Springboks visit recuperating Salie Fredericks at home
Mr Oregan Hoskins, president of the South African Rugby Union (SARU), accompanied by a Springbok delegation on Friday visited the recuperating former “Coloured Springboks” captain Salie Fredericks at his house in Gordon’s Bay.
Springbok coach Heyneke Meyer, team manager Ian Schwartz, captain Jean de Villiers and vice-captain Victor Matfield accompanied Mr Hoskins, as they wished Mr Fredericks well with his recovery from surgery.
Fredericks, who was labelled as the “Black Frik du Preez” by some newspapers in his playing days, played more than 200 provincial matches for Western Province in competitions of the former South African Coloured Rugby Football Board, and later the non-racial and anti-apartheid South African Rugby Union.
Under his leadership, Western Province won the Rhodes Cup for three years in succession, from 1971 to 1973.
Fredericks also showed his great prowess as an exceptional lock in nine “inter-racial” Tests against the African Springboks and the SA Rugby Federation’s Proteas between 1963 and 1974, scoring three tries in the process.
“Salie Fredericks really made a massive mark on our rugby landscape, although his name may not have been widely known outside of the black rugby-playing community in his days” said Mr Hoskins.
“To play in such a huge number of matches back in those days, is a magnificent achievement. I was still a young man when I heard about Salie Fredericks and although I never saw him play, his name was synonymous with excellence – very much like Jean and Victor these days.
“Salie comes from a rugby tradition that is more than 100 years old and, from SARU’s side, we are attempting to give recognition to generations of players who never had the opportunity to represent a united South Africa through various initiatives. We have published books such as The Badge and 112 Years of Springbok Rugby: Tests and Heroes and continue that work with the Springbok Experience Rugby Museum.
“Salie was part of a generation of talented black players who decided to stay in South Africa, make a difference in their communities through rugby, acted as role models for youngsters and helped keep the flame of rugby burning while fighting for non-racialism in sport.
“We would like to thank him for his contribution to rugby in South Africa. Salie is a part of our rugby family and we want to wish him well with his recovery.”
Fredericks, who suffers from diabetes and had both legs amputated last year, was presented with a framed signed Springbok jersey.
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