With what started life as an advertisement under the “Adult Entertainment Section” in a local newspaper in the mid 1960’s , has endured into a little piece of rugby history. The advert, asking for anyone interested in "playing” and social rugby, was aimed initially at immigrants to the country.
From a tentative beginning numbers grew as word spread from Pub to Pub and Bar to Bar and soon the town was alive to …”the Buccs – who the ….are the Buccs” ?
Leaning heavily on naval tradition such rampant manly enthusiasm to get to play rugby was formerly acknowledged in 1966 with the establishment of The Cape Buccaneers R.F.C.
In the 60’s when there was a healthy flow of new comers to the country, many settled in Cape Town adopting the Hamilton R.F.C. as their outlet for sporting prowess. However, as a club that played its rugby on Saturdays this left Sundays free for many players in an era when there was little alternative entertainment and hence the birth of Sunday Social Rugby.
Such eager athleticism was not to be denied and soon there was a growing number of sides keen to participate in the flowing, mesmerising style of open social rugby. Sadly the likes of The Pig n’ Whistle , The Stags Head, the Matadors and many others have come and gone.
But in this our 40th anniversary year, the Buccaneers can look back and marvel at the fact that we are still so active and that of the many hundreds who have pulled on the famous red jersey our numbers have included players of the standard of British Lions and National representative sides to the earthly artisans of a doubtful rugby pedigree and indeed the occasional impediment !
In this reconnoitre of the past 40 years one can see that the fortunes of Sunday social rugby and of the Buccs in particular have ebbed and flowed along with those of the country. From the relaxed prosperous years of the 60’s to the isolationist and outcast years of the 70’s and 80’s to the political and economic turmoil of today when, aptly for a rugby club, we have playing fields being levelled. No longer an exclusive club for immigrants, The Buccs long ago accepted players whose minimal qualification had to be a desire to play in the spirit of social rugby.
Faced with many challenges like old age, lack of money, wives etc regular Sunday fixtures have over the last few years been supplemented by numerous touring sides, chiefly from the UK and has seen The Buccaneers entertain teams from the crews of the QE2 , HMS Brittania, various naval ships not to mention various clubs and university sides, but we wont mention them.
With the Rand reduced to the state of monopoly money South Africa will continue to be a happy hunting ground for touring sides and it will be a pleasure of the Cape Buccaneers to entertain them all. Although the future may not be certain The Buccs remain optimistic and say cheers to the next 40 years.