul Roos Gimnasium (12-24). They were quite impressive during the St Stithians College Easter Festival in Johannesburg bagging victories over St Stithians (66-3), Helpmekaar-kollege (31-30) and Clifton (43-10).
SACS have suffered two defeats this far aganst Paarl Boys’ High (18-34) and St Andrew’s College of Makhanda (12-13).
Bishops always plays a wonderful 15-man game but players to watch out for are the midfield pairing of Allison and Olo Sopotela, as well as the scrumhalf, Haashim Pead. Expect a lot of opportunities on attack thanks to their playing style for winger Lucca Mynhardt.
SACS has produced 32 Springboks over the year with World Cup winning fullback Percy Mongomery being the last. Other Springboks include Cecil Moss, Clive van Ryneveld, Billy Millar, Ben Duff (Springbok Nr. 1) and Oupa Versfeld.
Bishops boasts 42 Springboks so far with Dillyn Leyds being the last to don the Green-and-Gold. Other Boks include Nizaam Carr, Dave von Hoeslin, Francois Louw, Robbie Fleck, Guy Kebble, Peter Whipp and Christian Stewart.
The teams:
Bishops: 15 Gilermo Mentoe, 14 Ayanda Bonoyi, 13 Olo Sopotela, 12 Nic Allison (captain), 11 Lucca Mynhardt, 10 Shaywan Blanckenberg, 9 Haashim Pead, 8 Aidan Norris, 7 Christian Steward, 6 Tapiwa Nkumanda, 5 Zach Willemse, 4 CJ Gordon, 3 Nashe Chahwahwa, 2 Merlin Fransman, 1 Richard Horton.
SACS: 15 Aya Machuli, 14 Jack Benadé, 13 Daniel Dyaram, 12 Endinako Peter, 11 Nicholas Reynolds, 10 Rayaan Solomons, 9 Seth Bradford, 8 Connor King, 7 Ben van Coller, 6 Richard Skeeles, 5 Niche Koopman, 4 Pierre van Selm, 3 Ikhona Maxegwana, 2 Alex Pybus, 1 Ali Osman-Bosch (captain).
