A family affair at Kovsies
The University of Free State is a very proud rugby university, especially given the success of the FNB Shimlas in the Varsity Cup and the Bloem City League, but also because of the success of their various old boys at the highest level.
Two of those old boys, the Pienaars - father and son, Gysie and Ruan (pictured, right) - recently came back to visit their alma mater; a proud occasion for all.
Gysie, a wonderful attacking fullback whose full names are Zacharias Matheus Johannes, played 13 Tests for the Springboks in 1980 and 1981. He is 56 years old.
Ruan, who is 27 years old, has already notched up 47 appearances for the Springboks - scoring 107 points in the process.
The Shimlas have a proud Springbok tradition.
Just last year, five of their alumni were part of the Bok side that hosted the Wallabies in a Tri-Nations Test in Bloemfontein on September 4; a fantastic home-coming if ever for the university (even though the Boks lost 39-41 in a dramatic finale).
Props Gurthrö Steenkamp, Jannie du Plessis and CJ van der Linde and lock Flip van der Merwe and flanker Juan Smith all featured in Green & Gold that day and the number could have been even higher had hooker Bismarck du Plessis (neck) and flanker Heinrich Brüssow (knee) not picked up serious injuries during the 2010 Super 14.
* Of course, the Pienaars are not the only father-son combinations at Springbok level; the likes of the Burgers (Groot and Klein Schalk), the Bekkers (Hennie and Andries) and the Van der Merwes (Flip Senior and Junior) to name just three more examples (out of a total of ten).
This father-son tradition also continues at university level, with the Burgers both having attended Stellenbosch University - the Men in Maroon having lifted the Varsity Cup title three times in succession between 2008 and 2010.
UCT, however, boast something of a unique father-son tradition themselves - especially when it comes to the Varsity Cup.
In the 2011 Varsity Cup-winning side, flanker Zandy Macdonald - who came off the bench in the final - is the son of former Bok loose forward and current UCTRFC President Dugald, whilst fellow loose forwards Greg Mallett and Nick Fenton-Wells are the nephews of former Bok No.8 and coach Nick Mallett (who also studied and played at UCT).
Mallett's son, Doug played in the 2011 Steinhoff Koshuisrugby Championships, having featured for UCT in the 2010 Varsity Cup.
