It could be expected that the young men and boys of 1859 and the boys of 1866 with the respective openings of the Seminary and Stellenbosch Gymnasium would not remain without sport and play. The same holds true for the Department of Language and Science, founded in 1874 at the Stellenbosch School, developed into the Stellenbosch College, became the Victoria College in 1887, and finally in 1918 earned the status of university, the University of Stellenbosch. That rugby would be one of the sports practised even in the earliest days is to be expected given that the first few Rectors of the school came from Britain where the game was freely played.
Even though it was decided on the 19 March 1818 to name the most important field in the middle of the town "Koningsplein", the name "Die Braak" was soon to replace this. It was this field, the Braak, that stands at the centre of our earliest rugby history.
On the 31 July 1884 the Braak, at the request of a number of residents, was renamed Adderley Square in honour of C.B. Adderley who had, in the British House of Commons, opposed the proposal that the Colony become a penal colony. This decision followed the anti-convict meeting held on 19 July of the same year on the field.
At the same meeting a letter from P. Hartogh and 15 other people requested leave from the Council to play rugby on Adderley Square. Given the earlier decision of the Council this request was denied. It seems likely that Pieter Hartogh angered the Council with his request because a short while later he was fined 5 shillings for allowing two of his horses to graze on the Square. The Council's decision had as much effect as countless Royal and other decisions against the game in England. People simply ignored the decisions and where they were not ignored they were mostly temporary or at a specific place. Decisions, ordinances or laws could not hamper the evolution of the game.
Initially there was a measure of doubt over the kind of rugby that was played because in those days Winchester football and soccer was played in many places in Britain. Rugby was already played in the 1870s. In fact in 1873-74 Oxford and Cambridge played their first match. One College, namely Winchester developed it own kind of rugby and although this game is still played by Winchester College it was never to become popular elsewhere in Britain. However a certain Rev. Ogilvie who was acquainted with the Winchester game came to the Cape in 1858 and amongst others was Head of St. George's Grammar School. In 1861 he became Principal of the Diocesan Collegiate School which was to become in 1867 the Diocesan College.
Apparently it was this Minister that propagated the Winchester game in the Cape because not only Diocesan College but also other teams including Hamiltons and Villagers participated in this kind of rugby. The game is played much like rugby the difference being that the ball may be carried only if it is caught out of the air or from the opposition. In other instances the ball is played with the feet or dribbled. Points were scored through goals like soccer goals and the goal posts had no crossbar; furthermore the ball was round.
It can be accepted almost with certainty that the Stellenboschers never played the Winchester game as opposed to the many Cape teams which did. In the portrait of the First Team of 1880 the ball is round, however the reason for this is apparently that the team possessed only a round ball since soccer was played here until 1879.
When the players, as was their habit after soccer practise on the Braak, came to the millstream to wash, a young man who did not participate in the game was observed because the man after being invited had not wanted to play and showed no enthusiasm for the game the others wanted to call him all sorts of names. He explained his objections to the game. And there beside the millstream this man, a De Vos, explained to the rest of the men how rugby was played. And De Vos was an Ikey!
Already in 1879 a rugby match was played between the South African College and Bishops and because of this De Vos knew the game and could on that afternoon play in the first rugby game in Stellenbosch. It was the end of soccer in Stellenbosch. From then on spectators walking past the Braak stood still to watch the new game that the entire town's young men were mad about.
It must have been the same year and certainly not later than the next that the South African College through De Vos was invited to play a match in Stellenbosch. The invitation was accepted and the very first competitive rugby match in Stellenbosch took place. Let us say it was in 1880. More suited opponents for the historical opportunity it could not be possible to find because they were later to become Ikeys against which Stellenbosch for better or for worse were to face on the rugby field. What is more fitting is that Stellenbosch in the first encounter sent SACS home with their tails between their legs.
The first man to score a try in Stellenbosch was a robust young farm boy, Mike Maritz. The Stellenbosch boys were far too strong for the Capetonians who undaunted challenged the Stellenboschers to a return fixture in the Cape. The invitation was accepted and the Stellenboschers won again.
In the meantime rugby was still officially banned on the Braak. To make matters even worse in this important year in the history of the club the Magistrate was to write to the Municipality of "improper scenes occurring on Adderley Square, such as, fighting, using obscene language, etc. between the Europeans and Coloured boys playing football and other games, and suggesting that another spot may be pointed out for said games".
The Council gave orders to its works' committee to find another appropriate field. On 4 May 1880 this committee reported that it had inspected the ground at the flats but that it was too small for the two parties "whereupon it was resolved on application of the Cricket Club, and students and pupils of the Gymnasium to allow them the use of Adderley Square, and that, should application be made by the Coloured schoolboys, to allow them to play on the flats".
In two important respects therefore the correct year for the celebration of our 75th birthday is 1955. In 1880 not only was the first official rugby match played but Adderley Square was also officially recognised as a rugby field. Fortunately it is possible to print a portrait of the first team players of 1880 in this book.
Since 1880 rugby has become a very popular game in Stellenbosch and many matches are played there and elsewhere. One episode is however very difficult to understand and this was the refusal by the Municipality in 1884 to allow a touring team from Kimberley to play in Stellenbosch. Just the previous year Stellenbosch had lost no matches. The team which was called the "Fifteen Devils" and comprised almost exclusively Seminary students had inspired great expectations amongst the whole of Stellenbosch for the match. But now a year later "the chairman intimated that he hears a football club from Kimberley is expected here on Saturday 1st, when resolved that the Secretary informed the captain of the Stellenbosch Club, that if the report be true the Commissioners cannot at present allow such a match with any club to be played on Municipal grounds".
The team from Kimberley played a series of matches in the Cape but not in Stellenbosch. The actions of the Town Council are somewhat inexplicable. Apparently the matches between SACS and other teams took place without the knowledge of the town fathers otherwise they would certainly have taken action; the Cricket Club experienced a similar situation. In 1882 they were banned from playing a match against Paarl in Stellenbosch and later in the same year when they wanted to play a match in Paarl they were cautioned to use their discretion and to take public opinion into consideration.
It sounds strange that although rugby had already been played for five years the Stellenbosch Club first asked permission from the Municipality in 1885 to mark the field and to chop trees next to the river for goalposts. Both requests were granted and football goalposts appeared on the Square for the first time.
The absence of goalposts is no indication of a deviation from the normal rules of the game. Players at certain opportunities for example when a penalty or conversion kick was taken acted as goalposts themselves and their word was law. The players also judged for themselves whether a ball was drop-kicked was between the goalposts and whether it was high enough. The rules were in the hands of the players and when there was a difference of opinion the captains were left to make a decision. The honour of the men was the main issue and therefore referees and goalposts were not necessary. It was only later that players became skelm or crafty.
In 1885 the Club entered the competition for the "Plattelandse Beker'" (Country Cup) and matches were played on the Braak. These matches brought to light that conditions on the field were bad and therefore in September of that year there was a request for ground on the flats (the old golf course). This request was also granted and as a result rugby was played on the flats from 1886.
In this connection many problems regarding Adderley Square can be mentioned. Nico Theunissen the best bowler of the time who also played for South Africa hit a cricket ball through a window of Bastiaan's Pharmacy, which was situated, on the ground where the current Post Office is. The ball not only broke the window but also bottles of medicine. Bastiaan reported the incident to the Municipality the Braak became forbidden territory and the Cricket Club had to pay ?3 15s in damages.
Because the Braak was public ground, everyone had the right to play there. Clashes were unavoidable and later fights between players and the "Chams" took on such proportions that place had to be sought elsewhere.
First change-room
The first change-room was behind the old hospital, which is now the psychology building. It was only a temporary room and when one of the players forced open the door H.E. Tindall the captain was informed that the club would in future have to pay "say 5 shillings a month rental should they not meet this requirement the building would be removed" . This first change-room, limited as it was, was at least progress. And was followed by the fencing off of the field for which permission was granted on 1 November 1887.
Sir Donald Currie in Stellenbosch
Coincidentally in 1889 - the year a man who was to have a great influence on our rugby visited the town - Stellenbosch entered the Grand Challenge Cup competition. We referred to the visit of Sir Donald Currie donor of the Currie Cup. Little could he have known when he was greeted by young and old at Bosman's Crossing where in remembrance of his visit an address was delivered how many students from this little town in later years would participate in the competition of the Curriue Cup.
International team challenged
Maclaglan's British team, which arrived here in 1891, was the very first overseas team to visit the country. These men also brought with them the cup that Sir Donald Currie had donated.
At the end of their tour Stellenbosch invited or in other words challenged them to play a match in Stellenbosch. This invitation was accepted and on 7 September 1891 Stellenbosch became one of the very few club teams ever to play an international touring team.
Although we had been knocked out of the competition early that year the team still played friendly matches without which their level of fitness would not have placed them in a position top be opposition the like of which the British experienced seldom on their tour.
Marthinus Daneel, father of George, and our wing had already crossed the British goal line bit instead of placing the ball for a try; he wanted to be closer to the goalposts. In those days a try counted for one point and a goal for three points. The British were 2-0 ahead and if Marthinus could place the ball under the goalposts Stellenbosch would win.
Unfortunately it was Maclaglan himself who got hold of Daneel and there followed what was called a "maul". A maul was a duel between two players in which other players not allowed to participate. Depending on who won the ball it would either be placed for a try or placed behind the dead ball line. Maclaglan won this maul and our chance of winning was lost.
