Wright to lead legends at Buffs celebrations

By Brian McLean

EAST LONDON -- Scrumhalf Garth Wright is to captain the South African Legends rugby XV which plays a Border Legends side at the Buffalo Rugby Club's 125th anniversary celebrations, scheduled for early August.

The celebrations, which will see a feast of rugby and includes a gala dinner at which former Springbok coach Ian MacIntosh will be the guest speaker, will run over four days at the Buffalo Club, starting on August 8.

Flanker Rob Louw, eighthman MacDonald, wing Pieter Hendricks, centre Michael du Plessis and props Johan le Roux and Willie Hills are some of the golden players of yesteryear included in the Springbok Legends XV, while James Small is among the reserves.

The Border Legends side, to be announced soon, will be captained by one of Buffaloes and Border's favourite sons, Duncan Gomm.

According to Buffaloes Rugby Club chairman Alistair Tavener the festival programme has been finalised and first up will be two rugby matches on August 8, followed by a welcoming cocktail party.

A Buffalo U21 side will play a Border U21 Invitation XV at 5pm with Buffs seconds meeting a Border Invitation XV at 6.15pm. Cambridge's Japie Coetzer will select the invitation teams.

A golf day has been organised for the next day, Friday, at the East London Golf Club, followed by the prizegiving and gala dinner.

The cost of the golf is R640 per four ball and according to golf organisers Andre Bieske and Neville Wilkins, the field is filling rapidly.

Golf-playing former Boks will join the golf day.

The Minister of Sport, Ngconde Balfour, will be a special guest at the gala dinner, as will many other local dignitaries and Wright will act as master-of-ceremonies.

The evening will be a formal stag affair and tickets are available at R100 each with tables of 10 available.

According to Tavener tables are selling fast.

A full day of rugby starts on Saturday at 8.30am when visiting Boks coach a number of development players at Buffalo Park.

This will be followed by a Golden Oldies festival, a Buffs first XV game and the highlight of the day, the SA Legends versus Border Legends match.

The SA Legends X is: Hendrick Truter, Pieter Hendricks, Riaan Potgieter, Michael du Plessis, Marshal Brennan, Martin Knoetze, Garth Wright (capt) Ian MacDonald, Derick Mostert, Rob Louw, Kuife van der Merwe, Drikus Hattingh, Johan le Roux, Jan de Klerk, Willie Hills. Reserves: James Small, Mark Wood, Johan Kapp, Jaques du Plessis, Edwin Ludick.

Saturday's programme is:

8.30am: Development rugby
9.55: Police v Stutterheim; Bridges v Swifts.
10.35: Hamilton's v Old Selbornians; Albany v Border Veterans
11.15: Buffs 1 XV v EL Invitation
12.45: Buffs Dragons XV v Crusaders
1.25: SA Legends v Border Legends
3pm: Springboks v All Blacks on the SAB big screen
6pm: Beerfest

* Inquiries to Tavener on 082 377 1579 or website at www.buffs.org.za.