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03 October 2019 | Story Ruan Bruwer | Photo Gallo Images
Lappies Labuschagne
Lappies Labuschagné got his first rugby contract with the Cheetahs after impressing for the Shimlas. He is now playing for Japan – the first Shimla to do so.

Former Shimla Lappies Labuschagné made his ex-coach Jaco Swanepoel proud when he was recently included in the Japan Rugby World Cup (RWC) squad.

Labuschagné, made his debut for Japan on 28 September as captain shortly before the tournament, which is currently under way there, then led Japan to a historic win over Ireland, the world’s fourth-ranked team.


Labuschagné has been playing his rugby in Japan since 2016. Previously, he played for the Shimlas between 2009 and 2012 and captained the team in 2012. At that time, Swanepoel was the head coach of the Shimlas. 

“I’m extremely glad that he got his chance to play in the World Cup, just to prove that he can compete at that level. It was wonderful to see the leadership we knew he had on Saturday,” Swanepoel said.

He believes Labuschagné was unlucky not to have played for the Springboks. In 2013, he was called up to the South African squad, but failed to force his way into the congested Springbok back row. 

“Subjectivity in team selection was the reason that he wasn’t considered. He deserved to be selected and he worked extremely hard. I don’t know of a player who worked harder than him. Nobody wanted to work out with him in the gymnasium, because he always put in extra effort. That made him special.”

Swanepoel describes Labuschagné as a “very special person”.

“Lappies the human being is perhaps a little bit better than Lappies the rugby player.”  

“Hopefully we can get a Japan rugby jersey from him to display in the Shimla room soon,” Swanepoel added.

Labuschagné isn’t the only former Kovsie at the RWC. In the Springbok management team, Rassie Erasmus (head coach), Jacques Nienaber (defence coach), and Vivian Verwant (physiotherapist) are also former Kovsies.


News Archive

Meet our Council: Mr Rantooa Moji – passionate about the welfare of workers
2017-07-07

Description: Mr Rantooa Moji Tags: Mr Rantooa Moji  

Mr Rantooa Moji, member of the UFS Council
Photo: Stephen Collett

Mr Rantooa Moji has recently joined the UFS Council by virtue of being chairperson of the university’s Institutional Forum (IF).  The IF’s function is to advise Council in accordance with the Higher Education Act and UFS Statute.
 
Born and bred in Qwaqwa, Mr Moji is a junior lecturer in Chemistry at the university.  He completed his BSc (Hons) in Chemistry at the then UNIN (Qwaqwa), which is now part of the UFS.  He also completed an MA (HES) at the University of the Free State.
 
Fascinated with Chemistry
“I pursued science mainly due to my school background, but I also have a keen interest in the subject.  The diverse applications of Chemistry in daily life have always fascinated me and that is why I chose to pursue it,” he says.
 
During his postgraduate studies at the UFS, Moji was exposed to education and management trends in higher education.  He has subsequently become involved with labour relations issues through the personnel union Nehawu.  He says he has a passion for the welfare of workers and therefore fulfils a number of roles in the union, including representing members in disciplinary and grievance hearings, being part of the negotiations team, and representing the union on a number of institutional committees, such as the Health Care Committee.
 
Passion for worker’s welfare
Says Mr Moji: “I feel that my experience as an academic and a union activist puts me in good stead to ensure that the views and aspirations of employees are taken into account in the Council’s deliberations and decision-making.”
 
Mr Moji is married, with two daughters and one son.

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