“I will only stop with rugby when I cannot run anymore.”
So said Kobus Smit (64), once a player, then a coach, now a referee, and always a rugby legend.
The Sharonlea resident has been a referee at golden oldies rugby tournaments for the past 32 years, after a successful career playing for the Limpopo Blue Bulls (then called the Far North Rugby Union) and coaching Phalaborwa Rugby Club.
Rugby is in Smit’s blood through and through.
His commitment to the sport has been rewarded now with his selection as the national referee coordinator for next year’s Golden Oldies Nationals tournament.
“I have been referee nine times at nationals and now I was nominated by my peers and selected by the South African National Golden Oldies Rugby Association to coordinate the refereeing at nationals next year,” he said.
Smit added that he was one of 15 referees at nationals this year, and the selection came as a surprise to him.
But he is proud and hopes to find quality referees for the tournament and make sure it runs smoothly.
He explained that golden oldies rugby involved players 35 years old and up, and features less physical rules than the traditional game.
Eight tournaments are held in Gauteng every year, and Smit is almost always refereeing in them.
“The trick to refereeing well is to know the rules and have good communication with the players.”
He said he was strict in enforcing the rules but was always fair to both sides.
“I really enjoy the friendships and camaraderie between referees, how you can meet refs from other provinces and be buddies straight away.”
Nationals will take place in Cape Town in October next year.
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