Sharks legends remembered in new book
Win Van Der Berg penned a book that spans 125 years of history for The Sharks.
THE 173 paged Black and White Story launched recently traces the long and proud 125 year history of the KwaZulu-Natal Rugby Union and its team, The Sharks.
The Natal Rugby Union, later renamed the KwaZulu-Natal Rugby Union, was founded in 1890 and many heroes were born in the 125 years. Some of them were players, others administrators, and there were the men who spent hours on training fields with schools, clubs and province as well as the referees.
The author, Win Van Der Berg wrote, Natal only won 50 per cent of their Currie Cup matches in the first 60 years and then came the surprise first final in 1956 when a gust of wind cost them the title. It took 66 years for the union to enjoy its first Currie Cup final.
But the province did produce its fair share of quality players, including Springboks Bill Payne, Wally Clarkson and Philip Nel, who led South Africa on the country’s unbeaten tour of Australia and New Zealand in 1937.
Two coaches turned the fortunes of Natal around in the years before they became known as the Sharks. Izak van Heerden became world-renowned for his tactics and emphasis on skills to play running rugby. This transformed Natal into a real power house and a crowd favourite. Fifteen years later Ian McIntosh identified a totally different style of play which put the team at the forefront and lead them to win the Currie Cup for the first time in 1990.
Retold in detail is the wonderful 25 year period following The Sharks’ first Currie Cup win, after being a section B team in the 1980s, of the construction of Kings Park Stadium, and how today, The Sharks (previously known as The Banana Boys) have become one of the leading rugby brands in the world. It is a wonderful gift for all Sharks and rugby fans in general, and will cost R275 per book.
