North Riding rugby referee to oversee another golden oldies national tournament

North Riding resident Kobus Smit will once again lead a team of rugby referees at the South African National Golden Oldies Rugby Association (Sangora) rugby festival.
Furthermore, the 68-year-old will be proud to wear a jacket he received from Sangora in honour of his 13 years of service.

The annual tournament in Bloemfontein will feature golden oldies teams from all of South Africa’s unions from September 22 to 24.

Also read: North Riding rugby referee does well at the helm of national golden oldies tournament

“There will be 16 referees and two more in the support team, with every province represented,” Smit said. “I am looking forward to meeting a few of the new refs and players but the majority of people will be old friends. We say golden oldies is about the three Fs: fun, friendship and fraternity.”

Golden oldies rugby is unlike standard rugby in that everyone who plays is at least 35 years old. Scrums and mauls are not contested and no scores are kept so there are no winners or losers. The oldest player also wears special-coloured shorts and they are not allowed to be tackled roughly.

Three major tournaments are held every year – two at the coast and one inland. In essence, the golden oldie festivals allow players past their prime to keep playing, albeit a bit safer, and to provide a vehicle for them to keep meeting together.

Smit will don a jacket given to him by the association with a badge on it for each of the tournaments he has refereed at. He has been a rugby referee for 34 years and the last 13 of those had been at the golden oldies level, at Sangora matches and tournaments.

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Kobus Smit oversees the refereeing at the Golden Oldies Nationals