Valke Rugby Union celebrates 70th anniversary
The Valke Rugby Union celebrated 70 years of existence at the Springs Rugby Club on Friday, March 24.
The event was held at the rugby club because the first home ground for Eastern Transvaal, today known as the Valke, was in Springs.
The Valke was recognised as one of South African Rugby Union’s (SARU) official unions on March 24, 1947.
At the time, SARU was known as SARFU, the South Africa Rugby Football Union.
Guests for the event were hand-picked and consisted of former and current CEOs, union presidents, referees, coaches and players who have left their mark and made a difference in the union’s past and present success.
Eastern Transvaal initially consisted of clubs from Springs, Brakpan, Nigel and Benoni. These clubs were part of the Far East Rand, a sub-union of Transvaal Rugby Football Union (now known as the Lions), before breaking away to form their own union.
According to the Valke, the function served as the first of many celebrations and reunions to come during the course of the year. The union wants these celebrations to serve to help groups within the union reconnect and celebrate this remarkable milestone. – @SabeloBoksburg
