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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.


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UFS Convocation to convene
2014-04-03

You are invited to attend this meeting convened at the request of the President of the Convocation, Prof Johan Grobbelaar. 

The agenda is:

1. To discuss the recent events on the Bloemfontein Campus, as well as the way in which management handled them, and make decisions about these.
2. The election of a representative of the Convocation on the Council of the UFS. The term of the incumbent, Paul Colditz, expires in October 2014. Colditz is available for re-election.

According to the Statute of the UFS, published in the Government Gazette, 27 August 2010, No 33490, Volume 542, members of the Convocation are defined as:

• All Alumni, thus current and former students who obtained a formal qualification at the UFS.
• All permanent academic staff of the UFS, from appointment level of lecturer to professor, who are not necessarily an alumnus of the UFS.
• All permanent support service staff of the UFS, from appointment level of Deputy Director to Rector and Vice-Chancellor, who are not necessarily an alumnus of the UFS.

Date: Tuesday 15 April 2014
Time: 18:00
Place: Albert Wessels Auditorium, Bloemfontein Campus

For further information, contact alumni@ufs.ac.za / +27(0)51 4019343.

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