True Rugby from long ago.

image source

Sitting here on my rock in the ocean, I suddenly realised how fast life can pass us by.

Children that I taught rugby, and they became Springboks as well as good professional players, my grandchildren who now play rugby don’t even remember.

I am talking about great rugby players that I mention to them when we watch rugby.

image source

They look at me and say, who is that?  I think to myself I am talking about so many years ago that they do not even remember these players, and they were our Hero’s

People who I taught and others who just made Springbok rugby so special that everyone in the world knew them yet time has passed by so fast that I remember them and they have never even heard of them.

These heroes were some of the best rugby players ever.

image source

They have new heroes but, I must say that there are really not those types of players anymore.

The reason I think is in those days they all played for the fact that it was a team sport.

There were not so much money in the sport and it was more for the honour than the money. Today when they lose they smile when they come off the field, as it will not affect the big amount that they are earning. This upsets me.

You see other countries where the rugby players come off the field and cry, as this make them feel very bad, and our Springboks smile.

Today these players get paid so much money, I don’t say it is not an honour to them anymore, but the biggest reason is money.

We lose some of our best players to other countries, as here they cannot make the same money they do in other countries.

I cannot blame them as life has become so expensive and they all have families and need to do the best for them, but I do miss the days when we still played rugby as a great team and felt good about being a Springbok.

image source

Things change so fast that we do not even have the springbok on the heart side of the jerseys.  We all use to be so proud to sing the anthem and put your hand on the springbok.  Now it is a Protea and the Springbok is so small you hardly see it.

Maybe I am just old and miss those wonderful rugby days but one thing is for sure those were the best days of our lives.  Every child that played Rugby wanted to be a Springbok with pride.

They played with their whole heart and were never scared to play their best. 

I know this is maybe just how I feel today, yet I am so happy that my normal Blue Bull team won their game yesterday just because they got a decent trainer who knows how to play rugby and care. I am just thinking too much about rugby in the days when we were young and it was not only a privilege but also an honour to play for your country.

Hope you have a wonderful day here from the Wild Coast I am.