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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

UFS student wins National SAICA Competition
2009-08-03

 
Photo: Lacea Loader


“Rapid urbanisation, HIV/Aids, climate change risks, and a lack of environmental awareness; are we anywhere near a sustainable development? The answer is no, but this doesn’t mean that we are far from it. All that it will take to get us on the right track is individuals and organisations asking themselves, ‘What am I responsible for?’ and taking the appropriate action, or else we won’t be able to answer to our children and their children.”

This is an excerpt from an essay written by Likeleli Mphutlane, a third-year student in B. Accounting at the University of the Free State (UFS). The essay won her the first place in an essay competition on sustainability. She was one of 137 students across the country that submitted an essay as part of the South African Institute of Chartered Accounting’s (SAICA) National Student Leadership Summit. The essay secured her a place as one of 24 students to attend the summit in Johannesburg on 25 July 2009 where she was named the winner of the competition.

The prize was a brand-new Dell laptop, which will assist her with her studies. The 20-year-old Likeleli, a student from Welwitchia Residence, who was also amongst the top 14 students in the university’s Matriculant of the Year Competition in 2006, lives in Lesotho.
 

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