Farewell to a legend of WP Rugby – Hennie Bekker
Tuesday, September 30, 2014 was a sad day when, after a 45-year association with Newlands, Hennie Bekker said goodbye to Western Province Rugby in an official capacity.
The 62-year-old gentle giant has officially retired as an employee of Western Province, having served the union with distinction for so many years.
WP Rugby
An imposing lock in his playing days, Bekker played his first match at DHL Newlands as an Under-19 player in 1969, before becoming a Western Province player in the 1970s and, after his retirement as a player (in 1985), he served here as a coach, a manager and, up until last month, the head of the impressive School of Excellence.
Under Bekker’s tutelage the likes of Jean de Villiers, Eben Etzebeth, Nizaam Carr and Cheslin Kolbe – just to name four recent players – have progressed from talented schoolboy players into top-class players.
Hennie’s son, Andries, also came to prominence via the WP Rugby youth system, as Bekker Jnr played 29 Tests for the Springbok and in 2013 became the first-ever DHL Stormers player to play 100 Super Rugby matches for the franchise.
“I’ve been fortunate to have had a long association with WP Rugby, as a player and a coach/administrator,” said Bekker Snr, who played 108 matches for Western Province between 1974 and 1985 and two Springbok Tests (both against the All Blacks) in 1981.
“I will take many memories with me, but it’s the many friendships and personal connections that I made that I will treasure most.
“Having been fortunate enough to watch my son play 100 matches for the DHL Stormers is also very dear to me and I will continue to support the team – not just in the remainder of the 2014 season, but in seasons to come too.”
WPRFU President Thelo Wakefield, speaking at Hennie’s farewell function with WP Rugby staff members on Tuesday, told www.wprugby.com: “I remember watching Hennie Bekker as a player and I was fortunate to spend a lot of time with him on tour with the DHL Stormers. We became very close and shared many, many happy memories.
“He’s basically given his entire life to Western Province and I wish him and his wife, Renetha, all the best and an enjoyable retirement.
“Hennie and his wife will also be guests of ours at the next DHL Western Province home match (on October 11), but I have no doubt we will see him back at DHL Newlands supporting his teams for years to come.”
Thanks for the memories, especially when I was growing up and attending the WP matches as a scholar, and also for the service you have given WP.
Pushed?
@ gunther:
So the doves I saw Lambie practising his kicks.
😆
@ Jeraldjay:
You see.
An omen.
😆
An omen in disguise, definitely………. 🙂
Speaking of Doves EXtraball will be hurting right now.
😆
gunther wrote:
@ gunther:
Ja, he called HG the Lonesome Dove.
Probably swimming a few lapse to ease the pain.
@ Jeraldjay:
Lonely dove.
😆
Noodles said that the new generation of AB supporters believed the Wallabies was their main rival.
This Bok team I believe is only in 3rd gear. The blue print is in place. The fine tuning will start in the Year End Tour.
@ Jeraldjay:
Noodles is always looking for attention.
😆
@ Jeraldjay:
Is the tipping point at hand? I certainly hope so.
@ gunther:
Your man Hougie has become a shining light.
I think his full back aspirations should take a back seat for now.
@ Jeraldjay:
For now.
How good was pollard ?
Somewhere in the Northern Cape a dog is getting a kicking.
😆
Hennie bekker was best known at newlands for always being on the wing when maties/wp were attacking.
Seems his son inherited his genes.
gunther wrote:
Definitely not pushed – most (if not all) employees of the different unions are members of the same pension fund. They have to retire at 62.
Charo wrote:
That was perhaps the case but he was a member of a pack of forwards that could scrum. He was also a solid line out option. He did his basics very well.
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