Van der Stel Rugby Club traces its origin back to 1919 when a number of Vlottenburg farmers met and decided to start a local rugby club. At this time, the first steps to lay a rugby field were also taken and shortly afterwards, the club relocated to Stellenbosch. By 1925 the team was competing for the Western Province Challenge Cup and was known as the Van der Stel team. The Great Depression and its global effects saw the club battling financially in the 1930’s and the club shared its gate money with the Stellenbosch University Club, in light of the fact that both clubs shared the same home playing fields. Coetzenburg was still under construction and although it was hoped for that it would be ready by 1931, it was not until much later that it finally opened its doors.

Van der Stel nearly collapsed as a club in 1934 but its members weathered the storm and by 1938, the club’s future was on the right track. Van der Stel was lent to the Boland Rugby Union in 1938 where they stayed for eight years, which resulted in the club struggling for 12 years to fall back under the wing of the Western Province Rugby Union. By 1939 the club’s financial health had significantly improved and ideas of new playing fields started to surface. The club’s fields were used military drill exercises and by 1942 the club was talking about building a new pavilion. A year later the plans for the new pavilion were approved and in 1949 the club secured a £15 000 loan in principle from the local municipality for the construction of a 1 400 seat pavilion. The municipal treasurer however, had other ideas and the loan was not approved. Being an enterprising lot, the club’s supporters raised the money themselves and construction began in late 1949. The new pavilion was officially opened in 1950.

The club’s good fortune continued when, in January of 1950, Western Province Rugby Union accepted Van der Stel back into its fold, allowing the club full status and voting rights. Once back in its first season, three of Van der Stel’s players – Tom Fourie, Piet Kriel and Tjol Lategan – received their Western Province colours. Tienie Louw was nominated to honourary life president. Van der Stel Rugby Club has over the years, produced its fair share of great Springbok players, starting with Hugo “Tokkie” Scholtz, Springbok hooker in 1921 with Theo Pienaar’s team to New Zealand. He joined the club in 1919 and in 1951 was elected to president. He passed away in 1959, still president of the club. The unforgettable Springbok centre pair of Ryk van Schoor and Tjol Lategan, played together in ten tests for South Africa, and represented Van der Stel in 1952. Together they toured Britain and France in 1951/52, they also played in the 1949 series against the All Blacks and the 1953 series against the Wallabies. Tjol Lategan captained Van der Stel in 1952, scoring three tries in his 11 match test career. Ryk van Schoor scored two tries in the 12 tests he played in. Jan Pickard played for the Springboks at lock from 1951 to 1958. He represented the Springboks in four tests, he toured Britain and New Zealand and played against Australia and France. He played for Van der Stel in 1952 and 1953, and captained the team on their first tour in 1953. Kenny Starke was a Springbok wing against the 1924 British Lions team. The test at Newlands is still known as “Stark’s test” in which he scored two tries and a drop goal in the match and a further try in one of his other test matches. Van der Stel Rugby Club has gone from strength to strength over the years and as it approaches its 90th anniversary, appears set to continue making history on the South African rugby landscape.