​Following the recent announcement of their rise to 14th in the world rankings, Netherlands Rugby League Bond has begun planning the next phase of their development, as they look to recruit in four key posts.

Kane Krlic’s departure, after seven successful years at the helm, means the need for the appointment of a new men’s head coach for the 2025 World Cup qualifiers and beyond. Alongside, the NRLB is looking for regional development officers – a new position to build the player pool across a wider area and general volunteers – to support events across the country and more match officials.

Competitions and NLXIII manager, Matt Rigby, commented: “We have been working hard to build foundations and standardise our internal structures. With them now in place and our International side developing impressively, the time is right for us to seek further assistance to take the sport to the next level in the Netherlands. Following the incredible work Kane has done, we are looking for the next person to take on the coaching challenge, and offer additional opportunities for all.”

Details of the role descriptions can be found here - http://rugbyleague.nl/staff-vacancies/

On this day, 19 December 1989, 32 years ago, rugby union and rugby league Springbok, Natie Rens, died in Johannesburg, at the age of 60. Born on 19 July 1929 in Potchefstroom, Natie Rens grew up during the Second World War. Rens joined Diggers RFC in 1945. He played for the under-19 ‘A’ team in his debut season. 

They won the Transvaal Knock-out Trophy, his first trophy in a successful union career. By 1949, when international rugby returned to South Africa, he represented the senior Diggers side that claimed the Pirates Grand Challenge Trophy. In 1949, Rens made his debut in a series of inter-province friendlies. This launched his 81 game career for his province.

He also won a place in the Transvaal Urban XV against the touring All Blacks. In 1952, when Transvaal played Boland in the Currie Cup Final at Wellington in October, Rens scored the critical drop-goal to seal the game and an 11–9 win. He also kicked a penalty and conversion for a total of eight points. With the 1953 Australian tour, Rens won his Springbok colours  (Springbok #310) and played against the tourists in two tests.

By the end of the 1960 season, after 12 provincial seasons, 291 points and 14 tries, his rugby union career was over. With the launch of the rugby league in South Africa in 1962, Rens became one of the pioneers of the 13-man code locally and he captained the Southern Suburbs side in the competition of Rugby League South Africa. He played in the first match against the British Lions in August 1962 at stand-off and toured Australia and New Zealand with the Rugby League Springboks in 1963.

By Hendrik Snyders

​On this day - 14 December 1957 -  64 years ago, Fred Griffiths, nicknamed ‘Poensie’ at home and ‘Punchy’ overseas, made his British rugby league debut for Wigan against Widnes. However, it took him time to adjust to rugby league. In 1958-59, he became a regular in the side. He kicked six goals as Wigan retained the Challenge Cup, beating Hull 30-13. He had played – and scored - in every round of the Cup run. His goal kicking helped him to top the national point’s scorers chart for the season, with 394 goals. His 176 goals was a Wigan club record. Further success followed in 1959-60, when he again kicked six goals in a final, this time in the Championship, as Wigan beat Wakefield Trinity 27-3. In 1962 he experienced defeat for the first time in a rugby league final. He scored all Wigan’s points in a 12-6 defeat to St Helens in the Challenge Cup. He played twice for a Rugby League XIII in 1961–62, against the New Zealand tourists and against a French XIII. In June 1962 he played as a guest for Wakefield Trinity on their tour of South Africa. He left Wigan in November 1962, having completed the five years of his original contract.

​Gauteng Cowboys 22 - 14 North West Warthogs - The game stopped after 40 minutes as a result of lightning.

Eastern Eagles vs Mpumalanga Panthers - Game cancelled due to lightning.

Regional Competition derailed by Lightning
As was the case with the start of the inter-club competition, climate change had the final say in the outcome of the first round of matches for the Jan Prinsloo Regional Cup competition played over the weekend of 4 December. Whereas the Gauteng Cowboys and Northwest Warthogs were at least able to make it to the kick-off, the match between the Eastern Eagles and Mpumalanga Panthers had to be abandoned even before it started. The notorious Highveldt lightning in both cases, had the final say.

After four rounds of club competition, both the Cowboys and Warthogs were raring to go. In a season severely disrupted by lockdown and other pandemic control measures, the tasking of writing an own history was surely upfront in the mind of most. Displaying increased levels of fitness, both teams gave it their best. In the space of 40 minutes in which play was possible, attack was the name of the game. The Gauteng Cowboys, marshalled by Hendrik Mulder and Jean Coetzer, led the way and scored four well-deserved tries. Mulder added a further three conversions to give the Cowboys a healthy stash of 22 well-earned points.  Cream of the crop in the try-scoring stakes were Francois Lottering, followed by Mulder and Ayanda Swartbooi. 

But the Warthogs were in no mood to simply roll over and surrender. Staging a spirited fightback and displaying attacking skills of their own, they responded by crossing the Cowboy white-wash three times. Getting their name on the score sheet were Francois Trollip, Marcelle Corneelsen, and Jacques Stander. Kicker Timothy Scherman, however, only succeeded in converting one try. With the game finely balanced, Mother Nature intervened and forced the players off the field. With heavy lightning ruling the rest of the period, the game was finally abandoned with the final score at 22-14.

Game 1 - Gauteng Cowboys 22 - 14 North West Warthogs
Cowboys – Tries
 Francois Lottering  x 2
 Hendrik Mulder 
 Ayanda Swartbooi

Conversions
 Hendrik Mulder 3

Warthogs – Tries
 Francois Trollip
 Marcelle Corneelsen
 Jacques Stander
Conversions
 Timothy Scherman
Game stopped after 40 minutes as a result of lightning.
Game 2 - Eastern Eagles vs Mpumalanga Panthers
 Game cancelled due to lightning

Round Three of the Protea Cup saw all four clubs really getting down to the business of playing high-tension and competitive league. The Tomahawks were the first to throw down the gauntlet by stopping the log-leaders, the Loskop Leopards, in their tracks. Displaying a ruthless efficiency, the Axe Men, crossed the Leopards goal-line a record seven times. The failure of the team’s principal kickers to convert every one of the hard-won tries, however, prevented the team from registering a more comprehensive win. Leopards, however, never gave up and scored four tries of their own. Likewise, their kickers only converted two tries. The end result, a close of 36-21.

As respectable title contestants, Wolverines and the Silverbacks were equally good value for money. Both played only their second match in this year’s competition. They went into the round with full knowledge of the different games and points advantage that the Leopards already had to their credit. Both teams understood the danger of mediocrity and under-performance. What was required was nothing less than a championship performance. A drawn match and shared match-points would, in the long run, only benefit the Loskop stalkers. 

 The end result was an all-action try-festival in which both clubs contributed a collective total of 13 tries. Of these, the Wolverines scored six and the Silverbacks seven. Werner Barnard, in a master-class of goal-kicking, converted all six of the Wolverines tries and helped them to secure a 36 – 28 victory. This performance resulted in him winning the weekly Golden Boot of the Week Award. The kickers of the Silverbacks, however, failed to convert any of their seven-goal kicks into points. In the process, they forfeited 14 points and a potential victory to boot. This notwithstanding, the current points table indicates that all four sides are still in contention for the eventual league title. As far as the points difference is concerned, the Leopards is topping the log with 47 over three games, while the Tomahawks boasted with 35 after a similar number of matches.



SALSA Protea cup

Match 1 - Tomahawks 36 - 21 Leopards
Tomahawks - Tries
 Luigi Cirigliano 2,
 Alec Duncan, 
 Zimri Buchling, 
 Jeandre Muller,
 Zevey Geel,
 Andre Thomas

 Conversions
 Jeandre Muller 2,
 Zimri Buckling
Penalty
 Luigi Cirigliano

Leopards -Tries
 P v Heerden,
 N Rust,
 R Horn
 P Pretorius

Conversion
 G Gendall 2
Drop Goal
 A Muller

Match 2 - Wolverines 36 - 28 Silverbacks

Wolverines - Tries
 Gerald Gibson 2
 Franco Cloete 2
 Carlo Cloete 
 Kali Grung
Conversions
 Werner Barnard 6

Silverbacks - Tries
 Stephan Andreson 2,
 Mathew Reynolds 2,
 Zuke Da Wula, 
 Armand Olivier,
 Jason Dicks.

Hat-trick Try-scorer of the Week:
- None

Double-Header Try-scorer of the Week:
 Stephan Andreson 2 (Silverbacks)
 Mathew Reynolds 2  (Silverbacks)
 Gerald Gibson 2  (Wolverines)
 Franco Cloete 2  (Wolverines)
 Luigi Cirigliano 2  (Tomahawks)

 Golden Boot of the Week:
 Werner Barnard 6 (Wolverines)

Round 4 of the Kobus Botha Rhino Cup, played over the past weekend, witnessed the resurgence of at least three of the log leaders. Although the Vultures continued to feast after achieving their fourth victory in a row, the margin between winning and losing is definitely shrinking. TuksRL Reds was full-value for money, but they forced the cherry-and-whites to work hard for their log points. In the end, the difference was two extra tries scored by Shaun Matsane and the pinpoint goal-kicking of Stevan Kok.

In the other feature match of the weekend, the Grizzlies demonstrated their profound commitment to challenging the current dominance of the Vultures. Following their 56 -20 defeat of Pretoria, they have narrowed the gap at the top of the log to only five points. Similarly, the points difference at the top-end of the record also started to decrease and currently stood at 44 in favour of the Vultures. Timothy Scherman, with his 8 conversions, deservedly won the weekly Golden Boot of the Week Award.

Everything is, however, not lost for the Capitols. With one game in hand, the Pretoria RLC is still in a favourable position and is at this stage only trailing the frontrunners by one, four and nine points, respectively. One game and several bonus points in the next round will make a world of difference. As indicated previously, as a founding league club in the country, much is expected from the Pretorians.
Like Pretoria, Spartans, with its two wins out of four, continue to be a factor and occupy the third position. The newcomers may just have a real say in what the future rounds and their associated results may look like.  It is, however, dangerous to simply regard them as mere also-rans. The Spartans, true to their name and fearless commitment to the cause, possesses enough skill and ability to stamp their own imprint on this year’s competition. 

With the Brits Bulldogs sitting in the middle of the points table, the possibilities are endless. Always dangerous and known for their tenacity, the opposition should not discount the threat of having to play them on their home ground. With ambitions of its own, they are intent on scalping, especially the Pretorians – irrespective of flag or colour.

At this stage of the competition, the Tuks Collective is firmly anchoring the bottom of the table. They are joined by the Witbank Knights.  This state of affairs is not wholly surprising given the pressure of year-end exams and the massive impact of the Covid-19 pandemic on the academic fraternity. With educational priorities firmly at the top of the student agenda, the final resurgence of the Tukkie Rugby League may only follow at the tail-end of the season. It would, however, be prudent of the other clubs to remain strategic in their planning and not make a mistake of underestimating the commitment, ability and pride of the Tukkie Collective. To do so, may just introduce the x-factor into this year’s competition. The only time they will tell. 

The Knights, on the other hand, is struggling to get out of the blocks. Judging by their historical record, they do have the ability to compete with the rest. The pandemic, however, seemed to have affected the club more than others. SA Rugby League remains committed to assisting and bringing them back to full competitiveness.

Results of Kobus Botha Rhino Cup 27 Nov. 2021

Match 1 - Pretoria RLC 20 - 56 Grizzlies

 Pretoria  - Tries
 Core Gerber, 
 E Taaibosch,
 Adriaan Karelse,
 Craig Scott

Conversions
 Adriaan Karelse 2

Grizzlies – Tries
 Herman Pretorius 3
 Ockert Roos 2 
 Brandan Le Sar 
 Werner Diedericks
 Andre Potgieter 
 Stephen Alberts 
 Timmy Nhlapo

Conversions
 Timothy Scherman 8

Match 2 - St Helen’s Vultures 24 - 12 TuksRL Reds

Vultures – Tries
 Shaun Matsane 2, 
 Dylan Keys
 Stevan Kok

Conversions
 Stevan Kok 4

TuksRL Red – Tries
 Allan Kasselman,
 Riaan Laidlaw

Conversions
 Jean Coetzer 2

Other Results -
 Match 3 - Spartans 36 - 0 TuksRL Blues
 Match 4 - Brits Bulldogs 36 - 0 Witbank Knights

Hat-trick Try-scorer of the Week:
 Herman Pretorius 3 (Grizzlies)

Double-Header Try-scorer of the Week:
 Shaun Matsane 2 (Vultures)
 Ockert Roos 2 (Grizzlies)

 Golden Boot of the Week:
 Timothy Scherman 8 (Pretoria)

The Protea Cup, after two rounds, is shaping up to a two-horse race with the Tomahawks and Leopards taking an early lead.  Leopards the current log leader following two straight wins currently enjoy a small six-point difference on the second-placed Tomahawks who had lost one match thus far. The latter has much to smile about after the action of the past weekend. Not only did they score 10 tries, but a total of nine players contributed to their points haul. This speaks to teamwork, good interplay and an ability to convert opportunities into points. The ultimate proof, however, will be consistency against tougher and fitter opposition in the rounds to come. 

Wolverines, who only had their first outing the past weekend, clearly still suffering from a lack of match-fitness after the prolonged Covid-19 interruption. Always a proud and fiercely competitive outfit, not too much should be read in their first defeat. The true measure of their worth will become clearer as the season unfolds. 

The challenges emanating from the Covid pandemic, continue to complicate the optimal functioning of the competition. The Silverbacks, in particular, continue to wrestle with obstacles of membership and related factors. A fully-admitted member of the South African Rugby League, they were unfortunately forced to abandon their game against Leopards the past weekend. They, together with the national body, however, continue to tackle the issues in the way of their full return to competitive rugby. In the absence of a league match, the two Leopards-sides played each other in a friendly encounter in order to maintain match fitness and their competitive edge.  Fittingly the senior side defeated its second-stringers by 42-21. Both will benefit from this training opportunity.

Match 1: Tomahawks 52 - 6 Wolverines
Tomahawks - Tries
 Andre Thomas 2
 Jeandre Muller 2
 Willie de Jager 2
 Ivan Steyn 
 Baruch Buchling
 Zerey Geel
 Deon Minaar

Conversions
 Zimri Buckling 3
 Luigi Cirigliano 2
 Leon du Preez
Wolverines - Tries
 Leo Tshimbili
Conversion
 Ben Viljoen


Match 2: Leopards 36 - 0 Silverbacks

Silverbacks forfeit match points

Double-Header Try Scorer of the Week:

 Andre Thomas 2 (Tomahawks)
 Jeandre Muller 2 (Tomahawks)
 Willie de Jager 2 (Tomahawks)

Golden Boot of the Week
 Zimri Buckling  (3 conversions – Tomahawks)

Climate factors, especially the threat and reality of thunderstorms, yet again exercised a critical influence on the third round of matches played over the past weekend. This caused the scheduled match between the TuksRL Reds vs Brits Bulldogs to be cancelled, much to the frustration of the players. While the affected teams were kicking their heels, the St. Helen Vultures, with no interference from the side of the weather gods, were in good nick. 

Judging by the latest third round results of the Rhino Cup, the Vultures are picking up critical momentum. Crucially, they are staking a definite early claim to the championship. In another relentless show of striking and ripping, they, in true raptor-style, feasted on the subdued bodies of the TuksRL Blues. The end result:  a comprehensive victory of 62-6 over the pride of Pretoria University. More importantly, half of the team made a contribution to the final score. This indicated the existing high level of effective and efficient teamwork. Try-scorers for the victors were Victor Dixon, Loukie Koekemoer, Dylan Keys, C-Jay Strauss, Shaun Botes and Amilton Jose. 

Despite this comprehensive win, and a healthy point difference at this early stage of the competition, the road to championship glory remains precarious. Both Grizzlies and Pretoria have regained their momentum and with their form over the last two games, to keep the pressure on Vultures. If both remain on their current path and increase their competitiveness by defeating Vultures in their return matches, the season-decider may have to be decided by points difference. This prospect may just add another edge to the existing rivalries and may contribute to a number of cliff-hangers as the season proceed. Pretoria, after their first round, has continued to reclaim their place amongst the top teams and has clearly indicated their ability to manufacture tries. This is well demonstrated by the fact that at least four of the team were able to score double-tries and a total of five were able to cross the opponent’s goal-line. Given its long association with rugby league in this country, Pretoria as a founder club of the code must continue to be the game’s flag bearer. Victories are therefore non-negotiable. 

The TuksRL Reds, who have played two games less, due to climatic and other factors, also remain in contention. The ‘Clever Boys’, given their log position at the present moment, need to regroup as a club and work hard to find their ‘mojo’. Their role in taking rugby league into the student fraternity cannot be underestimated. They also have the responsibility to expand the existing Tukkie-legacy and catapult it into the 21st century.

Spartans, the new kids on the block, is also not to be discounted. They are continuing on their steep learning curve and seemingly is becoming more competitive by the week. In true warrior-style, they have proved their worth against the Vultures, scaring them sufficiently to improve their form with a view to the future. The fact that Mwana Yabombo has claimed a spot in the ranks of the Hat-trick Kings of the Week is of significance and definitely a further indicator of things to come. That this performance is no fluke was made clear by the fact that Tumi Legodi was able to score two tries against quality opposition, followed by further additions through single tries by Bright Thabana and Thabiso Thabata.  

The next rounds, therefore, promise some compelling matchday action.
Results of Kobus Botha Rhino Cup 20 Nov. 2021

Match 1: Pretoria RLC 44 - 42 Spartans

Pretoria - Tries
 Leon Makhubo 2
 Cha Dieker 2
 Avanda Swartbooi 2
 Adrian Karelse 2
 Aiden Adams

Conversions
 Craig Scott 2
 Adrian Karelse 2

Spartans
Tries
 Mwana Yabombo 3,
 Tumi Legodi 2
 Bright Blessie Kagiso Thabana
 Thabiso Mbatha
Conversions
 Carlyle Hendricks 3
 Tumi Legodi 2

Match 2: TuksRL Blues 6 - 62 St Helens Vultures

Blues - Tries
 Jaco Scholtz
Conversions
 Sandile Magagula

Vultures - Tries
 Victor Dixon 3
 Loukie Koekemoer 2
 Dylan Keys
 C-Jay Strauss 3
 Shaun Botes
 Amilton Jose 2
Conversions
 Dylan Keys 7

Hat-trick Kings of the Week:
 Mwana Yabombo (Spartans)
 Victor Dixon (Vultures)
 Loukie Koekemoer (Vultures)
 C-Jay Strauss (Vultures)


Golden Boot of the Week

 Dylan Keys (7 conversions – Vultures)

Ludwig Japhet - 17 November 1957

On this day, 64 years ago, Ludwig Japhet, the ‘father of rugby league’ in South Africa died in a Johannesburg Nursing Home following two operations earlier. The 67 year old businessman, was born in 1890 in Hoopstad in the Orange Free State, one of four siblings and the son of Phillip Japhet who came to South Africa in 1874. He received his education in Hamburg, Germany and was an old boy of Marist Brothers College in Johannesburg where he matriculated at the age of 15 years.

A lawyer by profession, he specialised in divorce and road accident cases. As a boxing promoter, he worked for the legalization of boxing. To this end, he prepared a draft bill, which was passed by the National Assembly during the 1920s. In 1927, he initiated the establishment of the Transvaal National Sporting Club who went on to promote the first world boxing title fight in South Africa between Petey Sarron and Freddie Miller in 1937. 

This organisation, of which he was the Chairman and Life-President, also promoted the first rugby league match in South Africa between a French and English team during 1957, shortly before his untimely passing. Japhet was also a Johannesburg City Councillor for three years during the 1920s. In this capacity, he served on the Parks & Estates Committee that deals with Council properties including playing venues and strongly opposed the denial of these facilities to professional sports bodies. Such an action, in his view, was tantamount to depriving citizens of their lawful rights. 

As far as rugby league was concerned, he believe that there was enough space for the two codes, union and league, to co-exist. 
During his lifetime, he had a membership of the Johannesburg Examining Board and honorary legal advisor of the Transvaal Automobile Club. 

According to the Rand Daily Mail, he was also “a connoisseur of the arts, a gourmet, a raconteur and a man-about-the-tables at the leading nightclubs”. In 1947, Japhet published wrote two books, the first a book of epigrams was titled “Over Coffee and Liqueurs”, and the second titled “What Every Motorist Should Know About the Law”.
At the time of his death, he was married to Gisela and was the father of two children, Denise and Lance; and resided at 35 Currie Street, Oaklands, Johannesburg. He was also survived by his three sisters, Lily, Hedie and Dolly.

By Hendrik Snyders