UNION RUGBY CLUB
A LIGHTHOUSE IN CLUB RUGBY HISTORY

From our awakening on the banks of the Wemmer Pan, Union has grown from strength to strength and through the efforts and commitment of its supporters, members and loyal players, has the club managed to overcome all its obstacles and prosper into what is now the only remaining club in the southern suburbs that competes at club rugby level.

What follows is a log of our most prominent achievements from 1950 until the present day. Prepare to be amazed.

Union Rugby Club was formed in 1950 due to an amalgamation between old Forestonians and Southern Suburbs, who had both won the Bailey Cup numerous times. In the inception year Union, who started off in the second league, reached the final of the president’s cup, which was a knock-out cup to the very strong ERPM side under the captaincy of Hennie Muller.

The year 1951 saw Union playing in the first league and was the only side to beat the unbeaten west rand and diggers teams twice in the 1952 and 1954 seasons respectively.

Union was severely depleted when professional rugby arrived in this country after numerous players joined the professional league. After a desperate playoff against rand leases (now Roodepoort Rugby Club), Union were relegated to the second league in 1962, losing 12 – 9 at Ellis Park.

In 1967 Union won the Transvaal under 20 final and Bailey cup and leading up to 1977 when Union won every league available to them and had more bailey cup appearances than any other club.

During 1967 the first team had no defeats and one draw. The second team were undefeated and scored 517 points for and 72 against. The wing that played for the side by the name of Robbie Coslett scored 44 tries during the season. The under 20 side were also undefeated and drew 2 games and ended up beating Rand Leases for the trophy.

Union were promoted to the first league in 1978 and, although the side was well placed on the league, were relegated in 1979.The years from 1980 to 1985 saw Union winning the league three times and promotion to the first league was once again granted.

Union has always been well presented at the seven-a-side tournaments, including wins at the Pirates and Swaziland sevens. Old Forestonians were masters of this art and won the Jed’s Sevens 3 years in a row. The first chairman of the club in 1950 was Bob Turner and the first president was Piet Borcherds.

Kevin de Klerk, the South African and Transvaal lock forward, started his club rugby at Union and in his first season played for Transvaal under 20. Throughout the years Union has produced numerous Transvaal under 20 players including, Dow Stuart, Ron Scott, Jackie Jacobs, Bevan Rousell, “Bongo” Muller, “Bloue” Lourens, Koos van Jaarsveld, Earle Starkey, Louis Odendaal.

The Quaggas rugby side was also well presented by Union Players of which Hendrik Hiepner was the most successful. He also played for the rest of South Africa against the Springboks on their return from New Zealand in 1956. Vic “Ginger” Jacobs, Dow Stuart, Derek Jameson, and Earle Starkey also played for the Quaggas. In recent years Kokos de Bruyn played for the Quaggas and the Rooibokke. Greg Frey also played for the Rooibokke and represented the Transvaal XV against the World XV in 1986 and Transvaal feeder side and combined Transvaal/Northern Free State against South Sea Barbarians in 1987. Peet van der Vyver, J “Butch” Coetzee, Jannie Buys, Terry Harley, Vic “Ginger” Jacobs, Jack Momberg, JG “Muff” Hume, and Nick van Rensburg also played for Transvaal XV.

In 1958 Hendrik Hiepner and Jannie Buys were selected to play for a combined Transvaal side against the British Barbarians, which had players of the calibre of Cliff Morgan and Tony O’ Reilly in their ranks.

During the years 1980 to 1985 Union supplied players to the Transvaal sub-union and under 20’s, leading up to 11 representative players for the sub-union in 1985.

Terry O’ Leary, Richard Leibrandt, George Olwagen, and John Carr were selectors for the Transvaal under 20 and Transvaal sub-union sides.

The delegates to the Transvaal rugby union were Ben Jooste, Terry O’ Leary, Issy Jankelowitz, Jan Oosthuizen, Ron Scott and John Carr, who had represented the club since 1971 and served on the entertainment committee of the Transvaal rugby union for 8 years.

The union rugby sides have very young and exciting playing in their ranks at the moment and with a bit more experience will live up to the reputations of players of old and we look forward to them making a significant contribution to the club and to Transvaal and Lions rugby.

THE CHAIRMAN AND PRESIDENTS

The Following is a list of all past and present Chairman and Presidents:

TRANSVAAL PLAYERS PRODUCED

Union Rugby Club still maintains the strong traditions from our past and after 59 wonderful years we still strive to be the best club in the business, not just for ourselves but for our supporting union, The Golden Lions Rugby Union.

We urge anyone who can play the wonderful game of Rugby to come and be a part of our family.