​TODAY IN SOUTH AFRICAN RUGBY LEAGUE HISTORY
27 OCTOBER 1973 – GREEN VIGO HAT-TRICK
 
On this Day, 47 years ago, Green Vigo, a Protea and representative player of the South African Rugby Football Federation and Saldanha Tigers, scored a hat-trick of tries for Wigan against Hull Kingston Rovers in a comprehensive 38–3 victory. This was his first year in professional rugby and a season in which he played 26 games and scored 11 tries. Along the way, he earned a string of nicknames, ranging from “Super Green” to the ‘Wizard of Wigan’ and the ‘Saldanha Iron Horse’. Possession blistering pace and displaying a physical approach to the game, he became a target of opposition players early on. As early as his full first professional game, he lost some teeth after a stiff-arm tackle. He won his first medal, in the Lancashire Cup Final against Salford on 13 October 1973.

​TODAY IN SOUTH AFRICAN RUGBY LEAGUE HISTORY
WAYBACK WEDNESDAY
26 OCTOBER 1957 – TOM VAN VOLLENHOVEN
 
On this Day, 63 years ago, in front of 23,000 fans, Tom van Vollenhoven, made his debut for St. Helens against Leeds at Knowsley Road. Recruited for the Saints from Rhodesian rugby after strong financial competition from other league clubs,  Springbok Number 314 after concluding a record deal and signing-on fee of £7 230, then went on to make a further 408 appearances for the club,  scoring 392 tries along the way. On two occasions he scored six tries in a club match.
His October-debut, however, proved to be a cracker. Playing with the likes of Duggie Greenall, Vince Karalius and Alex Murphy, on the day, the ‘Vol’ as he came to be known, scored his first first-class try and helping his side to a 36-7 victory. From this point onwards, there was no looking back.
In 2000 ahead of the World Cup, Tom van Vollenhoven was inducted into the Rugby League Hall of Fame and remains the only South African representative thus far to be honoured in this way.
On his passing in 2017, St Helens Chairman Eamonn McManus in an interview with Sky Sport noted:
"Tom was one of St Helens' and rugby league's greatest ever players: a true great amongst greats. He lit up the game during its great era in the 1950s and 60s. There may be possible debate over who was St Helens' best ever player but there is no doubt over who is our most loved and revered player: it is Tom van Vollenhoven."
Dave Dooley of the Saints Heritage Society in turn wrote of Heritage Player Number 747:
“Tommy Vol was truly a phenomenon, with 392 tries in 408 appearances - says it all, doesn`t it! A blond, crew-cutted figure, who possessed terrific pace and athletic ability, he was also extremely strong for his size. Apart from finishing with aplomb if given even minimal space down the touchline, there was no contest - three points every time! He could conjure up tries from the most unlikely scenarios, regardless of the craft and skill of his centres.”

TODAY IN SOUTH AFRICAN RUGBY LEAGUE HISTORY
25 OCTOBER 2015 

​On this day, five years ago, South African Rugby League, played the Lebanon Cedars in a Rugby League World Cup Qualifying match in the First Leg of the Middle East Africa Section. This historic match was the first time ever that any Lebanese sports team, national or otherwise, has played in South Africa. To add further gravity to the occasion, the Rhinos and the Cedars teams were competing for the last available spot in the 2017 Rugby League World Cup Finals scheduled for Australia. Both nations also found them on a steep development trajectory as 

a result of a range of factors. Initially scheduled for Brakpan, the match was eventually shifted to the Bosman Stadium.
The Rhino team of 2015 represented a new start in the history of South African Rugby League and followed the retirement or departure to the professional ranks abroad of the first generation of players. In addition, the organisation was in the midst of orientating and inaugurating a new leadership on the administrative level. Most of the players selected for the Bosman Stadium encounter were either making their debut or were playing in only their second or third international contest. The Cedars in turn were only marginally more experienced but had at least four players in the match day squad, namely Adham El Zbaidieh, James Boustani, Wael Harb and Robin Hachache who could be regarded as international veterans having played between nine and 16 international matches (or tests).
The Rhinos had an uphill battle and at halftime was trailing by 18-4 and final lost the match by 40-12. The Rhino’s scored three tries in response to the seven of the Cedars. Try-scorers for the home team on this occasion were Johan Joubert, Jason King and Nardus Raubenheimer. Neither Jean Coetzer nor Bradley Williams could add any conversion. Travis Robinson in turn scored a hat-trick of tries for the visitors. This was followed by tries by Daniel Abou-Sleiman, Tarek El Masri, Mitchell Mamary, and Chris SAAB. James Boustani converted six of the seven tries.
Despite this setback, the Rhinos manfully continued their campaign and making their contribution to further consolidating South Africa’s Rugby League World Cup legacy. 

​

The EXCO decided that all clubs will receive the opportunity to apply to return to play.
​Please print the documentation above and study it properly.

The results for the finals of the South African Virtual Rugby League are in!!
Results
Finals: Brits Bulldogs vs Ermelo Tomahawks
Winner 🏆 ERMELO TOMAHAWKS
Total Votes: 978, Ermelo Tomahawks 52% with 504 votes

The Women and Girls Working Group (WGWG) mandated by International Rugby League (IRL) to advise the Board on the development of women and girls rugby league, has appointed its first secretary, So’oletaua Motuliki. She will take up her position immediately.
 
So’o is one of two women in the Vanuatu Rugby League Board. She was introduced to Rugby League in Vanuatu around in 2016 when she was appointed as a women’s rugby league development officer for Port Vila Rugby League. Shortly after she was appointed as a board member to the Vanuatu Rugby League (VRL) Board and, in 2019, appointed Secretary General for VRL. So’o is also the VRL facilitator for Port Vila Rugby League and the Domestic Competition Committee.
 
By profession So’o is a solicitor and barrister of the Supreme Court of the Republic of Vanuatu and the High Court of the Republic of Fiji. She is of Samoan and Tokelauan descent and has lived for almost 10 years in Vanuatu with her husband and two daughters. She has a massive passion for the growth and development of Rugby League in Vanuatu not only for the women but also for Rugby League as a whole. She is a massive advocate for gender equality in sports and passionately supports women in Rugby League.
 
Chair of WGC, Julia Lee welcomed the appointment saying;
 
“I am so pleased to welcome So’o as secretary. The combination of her legal skills and passion for rugby league bring an added dimension to our group.
 
“In a very short time we have established a clear vision for the growth of the international female game. We have already developed high level outcomes and measurements to guide us in our work.
 
“The appointment supports the inclusive nature of rugby league and particularly the desire for female participation world-wide”
 
So’o is excited to be taking up this post saying;
 
“I am delighted to take up the Secretary position. I’ve had the privilege of being part of the development of rugby league in Vanuatu, with particular focus on the women and girls’ game. Not only will I be able to take those learnings and collaborate on an international level, I am also ecstatic to be working with and learning from the women in this committee on how to further the sport not only for the women but development as a whole. This is an exciting prospect."
 
The group is formed of people actively involved in rugby league in various parts of the world. Chair Julia Lee is joined by Luisa Avaiki, head of women’s rugby league for New Zealand Rugby League, Tahina Booth, a PNG Orchids international player, Tiffany Slater, General Manager of NRL Women’s Elite Program, Stuart Barrow, RFL’s Women and Girls National Talent Manager, Tiziano Franchini, the Italian women’s coach, and the IRL’s Sara Piper, a digital and marketing specialist.