Brief History of Grey College Rugby

Dr Johannes Brill, first great rector of Grey College, recommended in 1873 that sporting equipment be purchased: “Not only will this enable the borders to occupy their free time, but will also strengthen the bonds between those who play together.”

The First recorded rugby match was played 4th of June 1881 against St Andrews School in Bloemfontein. It provided plenty of excitement. This match, like the game played in 1882, which Grey College won both by one goal to nil, was played under the so-called “Winchester”rules, in terms of which teams consisted of 15 players compartmented as ten forwards, two half-backs, two backs and a “goal”. It was at about this time that rugby, as we know it today, became popular in the Western Province.

In the decades between 1880 and 1890, this form of the game was adopted in Bloemfontein too. By 1890, “Rugby Union”(as opposed to “Winchester Rugby”), was firmly established in South Africa.

The school magazine of 1893 reports a “fairly successful”rugby season but adds that “Grey badly needs a man who understands the game thoroughly to teach us the rules and the principal points in playing.” In 1894, two such men joined the Grey College staff. They were EJ Spurway from Queenstown, and D. Pyne-Mercier, from Ireland.

By the time the Anglo-Boer-War broke out, sport was already a regular feature at Grey College. Rugby was the most popular game, with three teams playing regularly. It seems clear that sport at the turn of the century was as popular at Grey as it is today.