Lichtenburg Rugby Club

## Lichteburg Rugby club

**Lichtenburg Rugby club** is a South African rugby club team that plays under the **Leopard Rugby union**.

 **Founder** | Neel Maartens

## History

Neel Maartens was for many years the soul of Lichtenburg Rugby club- captain, coach, judge, chairman and president.

Lichtenburg's first rugby field, a dirt field, was located just south of the town's cemetery. Then it was moved to the towm center just south of Kriegel Avenue and finally to President Square.

Many Lichtenburgers played for **Western Transvaal**. Since 1973, many players performed for **Stellaland**. In 1995, the Stellaland Rugby union ended.Since then, the North West Leopard Union is the union under which Lichteburg joins.

The legendary Wouter de Vos, a former player, was president of the Stellaland Rugby Union from 1972 to 1990. He was a member of the South African Council colors for seventeen years.

**Arrie Oberholzer** was chairman of the club for eleven years, from 1973 to 1983. In 1990 and 1991 he was president of the Stellaland Rugby Union. His greatest achievement was to serve as General Manager: Administration South African Rugby Board / Sarvu from 1991 to 1995. He received South African Council colors.

**Willem Roux**, a Springbok test player, was the first Steelaland captain and member of Lichtenburg Rugby Club's player of the century.

Johan Lambrechts, Andries Venter and Ben Zietsman were all Vice Presidents of the Stellaland Rugby Union. Willem Hammann was Vice President of the Leopard Rugby Union.

**Wimpie Nortman** has represented Stellaland in 101 matches, indeed a record for the club. Attie Pretorius has played for Stellaland in more than 80 games.

**Johan Lamprechts** was the president of the club from 1968 to 1983 and earned a place of honor in the history of Lichtenburg Rugby Club.

**Jaco Ebersohn** has been a great success as head coach of the club. He gained good experience as a coach abroad and was on occasion Botswana's national team's coach and chief executive officer of Botswana Rugby Union.

When Anton van Eeden was head coach, the first team won the **Neser A Cup** two years in a row as well as the **cross league** with the Golden Lions.

## Players who have acquired Springbok colors:

1912-Apie van der Hoff

1933-Paul Visser

1951-Basie Viviers

1955-Daan Retief

1963-Dick Putter

1969-Paul Durand

1980-Wynand Claassen

1981-Jan de Klerk ( Under 23 player )

## Western Transvaal players vs Overseas tour teams

1928- Dan Berman vs All Blacks

1953- Wouter de Vos vs Wallabies

1960- Piet Bartman vs All Blacks

1960- Willem Otto vs All Blacks

1963- Willem Roux vs Wallabies

1963- Lieb van Rensburg vs Wallabies

1963- Calla Coetzer vs Wallabies

1969- Os Steyn vs Wallabies

1971- Os Steyn vs France

## Junior Stellaland rugby players

1985- Jean Roux

1985- Janus Vos

1985- Joggie Roodt

1985- Hannes Beukes

1992- Whitney Ludick

1992- Kobus Bezuidenhout

1992- Arthur Homan

1992- Biebies Smith

1992- Junior Botha

1992- Darius Venter

1992- Johan Jooste

1992- Danie Olivier

1992- Willem Landman

1992- Pieter Olivier

## Youtube

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gh4wgS8HEg0

## Championships and accomplishments

* **South African Rugby**

Cross League

* **Leopard Rugby Union**

Neser Leagues (Multiple years)

Blaine and Cooper Cups (1958)

Challenge Cup (2013)

2021 Neser Cup Semi-finalist