Two memorials pay tribute to those who made a difference on and off the rugby field

Sport has the ability to bring all kinds of people together in exuberant celebration – as was seen in the Rugby World Cup in November – but also the ability to create depression and even anger when the score-line is not favourable.
This is the power of sport. It is the stuff of raw emotions. The sudden passing of two local rugby legends in December again brought together those who love sport and know the ecstasy of victory and the bleakness of defeat.
But Jackie Bierman (76) and Leslie ‘Boy’ Hesom (61) were more than just rugger heroes on the fields of Northern Natal and yonder. They were great family men and much-loved grandfathers, fathers and husbands with circles of close-knit friends.
Dozens of former Sentraal Rugby Club players travelled from Gauteng and other areas on Friday to attend both Jackie’s service, held in Glencoe, and Boy’s memorial at the Dundee and District Club, where he served both as chairman and was a long-standing member.

Jackie was remembered as a man with a heart of gold who greeted everyone he came across in a friendly and caring manner. This belied his fierce reputation on the rugby field, where he was known as an uncompromising forward.
“Once Jackie donned that rugby jersey, you knew you were dealing with a man who took no prisoners,” commented former rugby colleague (and himself a rugby legend) Jan ‘Sentraal’ Erasmus. He travelled from Cullinan with his wife, Anita, to attend the memorial services. Erasmus recalled how he and Jackie grew up together in Glencoe and later worked together at the former Northfield Colliery. His sister, Minne Panaino, told the Courier that ‘not because he was my brother, he was indeed a wonderful person with no enemies. He leaves a huge void in our lives’.
Jackie is survived by his wife, Elize; four children; and two grandchildren.
Emotional reunion:
Boy, who hailed from the pioneering farming Hesom family of the district, matriculated from Dundee High in 1980. He later served in the Defence Force with the Equestrian Unit and studied Agriculture at Cedara before joining his father, Edwin, on the family farm, Corby Rock.
Boy excelled in rugby, playing for the school’s first team. He later joined Sentraal and his fearsome ability as a prop earned him many caps for Northern Natal.
Boy played with many top players at various venues throughout South Africa.

He later coached Dundee High’s first team and famously led a DHS team tour of Argentina, followed by several years of coaching Sentraal, where he helped the team win numerous provincial and local honours.
Erasmus also recalls that, years ago, after he had played ‘an old boys game’ against Ladysmith as a curtain-raiser to a Sentraal game, Boy introduced himself by saying ‘Do you know who I am? I am Boy Hesom and I’m playing in the number one jersey you once wore. When I was a lad, I pedalled from Dundee to Glencoe to watch you play for Sentraal, Mr Erasmus’.
“That story really touched me. You never know who is watching you and what impact you are having on youngsters – even in little old Glencoe. Boy certainly filled that number one jersey with great glory for Sentraal.” Boy was also passionate about local history and would often regale his friends with stories related to Dundee’s rich historical heritage.
Boy is survived by two children and grandchildren.
The memorials served as an emotional reunion for former and current rugby players, united through passion for the sport and friendship.

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