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

The Golden Oldies Nationals rugby tournament made a return after a break since 2019, and the head of the team of referees was none other than North Riding resident Kobus Smit.

The 68-year-old has been national representative at the South African National Golden Oldies Referee Association (Sangora) since 2018 and has long been a feature of the national tournament.

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.

“It is all about friendship and and fun within the older rugby fraternity,” Smit told Randburg Sun.

“We did have prizes for the best dressed team, the team with the most spirit and the team that played the best rugby, not to say that they won the tournament.”

Also read: Kobus Smit oversees the refereeing at the Golden Oldies Nationals

Smit selected his team of 14 referees and also brought three extra support staff, at the tournament in False Bay in the Western Cape.

The support team included the venerable Norman Tuner (77) and André Nel (82).

For the first time there was also a woman refereeing at the tournament, Talita van Zyl.

“We had 15 matches a day for the three days, and I also refereed. When I go I always make sure I do as much as the other refs,” Smit added.

“I am very happy with how everyone did. There were one or two newer refs who had not refereed golden oldies before, but they adjusted well and by the end of the three days they were part of us.”

Smit has been a referee at golden oldies rugby tournaments for the last 36 years, after a successful career playing for the Limpopo Blue Bulls (then called the Far North Rugby Union) and coaching Phalaborwa Rugby Club.

He looks forward to the national tournament in Bloemfontein next year, the date of which is still to be determined but it will likely be around September 23.

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