Nongqai Vol 17 No 8 – 1963 Rugby BSAP vs SAP
ABSTRACT
This article recounts the 1963 BSAP rugby and golf tour to Pretoria during the South African Police’s Fiftieth Anniversary celebrations. It highlights the ceremonial events, athletic displays, hospitality extended by the SAP, and the commemorative interactions between senior officers, players, and officials. The narrative captures the sporting contests, formal engagements, and camaraderie shared between the forces, illustrating a memorable moment in SAP–BSAP relations during a significant jubilee year.
SOE – SHORT EXCERPT
During the SAP’s Fiftieth Anniversary celebrations in March 1963, BSAP rugby and golf representatives joined their South African counterparts for a programme of sport, ceremony, and hospitality in Pretoria. The tour strengthened ties between the forces and showcased athletic excellence, tradition, and goodwill.
KEYWORDS
BSAP Rugby Tour, 50th Fiftieth Anniversary, Pretoria Police College, Loftus Versfeld, SAP Mounted Division, SAP Dogs Display, SAP Athletics, SAP Rugby History, Police Sporting Relations, Gus van Vuuren, B.C. Spurling, B.J. Vorster, J.M. Keevy, F.E. Barfoot, Mof Myburgh, Piet Uys, Poekie Reynolds, Willem Welgemoed, Colonel Marais, Major Roux, Colonel Oberholzer, Captain Krynauw, Major de Villiers, Warrant Officer Buys, Supt. Lamond, Lt‑Col. L.M. Oberholzer, Chief Supt. Bristow, Mr G. van Vuuren, Major A.M.C. Ayres de Abreu, Supt. Buckley, Insp. Winchcombe,
Reprinted from the Outpost, June 1963 via Gerhard van Tonder (UK)
BSAP 1963 Rugby Tour
South African Police Celebrate Fiftieth Anniversary
(The Outpost, June 1963)
Father Time regards one day much the same as another; to him there are pre-determined periods of darkness and light. To we lesser mortals a day is 24 hours long — no more, no less. If we wish to do more in one day than 24 hours permit, then we must steal time from the next day.
The South African Police were not of the same opinion about one day being the same as another. To them the thirtieth day of March in this year one thousand nine hundred and sixty three was a special day, as it was to commemorate the fiftieth year of their formation. Much as they would have liked a day of more than 24 hours in which to celebrate, they recognised that on the morrow a full day of work would be demanding attention. On this day they were to celebrate the passing of 50 years; tomorrow time would again be the remorseless enemy it has always been to man. This then was their day.
It was late when Mr. B.C. Spurling, then Commissioner, rose from his seat at a dinner in the South African Police College, Pretoria, to answer warm speeches of welcome made by the Minister of Justice, the Hon. Advocate B.J. Vorster, M.P., and the Commissioner of the South African Police, Lieut.-General J.M. Keevy; speeches of welcome not only addressed to himself, but to all guests, including among others Mrs. Spurling, Mr. F.E. Barfoot, then Commissioner-designate, and his wife, and players and officials of our rugby and golf teams invited to Pretoria to participate in this Jubilee.
To mark the occasion Mr. Spurling, during the course of his reply, presented an engraved copper tray to Lieut.-General Keevy. A few minutes later he presented an engraved copper tankard to Mof Myburgh, captain of the Pretoria Police rugby team which had defeated our side earlier in the day. Father Time was asserting himself now. Little of the day remained to be enjoyed other than by looking back over what had already taken place.
There was a feeling of expectancy in the air as the inhabitants of Pretoria awoke on that morning. The rugby team turned out to loosen up under the watchful eyes of the coach, Gus van Vuuren. Later, over tea at the Fountains, that favourite Pretoria picnic spot, they met their opponents for their afternoon match. While this was going on, six golfers who had accompanied the rugby team on its tour were doing battle against adversaries from our host Force. Pretoria Golf Club provided the setting for these matches, the main game being Lamond and Buckley against de Villiers and Buys. This “needle” match ended in an away win.
The afternoon’s events were to provide the highlight of the tour. At Loftus Versfeld a capacity crowd was treated to a magnificent trampoline display by members of the college, led by Willem Welgemoed, the former Springbok diving champion, who has made appearances at the Olympic Games and who also is well known in the Rhodesias.
There followed a display by the South African Police dogs and a musical ride performed by the Police mounted division. A medal presentation by the Minister of Justice continued the afternoon programme, to be followed by an inspection of trainees whose smartness and bearing were most impressive as they marched off the ground in review order. It was an honour for the rugby match between the Pretoria Police side and our team to be included in these celebrations.
Springboks and SAP detectives.
Scrumhalf Piet Uys, left, and prop Mof Myburgh.
After the interval the teams came on to the field with the home side including Springboks Mof Myburgh, front rank forward, and Piet Uys, scrum half. The game was played under the new rules, which made brighter rugby for the enthusiastic Pretoria crowd. Although the score was 35-8 against us, our team was by no means disgraced. Last year, we admit it unashamedly, the tally against us was 14-0 — a “Murrayfield.” Although defeated again on this fine afternoon, our standard was very much better in the present match.
The forward play of the South African side was, as usual, outstanding, and Piet Uys showed quite clearly why he is first choice for his position in the Springbok side. For ourselves, Naude and Urquhart each played an outstanding game, as also did Poekie Reynolds, who was remembered for his performance on this same ground in 1957. Reynolds played under the most trying conditions, as he was suffering from a heavy cold at the time; regrettably he has since had to hang up his boots owing to a back injury. Others worthy of mention were Burrell (captain), Steenkamp and Snell, each of whom was prominent throughout play.
It was a fine match; ‘tis true we were unable to crack the hard nut in the form of the Pretoria side, a XV of provincial standards difficult to beat even by many of the top teams in the Republic. The evening was given over to a sundowner and sumptuous dinner. Truly, then, this had been their day. It had been a feast; a feast of friendliness, entertainment, sport and hospitality; a worthy day to honour the passing of 50 years.
Two days earlier our representatives had travelled southwards by coach. From the time they crossed the border into the Republic the South African Police extended the hand of hospitality, a feature which was to he repeated so many times over in this tour. Colonel Marais, Commandant for the Pietersburg District, acted as pilot for the first part of the journey. At the overnight stop, Mountain Inn, Louis Trichardt, he, with his sparkling humour, had our players and officials feeling at home from the moment the coach stopped.
On the following day Colonel Marais resumed escorting his charges, relinquishing this duty only when he was able to hand over to Major Roux, District Commandant for Nylstroom. He in turn relayed the coach to Pienaar’s River, where a reception committee from Pretoria, consisting of Colonel Oberholzer, Major de Villiers, Captain Krynauw and Warrant Officer Buys, took over for the final leg. For Captain de Villiers and Warrant Officer Buys this was an early opportunity to renew acquaintanceships formed during previous tours.
HOSTS AND GUESTS: PRETORIA, 1963
Back row (left to right): (S.A.P.), Warrant Officer Buys (SAP), Urquhart, Reynolds. Thomas, Bass, Naish, Dawson, Marsh, Turner, Wood.
Middle row: Capt. J.T. Krynauw (SAP), Major van Niekerk (SAP), Hay, Naude, van Horsten, Steenkamp, Snell, Ashfield, Wilton, Burrell (Captain).
Front row: Supt. Lamond, Lt.-Col. L.M. Oberholzer (SAP), Chief Supt. Bristow (Manager), Mr. F.E. Barfoot, Deputy Commissioner (Commissioner-Designate), Lt.-Gen. J.M. Keevy, Commissioner, South African Police; The Hon. Adv. B.J. Vorster, M.P., Minister of Justice for South Africa; Mr. B.G. Spurling CBE, Commissioner; Major A.M.C. Ayres de Abreu, Commissioner, Mozambique Police; Supt. Buckley, Insp. Winchcombe (Secretary),
Mr. G. van Vuuren (Coach).
To say that the accommodation provided at the Hotel Boulevard was first class is being modest; no guest could have ever anticipated such comfort. The first taste of this luxurious living was hurried in order to attend the South African Police Athletic Championships to be held that afternoon directly after lunch.
The organisation of this meeting was of the highest order, and what with the excellent standard of athletics witnessed, a most enjoyable afternoon resulted. Teams from 17 divisions in the Force took part, with many Springboks participating in events. One of the highlights of the afternoon was the record-breaking javelin throw by Student Mostert. Great sport from great athletes, with track and field events matched by a superb display of trampoline work performed by a team who have travelled far and wide demonstrating their agility.
A sundowner took place at the Pretoria Police College that evening for the visiting athletes. Our representatives, invited to this function, had the opportunity of meeting officials from all divisions of the Republic’s Force and to meet once again members of the Pretoria Police rugby team who visited Salisbury last April. One such personality was Louis Strachan, the ex-Springbok rugby forward, retired from the South African Police since his Easter visit of last year.
The day after the feast the golfers were satisfying their insatiable appetites on the course at Swartzkop. Host and guest Commissioners partnered respectively by Bester and Buckley went round the course, with the guests taking match honours. For the remainder of the party it was relaxation in its generally accepted form.
During the afternoon we were represented at a memorial service to honour those members of the South African Police who had given their lives in the execution of their duties during the past 50 years. It was a particularly moving service. There are some people who might think that three days’ consecutive golf are enough for any person and that there are other things in life besides smiting a little white ball. The six who went to the Republic to defend our golfing honour are not of that view.
On Monday they were on the course again, this time the Royal Johannesburg, where Lamond and Buckley went down at the last hole to de Villiers and Buys. That same evening at the Police College our rugby team turned out to meet Springs Police and ran out winners of the game by 17-8. Thomas was outstanding at fly half and it is to him that credit must be given for fine tactical play. The Springs Police pack, although heavy, was a joy to watch in their loose play.
At a braaivleis held after the match, presentations were made to Captain Krynauw and other officers who had made the tour such a success. Later at the hotel the three rugby teams got together to well and truly cement relationships for further meetings.
Those who travelled will not forget this tour for many years to come. It is not possible to give a fuller picture of events. Much has not been mentioned; such events will have to remain private memories. There will be much to look forward to in the 1964. meeting. An account of this tour must include a vote of thanks to Gerry Winchcombe for the work put in by him before the coach was ever able to start its journey. May his secretarial shadow never grow less.
Words will never adequately express thanks to our hosts; special occasion though theirs may have been, our actions, which of course are stronger than words, will have to be appropriate during the 1964 return visit. Rugby team: Moores, Wood, Turner, Burrell, Steenkamp, Snell, Dawson, Naude, Naish, Morris, Ashfield, Hay, Urquhart, Thomas and Reynolds, with Wilton, Anderstrem, Bass and van Horsten travelling as reserves. Golfers: Lamond, Bremner, Smith and Rees.
