Hempas Rademeyer was arguably one of the best rugby players who did not have the chance to represent the Springboks at international level in the late ’80s due to South Africa being banned from international sport.
A prolific finisher who typically donned numbers 11, 14, or 15, Hempas was one of the numerous Transvaal provincial rugby players who graced Roodepoort Rugby Club’s squad sheets in the mid- to late-1980s. He experienced great success in the old red and white Transvaal jersey, as he donned the jersey a total 105 times, finishing as runner-up in the Currie Cup in 1986 and 1987.
What was undoubtedly his greatest success in a Poorte jersey (and the club’s greatest success to date) was when he won the Toyota National Club Championships for Roodepoort in 1989. With the current Roodepoort first team forwards coach, Calla Barnard, also in the side that year, Hempas managed to score two tries for Roodepoort in the final of the national club competition against Goudstad.
You can catch the highlights of some of Hempas’ tries here: