SA Rugby Board 100 Years

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This cover is postmarked on 22 June 1989 to mark the centenary of the South African Rugby Board, founded in 1889 to bring the country's growing number of rugby clubs and provincial unions under one governing body. The four stamps each commemorate a different international test series. The 18c stamp marks a 1980 French tour that ended in a 37-15 Springbok win. The 30c stamp covers the 1963 Wallabies series, which finished level at two wins apiece. The 40c stamp recalls the 1937 tour of Australia and New Zealand, still considered one of the strongest Springbok sides ever fielded. The 50c stamp marks the first British Isles tour in 1896, notable as South Africa's first ever test win and the first match played in the now famous green jersey. One detail worth noting is just how young organised rugby in South Africa really was before the Board existed. The first recorded organised match took place on Cape Town's Green Point Common in August 1862, meaning the sport had barely three decades of organised history in the country before its national governing body was even formed.

Description of the Cachet

The cachet shows the Springbok emblem in full gold and green, leaping across an oval crest with the words S A Rugby arched above and 1889-1989 below. A rugby ball sits at the base carrying the number 100, marking a full century since the founding of the South African Rugby Board. Below the crest sit four small heraldic badges representing the touring nations honoured on this cover. The British Isles badge combines the rose, thistle, shamrock and leek of the home unions. New Zealand carries a single silver fern on black. Australia shows the Wallabies crest in gold and green. France carries the Gallic rooster on a blue shield.

Information Card

EEUFEES VAN DIE SUID-AFRIKAANSE RUGBYRAAD Die ontwikkeling van amateurrugby in Suid-Afrika Rugbyvoetbal het waarskynlik as 'n spel in Suid-Afrika begin met die wedstryde wat regimente van die Britse leër wat by die vroeë Zoeloe-oorloë betrokke was, teen mekaar gespeel het. Sover vasgestel kan word, is die eerste georganiseerde wedstryd egter dié een wat in Augustus 1862 tussen militêre en burgerlike spelers op die Groenpuntmeent in Kaapstad gespeel is. Die eerste klub in Suid-Afrika, dié tans bekende Hamilton Rugby Football Club, is in 1875 gestig, 'n jaar later het die Villager RFC gevolg. Kort hierna is die Stellenbosch-klub gestig, 'n naam wat wêreldwyd sinoniem met rugby geword het. Dit was die bakermat van Suid-Afrikaanse rugby, met nie minder nie as 126 van Suid-Afrika se 551 internasionale spelers wat aan die Universiteit van Stellenbosch gestudeer het. Ongeveer gelyktydig met die ontstaan van die spel in Kaapstad het dit ook in King William's Town en ander Grens- en Oostelike Provinsie-dorpe posgevat. Kort daarna het dit op Kimberley te versprei gemaak en toe verder na die Transvaal en Natal versprei totdat dit ook in die Oranje-Vrystaat inslag gevind het. Die groeiende gewildheid van die spel en die toename in die aantal klubs het tot die stigting van provinsiale unies gelei. Die eerste een, Wes-Provinsie, is in 1883 gestig. Die behoefte na 'n oorkoepelende liggaam het gou duidelik geword en in 1889 het die Suid-Afrikaanse Rugbyraad tot stand gekom. Gedurende die afgelope honderd jaar het die SARR sewe presidente gehad van wie Percival Ross Frames die eerste was, Andries Jacobus (Sport) Pienaar 26 jaar lank — van 1927 tot 1953 — as president gedien het, terwyl die huidige president, dr. Daniel Hartman Craven, die amp reeds sedert 1956 beklee — 34 jaar lank. Die eerste buitelandse toerspan het Suid-Afrika in 1891 besoek. Dié Britse span, 'n span uit Brittanje, het 'n goue beker, met die inskripsie South African Football Challenge Cup daarop, saamgebring. Dit is deur sir Donald Currie geskenk daaraan met die opdrag dat al die toonaangewende rugbysentra in Suid-Afrika daarom moet meeding. Die volgende jaar, 1892, het die reeks Curriebekertoernooie wat tot vandag toe as die voorste Suid-Afrikaanse rugbykompetisie bestaan, 'n aanvang geneem. Sedert die eerste toer in 1891 het Suid-Afrika internasionale toere geruil met spanne van die Britse Eilande, Frankryk, Nieu-Seeland, Australië en Suid-Amerika. Die Springbokke se toetsstatistiek is soos volg: toetse gespeel 172; gewen 110; verloor 47 en gelykop 15. In 1937 het die Springbokke deur Australië en Nieu-Seeland getoer (40c-seël). Dié span word as een van die beste Springbokspanne ooit beskou. Hulle het 16 van hul 17 wedstryde in Nieu-Seeland gewen en dit is die eerste keer in 'n toetsreeks waarin die bekende groen trui gedra is. Die onderwerp van die 50c-seël is die Britse Eilande-span se toer in 1896 na Suid-Afrika. Die besoekers het die eerste drie toetse (8-0, 17-8 en 9-3) gewen, maar Suid-Afrika het die vierde met 5-0 gewen. Dit was Suid-Afrika se eerste toetsoorwinning en die eerste wedstryd waarin die bekende groen trui gedra is. In 1963 het die Wallabies Suid-Afrika besoek (30c-seël). Dié toetsreeks teen die Wallabies het twee elk gelykop geëindig. Die Australiërs het 15 van hul 24 wedstryde gewen. In 1980 het 'n Franse span in Suid-Afrika kom speel en in een toets teen die Springbokke te staan gekom (18c-seël). Frankryk is met 37-15 verslaan. N.W. CENTENARY OF THE SOUTH AFRICAN RUGBY BOARD Evolution of the rugby union game in South Africa Rugby football, as a game in South Africa, probably originated with the matches played between regiments of the British Army engaged in the early Zulu wars. As far as can be ascertained, however, the first organized game played was that between military and civilian players on the Green Point Common in Cape Town in August 1862. The year 1875 saw the formation of the first club in South Africa, that of the now famous Hamilton Rugby Football Club, followed a year later by the Villager RFC. Soon afterwards came the formation of the Stellenbosch Club, a name which has become synonymous with rugby the world over. It has been the nursery of South African rugby, with no fewer than 126 of South Africa's 551 international players having attended the University of Stellenbosch. About the time the game began in Cape Town it was also introduced at King William's Town and other Border and Eastern Province towns. Thence it quickly reached Kimberley, from where it spread to the Transvaal and on to Natal, and finally to the Orange Free State. With the popularity of the game spreading as it did, and with the increase in the number of clubs, provincial unions were formed — Western Province was the first in 1883. The need for an umbrella body soon became apparent and the South African Rugby Board was constituted in 1889. During the past century the SARB had seven presidents, of whom Percival Ross Frames was the first, Andries Jacobus (Sport) Pienaar for 26 years from 1927 to 1953, and the current president, Dr Daniel Hartman Craven, has held this office for 34 years, since 1956. The year 1891 saw the visit of the first overseas touring team to South Africa. This was by a British side who brought with them a gold cup bearing the inscription South African Football Challenge Cup — a gift from Sir Donald Currie, with the instruction that it be competed for by all representative rugby centres in South Africa. The following year, 1892, saw the beginning of the series of Currie Cup tournaments which have continued to this day as South Africa's premier rugby competition. Since the first tour in 1891, South Africa has exchanged international tours with teams from the British Isles, France, New Zealand, Australia and South America. The Springbok test match record reads as follows: matches played 172; won 110; lost 47 and drew 15. In 1896 the Springboks toured Australia and New Zealand (40c stamp). This team is considered one of the best Springbok teams ever. They won 16 of their 17 matches in New Zealand and for the first time the All Blacks were beaten in a test series when South Africa won two of the three test matches. In 1937 the Springboks toured Australia and New Zealand (40c stamp). Dié span word as een van die beste Springbokspanne ooit beskou. Hulle het 16 van hul 17 wedstryde in Nieu-Seeland gewen en dit is die eerste keer in 'n toetsreeks geklop toe Suid-Afrika twee van die drie toetse gewen het. The 50c stamp refers to the tour by a British Isles team to South Africa in 1896. The visitors won the first three test matches (8-0, 17-8 and 9-3) but was beaten in the fourth by South Africa 5-0. It was South Africa's first test victory and the first match in which the well-known green jersey was worn. In 1963 the Wallabies visited South Africa (30c stamp). The test series against the Wallabies ended in a draw, two test matches having been won by each side. The Australians won 15 of their 24 matches. In 1980 a French team toured South Africa and played one test match against the Springboks (18c stamp). France was defeated 37-15. N.W.

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