An audience of about 200 listened spellbound as South African rugby legends Joel Stransky, Ian Mclntosh and Craig Jamieson shared their stories at the Ballito Dolphin’s Legends
Day on Saturday.

While the children enjoyed a rugby clinic and jumping castles at the Maidstone rugby field, those lucky enough to be in the VIP tent were taken down memory lane.
The rugby heroes took questions and most answers prompted much laughter as the trio spun out the humour.

They shared their experiences and commented on rugby then and now. They all gave high praise for the work done by the Dolphins management in keeping club rugby alive on the North Coast.

“Being a legend is all about what we put back in the game. Considering Covid and all that we have been through, you guys kept the club alive. You are true legends,” said Mclntosh, who served as head coach for the Springboks in 1993 and 1994.

He said the game had changed drastically and there was a big drop in school rugby participation because of concerns over the physicality of the game.

Reminiscing, the club chairman Mark Svenningsen recalled the day he spotted Mhlengi Dlamini standing at a bus stop.

“I stopped my car and said, ‘you are a big fellow, do you play rugby?’. He said no, and I said ‘from now on you do, jump in!’ He now plays for the Blue Bulls,” said Svenningsen, emphasising the role played by the club in local rugby development.

The match between the Dolphins Madalas and a Legends team ended 17-5 to the Legends.

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