Legends Tour Scotland

The South African Rugby Legends have recently returned from their tour of Scotland, where they played two rugby matches and numerous rounds of golf. I think some of the serious golfers got to play seven courses in seven days (and it would be rude not to at the home of golf).

The first match was played as part of the World Golden Oldies Festival against the Wooden Spoon Society Legends, made up of internationals from the four home nations. The Wooden Spoon Society is a charity in the UK that raises funds for disadvantaged children. The game was played on the great stage that is Murrayfield; a stadium where our CEO, John Allan, has played in the navy blue of Scotland before donning the Springbok green and gold. For most of the guys playing at Murrayfield for the first time, this was a momentous occasion.

The sights were seen, and local brews sampled, in small quantities of course, as there was still another game to be played. The second match was part of a whole weekend's festivities in celebrating the secquicentenial (150th Anniversary) celebrations of St Andrews University.

After a difficult match against the Scottish Legends boasting such greats as Gregor Townsend and Scott Hastings there was the Gala Dinnner, where even the guys who thought that Scotland was somewhere in the Natal Midlands, donned the traditional kilts and came to the party.

The objectives of the tour were most certainly surpassed as the Legends won both games convincingly. They held coaching clinics to take rugby back to grass roots level with the children learning skills from the likes of Breyton Paulse, Joost van der Westhuisen and Joel Stransky to name but a few of the absolute Legends that have given their time willingly to the cause of SARLA; to catch up with old mates and make new ones and build on the SA Legends brand and promote the Legacy Park initiative.

Long live the fun, friendship and fraternity that is Golden Oldies Rugby.......