PLATINUM BLUE Since 1861 MAGAZINE 2018 2 Hamiltons.pdf 1 2018/09/29 3:27 PM PLATINUM BLUE HAMILTON RUGBY CLUB Hamilton RFC: [email protected] • 021 439 3954 SA’s Oldest & Greatest • 2009 South African Club Champions • 2009 WP Club Champions • 2015 President’s Cup Winners WHY NOT JOIN HAMILTON’S AND FURTHER YOUR RUGBY CAREER! 2018 Michael Stakemire 021 543 9 3954 082 700 0186 Contents Principal’s message 2 66 A challenging future? 4 The Bishops’ Sevens connection 12 1st XV review 16 1st XV results 24 2nd XV (Whites) 26 3rd XV (Stripes) 28 4 4th XV (Wild Boys) 30 5th XV (#Wives) 32 6th XV 34 7th XV 35 Under 16 teams 36 Under 15 teams 40 Under 14 teams 44 VUSA update 48 Preparing future stars 50 Skeeles 7s 52 16 The state of junior rugby 54 Whistle blowers 56 A lifetime dedicated to Bishops 58 Triumphant 50th at Villager 7s 60 Culture: getting the process right 62 ODs and rugby 64 Rugby on the Emerald Isle 66 Of rubber ducks and dubbined balls 70 50 Published by TFWcc & Assoc Photographs Carl Fourie Editor Duncan Cruickshank (OD 1985G) Petri Oeschger Advertising & Sales Tessa Fenton-Wells Shaun Roy Reg Hands (OD 1968F) Gallo Images Natheema Israel Steven Riches Concept & Design Catherine Coetzer Printing Creda Communications Principal’s message “OF ALL SPORTS though, Bishops Bishops has enjoyed a very camaraderie and spirit. It is a has ever been fond of the football successful 2018 season with our multi-faceted game which, if game played by them before any 1st XV leading the way. The played properly, develops others adopted it in South Africa”: future holds a great deal of all-round skills. from Paul Dobson’s History of promise with some excellent I would like to thank everyone Rugby at Bishops. junior teams and much to look involved in the support of the Bishops has a long and proud forward to; not least an overseas Bishops rugby brand. All funds rugby heritage and has always tour to Ireland next year, raised are used to develop adopted a distinctive style of which has created a great deal coaching skills and to provide play, emphasising the running of excitement. specialised equipment, which game. While the modern laws Rugby is a special game; it will allow us to offer top level of rugby and improved defensive caters for all boys, whatever coaching and conditioning of strategies have made it difficult their shape, size, skill or speed. our boys. to play the beautiful running There is place for the “fatty or game that we have always thinny, the tall or the short, the Guy Pearson aspired to; we still favour a fast or the slow”. It fosters and PRINCIPAL skillful 15-man approach. engenders a wonderful sense of 2 BISHOPS RUGBY SINCE 1861 Internationalise yourself, your wealth and your business Private and corporate forex Offshore investments Dual citizenship applications UK and Australian immigration Cross-border financial planning International business expansion Call us to find out how we can help you. Cape Town | Durban | Johannesburg | London | Melbourne HELPING SOUTH AFRICANS INTERNATIONALISE THEMSELVES SINCE 1997 +27 (0) 21 657 2120 [email protected] 3 A challenging future? 4 BISHOPS RUGBY SINCE 1861 Teacher-in-Charge of rugby at Bishops, Dave Mallett, takes a critical look at the future of school rugby, especially at Bishops. 5 THE WESTERN PROVINCE following in the footsteps of 1. Grade 8 intake Premier A League is arguably the decades of Bishops teams before 2. Concussion concerns most gruelling schoolboy rugby us. But what are the challenges 3. The importance of team competition in the world. we face, trying to remain sports Nowhere will you find a competitive and relevant in this schedule as relentless as this cauldron of a competition? Grade 8 intake – with local derbies (Rondebosch, There are any number of I should reiterate this at the SACS, Wynberg) regarded as factors that could be mentioned outset – I believe that Bishops “easier” fixtures, compared to here (many of which I’ve listed should strive to be a competitive facing four ‘N1 opponents’ (Paarl before in a previous Platinum and relevant participant in the Gym, Paarl Boys, Paul Roos and Blue article: Quo Vadis Bishops Premier A League. Competitive Landbou) who are all ranked in Rugby?), but for the purpose of across all age groups and the top 10 in the country. Let me this 2018 edition, I’ve identified relevant in the style of rugby we say, however, that we’re proud to three key areas that need to be play. At present, there is no participate in this league – addressed: doubt that we are more than 6 BISHOPS RUGBY SINCE 1861 seeking to become a “Rugby concussions than any other School” like some of these rivals, school in the WP Premier A chasing national rankings. That League. Are our boys more never has and never will be the vulnerable than others to the ethos of the Diocesan College. physical impact of this contact However, if we are to keep our sport, or could there be another heads above water, it is critical reason for these skewed that we benefit from a natural statistics? Bishops is one of only intake of rugby talent from our three Premier A schools that feeder schools. Bishops Prep, runs a concussion programme quite obviously, sits at the top of from school – but when we look that list and the College needs to at the trends over the past couple “This year, for the first time in 30 years, Bishops has struggled to put out three U14 teams each Saturday.” work as closely as possible with of years, it is interesting to note our colleagues down at Fir Road the curious spike in concussions to facilitate this process. Wet during the exam periods and in Pups (Western Province Prep the weeks before fixtures against School) is our other major feeder the Paarl schools! As coaches, we – but that, clearly, is less of a joke about the so-called “N1 ‘controllable’ for us. It is a well- Fever” that lays low our lads known fact that most of the before these fixtures – but what “successful” age groups in the is no laughing matter, is the past were a combination of concern that boys seem to be strong Wet Pups and Bishops capable of manipulating their Prep teams coming through to baseline tests in order to miss the College. exams and/or matches against If, for whatever reason, rugby these Paarl opponents. If Bishops loses momentum in our two is to remain with the Impact feeder schools, then I believe programme, run internally Above: With dwindling numbers of boys that Bishops would need to be a through our BSU (Bishops playing rugby, could well-attended little more flexible in our Support Unit), then far tighter derbies against traditional rivals be a admissions policy, insofar as the control of the baseline testing thing of the past? applications we receive from needs to take place. talented players in other schools. The “cry wolf” scenario that holding our own against our We do not want, nor can we seems to have crept in could local rivals in the southern afford, to embark on the have disastrous consequences. suburbs – but the same cannot exorbitant recruitment drives of be said of our record against the some of our state school rivals The importance of team ‘Boland’ schools. A sobering – but that is exactly what we sports statistic is that in our four would be faced with, in order This year, for the first time in matches against Paul Roos, Paarl to survive. 30 years (according to our Boys, Paarl Gym and Landbou veteran U14 coach, Phil Court!), this year, Bishops won seven out Concussion concerns Bishops has struggled to put out of 66 games! Having said that, I Anecdotal evidence suggests that three U14 teams each Saturday. do not believe that we should be Bishops suffers more While injuries have certainly 7 contributed to this dire state of division. Failure to do so, will see I imagine that a person who affairs, we picked up an alarming us looking forward to derby chooses an individual sport is one statistic at the beginning of the encounters against the likes of who is motivated primarily by winter season. No fewer than Reddam and Westerford. personal achievement. To be 50 Grade 8s (out of a possible 165) Perish the thought – Piley successful in an individual sport, signed up to play squash. Signing Rees would be doing multiple you would need intense focus, up for squash, in itself, is no somersaults in his grave…! dedication to hours of practice and crime (I’m an enthusiastic social In a recent article he wrote on training in order to shave off a few player myself), but what is the subject, Nick Mallett gives an hundreds of a second from your troubling, is that these lads were interesting perspective on both personal best, or to serve or drive a looking to play only squash and individual and team sports: ball more accurately. Your nothing else. The ethos at “The wonder of sport is that it motivation is self driven and Bishops has always been that gives all personality types an requires immense mental strength. individual sports like squash are avenue to compete. The satisfaction of achieving played in addition to a team sport I am fascinated by the character personal ‘bests’ is what presumably – be it rugby or hockey, cricket traits that are required for success drives you. You suffer failure and or waterpolo. in individual sports, such as celebrate success alone.