A HISTORY OF “KOSHUISRUGBY” AT STELLENBOSCH Isabelle E. Huys Thesis presented for the degree of Master of Sport Science at Stellenbosch University Study leader: Prof. F.J.G. van der Merwe March 2008 Stellenbosch University http://scholar.sun.ac.za DECLARATION I, the undersigned, hereby declare that the work contained in this thesis is my own original work and that I have not previously in its entirety or in part submitted it at any university for a degree. ……………………. ………………… Signature Date I Stellenbosch University http://scholar.sun.ac.za ABSTRACT The Stellenbosch Rugby Football Club is the largest club in the world and the men’s residence rugby competition is a component of that Club. The purpose of this study was to document the origin, formation and activities of men’s residence rugby (koshuisrugby) at Stellenbosch University. The history of the University, the history of the Stellenbosch Rugby Football Club and a little of the history of rugby in South Africa, and particularly at Stellenbosch, are given as background information in the introduction to provide a global view. The nucleus of this study concerns the development of koshuisrugby at Stellenbosch University. An attempt has been made to reconstruct all gathered information as accurately and as thoroughly as possible. Although there is much popular writing on sport in South Africa, the supply of scientific information is minimal. Studies such as these are thus hampered by the unavailability of primary sports history information. As this study is sport-historically orientated, the historic-scientific method has been implemented. Preference has been given to primary sources of information. These sources included minutes, annual reports, reports of annual meetings and reports of special meetings of the Stellenbosch Rugby Football Club, as well as interviews with people involved with the club. Personal correspondence and interviews have also been undertaken with the students and warders of the various male residences. Secondary sources of information included University of Stellenbosch publications, books, articles and newspapers. The introductory section provides a broad outline of the history of rugby in Stellenbosch; the sports fields of the University and especially the various venues of the rugby club are dealt with. At first, games were played on the Braak, from where they were moved to the Vlakte, the Paviljoenveld and later to Coetzenburg. The second chapter is devoted to the formulation of the problem, defining of the study, method of research and the evaluation of the resources. II Stellenbosch University http://scholar.sun.ac.za The third chapter describes all the male residences playing in the koshuisrugby competition. Their history, emblems and their results in the koshuisrugby competition are discussed in detail. Two other teams are also described. However, they are not resident on the Stellenbosch Campus: the Elsenburg Agricultural College has also been discussed as they take part in the koshuisrugby competition although they are not part of the University. Medies (the Medical School) is part of the University and plays rugby in the koshuisrugby competition, but is not situated on the Stellenbosch Campus. The fourth chapter deals with the koshuisrugby competition. First, the origins and the evolution of the five leagues are mapped out. Other competitions such as sevens rugby and the first years’ tournament are also described. Since koshuisrugby provided the playing field for experimenting with rules, a section has been written on rule changes. Referees had to know and apply al those rule changes, so something about the history and evolution of referees has also been given. Finally, sponsors are discussed because their participation helped to make koshuisrugby extremely popular. III Stellenbosch University http://scholar.sun.ac.za OPSOMMING Die Stellenbosch Rugbyvoetbalklub is die grootste klub in die wêreld en die rugbykompetisie van die manskoshuise is 'n komponent van hierdie klub. Die doel van hierdie studie was om die ontstaan, samestelling en aktiwiteite van die rugby van mansstudente in koshuise (‘koshuisrugby’) aan die Universiteit Stellenbosch te dokumenteer. Die geskiedenis van die Universiteit, die geskiedenis van die Stellenbosch Rugbyvoetbalklub en iets van die geskiedenins van rugby in Suid-Afrika, veral te Stellenbosch, word in die inleiding as agtergrond aangebied om 'n globale blik te voorsien. In wese het hierdie studie te doen met die ontwikkelling van koshuisrugby by die Universiteit Stellenbosch. 'n Poging is aangewend om al die versamelde inligting so akkuraat en deeglik as moontlk te herkonstrueer. Alhoewel daar baie populêre sportskrywing in Suid-Afrika gedoen word, is die aanbod van inligting met 'n wetenskaplike strekking minimaal. Studies soos die huidige een word dus in die wiele gery deur die onbeskikbaarheid van primêre inligting oor die geskiedenis van sport. Aangesien hierdie studie op sportgeskiedenis gerig is, is die histories-wetenskaplike metode daarvoor gevolg. Voorkeur is gegee aan primêre bronne van inligting. Hierdie bronne het die notules van vergaderings, jaarverslae, verslae van jaarvergaderings en verslae van spesiale vergaderings van die Stellenbosch Rugbyvoetbalklub ingesluit, sowel as onderhoude met persone wat by die klub betrokke is. Persoonlike briefwisseling en onderhoude is ook gevoer met studente en koshuisvaders van die onderskeie manskoshuise. Sekondêre bronne van inligting het publikasies van die Universiteit Stellenbosch, boeke, artikels en koerante ingesluit. Die inleiding verskaf 'n breë oorsig oor die geskiedenis van rugby in Stellenbosch; die sportvelde van die Universiteit, en die verskeie bymekaarkomplekke van die rugbyklub. Aan die begin is rugbywedstryde op die ‘Braak’ gespeel, vanwaar hulle na die sogenaamde ‘Vlakte’ verskuif het, later na die ‘Paviljoenveld’ en toe na Coetzenburg en later die Danie Craven-stadion. IV Stellenbosch University http://scholar.sun.ac.za Die tweede hoofstuk is gewy aan die formulering van die probleem, die afbakening van die studie, die navorsingsmetode en die evaluering van die bronne. Die derde hoofstuk beskrywe al die manskoshuise wat aan die koshuisrugbykompetisie deelgeneem het. Die geskiedenis van hul deelname, koshuiswapens en resultate word in besonderhede gedek. Twee ander spanne, wat hulself nie op die Stellenbosch-kampus bevind nie, word ook bespreek. Die Elsenburg Landboukollege word bespreek aangesien hulle aan die koshuisrugbykompetisie deelneem, ten spyte daarvan dat hulle nie deel vorm van die Universiteit nie. Medies (die span van die Mediese Skool) vorm deel van die Universiteit en speel rugby in die koshuisrugbykompetisie, maar is in Tygerberg gesetel. Die vierde hoofstuk behandel die koshuisrugbykompetisie. Die oorsprong en ewolusie van die vyf ligas word eerstens uitgestip. Ander kompetisies, soos sewes-rugby en die eerstejaarstoernooi, word ook beskrywe. Aangesien koshuisrugby die speelveld vir eksperimentering met reëls gelewer het, word 'n afdeling aan die wysiging van reëls gewy. Skeidregters moes die reëlwysigings leer ken en toepas, dus was dit nodig om ook oor die geskiedenins en ontwikkeling van die skeidsregters te skrywe. Ten laaste word borge ook bespreek, aangesien hul deelname gehelp het om koshuisrugby so uiters gewild te maak. V Stellenbosch University http://scholar.sun.ac.za ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS I want to give acknowledgement to all the people in the J.S. Gericke Library, especially Judith Swartz, who helped me to find all the required newspapers and gave me support whenever I was in the library. I also want to acknowledge Joléne Barnard from the archives of the University, for helping me to go through all the documents and gave me tons of energy with her smile. She not only helped me, but became a friend. This thesis would not have been possible without the help of students from several residences. Not everybody was willing to represent their residence, but those who did deserve acknowledgement because they helped me with the content of my thesis. A special word of thanks goes to my study leader, Prof. F.J.G. van der Merwe for his guidance. I also would like to thank my parents, for giving me the opportunity to study abroad. My parents and Belinda have made me the person I am today. They have always supported and believed in me, no matter what. VI Stellenbosch University http://scholar.sun.ac.za CONTENTS Chapter One Introduction ............................................................................................................. 1 1.1 Gymnasium and College .................................................................................... 1 1.2 The Victoria College, 1887-1918 ....................................................................... 2 1.3 The origins of the University of Stellenbosch .................................................... 3 1.4 The University of Stellenbosch .......................................................................... 3 1.4.1 Residences ........................................................................................................ 4 1.5 History of rugby at Stellenbosch ........................................................................ 7 1.5.1 Evolution of the equipment and colours ............................................................. 8 1.6 History of the Stellenbosch Rugby Football Club ............................................ 10 1.7 History of the Fields .......................................................................................