South Africa’s expatriate club in the British Isles, London South Africa, has won their third promotion in the English leagues in as many years.
Rugby 365 reports that the club, made up of several expatriate South Africans, has only been in existence for three years and in that time has won a league every year.
On Saturday, they won their league in the South West London Fourth League by beating Old Wellingtonians 18-12 in the final match of the season.
According to club director Justin Paige, the club will be aiming to win the third league on their march to eventually find their way into the British Premiership division.
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Way to go guys!!!!!!!!!
From the club’s Website.
Calling all SA Rugby Supporters – LSA 80 Minutes From Glory…………………
Your country needs you – this Saturday 12th April, South Africa’s rugby outpost in the Capital, London South Africa, face Old Wellingtonians in the most important match in their history thus far. And the club are promoting the game widely to drum up a good crowd to get down to Imber Court to support. With pitch side beer wagon it promises to be a big match for all to enjoy.
Coming off the back of a magnificent five-game winning streak in the league (including two whitewashes, one by 95 points) the Warriors go into the game with confidence and aiming for their third consecutive promotion in 3 seasons.
Old Wellingtonians will be no pushovers though, as they were the only club this season to inflict a heavy defeat on the exiles in the first league encounter away in November. This time with home advantage, LSA should be slight favourites, but with both clubs vying for the last promotion place there is no doubt it will be tough for LSA.
It has been a long season for LSA, but after a blistering start they soon realised that they had made a step up in class, and players returning home disrupted the team which led to a mid-season wobble that threatened to de-rail promotion hopes. The team soon re-discovered their form, with the senior players leading the charge from the front.
Now the season is poised for a nerve jangling 80-minute finale and everyone involved with the club hopes that another automatic promotion is only a week away.
I suspect they are still partying and a press release about the match will be up in the next day or so.
Well done boyos!
Oh this is great…keep going homeboys!
Only ONE of the Forwards is NOT a Saffa. 🙂
Name: Clint Dearmer
Position: Front Row
Nationality: South African
Playing History
Woodridge College 1st XV (95)
Gardens Tech (96-99)
London Irish Amatuers (01)
Grove RFC (04-05)
LSA RFC (06-Present)
Name: Aldo Du Plessis
Nickname : Eugene / Habanna
Position : Prop / Hooker
Nationality : South African
Playing History
Grey College
Natal U/19(00)
Griffons U/21(01)
Freestate Tecnicon XV(02-03)
Carlisle RFC(04)
Rosslyn Park RFC(04/5)
LSA (05-Present)
Name: Gerhardus Kruger
Nickname : The Machine
Position : Prop
Nationality : South African
Playing History
Paul Roos Gymnasium 1st XV Stellenbosch
S.A. Schools Academy (95)
Western Province U/19 & U/20
University of Stellenbosch 1st XV (99)
Aspatria 1st. XV (UK) (00)
University of Potchefstroom 1st & 2nd XV (01)
London Welsh 2nd XV
Weybridge Vandals
LSA (06-Present)
Name: Werner Swanepoel
Nickname: Supertjoop
Position: Hooker
Nationality: South African
Playing History
Lions u/21 (98)
Griffons (00)
PUKKE 1st XV (01)
Torquay Athletic (01-04)
Barking RFC (05)
LSA (06-Present)
Name: Christian van Rooyen
Nickname: Bok
Position: Lock (2nd row) / No.8
Nationality: South African
Playing History
Sasol Rugby Club (SECUNDA SA) (99-02)
Pelhamians Rugby Club (Raynes Park) (04)
LSA RFC (05- Present)
Name: André Retief
Nickname: Retief
Position: Lock or Backrow
Nationality: South African
Playing History
Witteberg High School 1st XV (01-02)
NW University U19 & Koshuis (03-06)
Potchefstroom Rugby 1st XV (03)
LSA RFC (07-present)
Name: Mark Porter
Nickname: Ports
Position: Backrow
Nationality: British/ South African
Playing History
Milnerton RFC Cape Town, SA (94 & 96)
Metropolitan Police RFC (98-02)
Metropolitan Police RL (01-Present)
Great British Police RL (01-Present)
Hamiltons RFC Cape Town (03)
SA Wild Dogs RL (SARL Rep. Side 05)
LSA RFC (05-Present)
Name: Bradley Hall
Position: Backrow
Nationality: South African
Playing History
Selborne College 1st XV (95-96)
Border U18 (96-97)
Wits Technikon U21 (98-99)
Golden Lions U21 (98-99)
Wasps Amateurs 1st XV
Pirates Rugby Club 1st XV (02-05)
Golden Lions Amateurs (04-05)
Richmond 2nd XV (2006)
LSA (07 – Present)
Name: Tiaan Visser
Nickname: Slangman / Delarey / The Sheriff
Position: Openside Flank
Nationality: South African
Playing History
Paul Roos Gimnasium High School (96–00)
Maties Club 01–05 (Uni of Stellenbosch)
LSA RFC (05-present)
Name: Jake Hoddinott
Nickname: Jako
Position: Back row
Nationality: South African
Playing History
Richmond
UCT
Gladiators
LSARFC (05- Present)
Name: Hugo Baldwin
Nick Name: Olympic
Position: Flanker/Lock
Nationality: English
Playing History:
Brighton College 1st XV (03)
Royal Holloway 1st XV (03 – 06)
NEC Harlequins U19’s/U21’s (03 – 04)
Hove RFC 1st XV (05 – 06)
Esher RFC (06 – 07)
Surrey U23’s (06 – 07)
London South Africa RFC (07 – present)
And only Three of the Backs aren’t Saffa’s.
That makes four out of their whole squad NOT Saffa’s 😯
Name: Vaughan Gilson
Nickname: Vaughano
Position: Scrumhalf
Nationality: South African
Playing History
Maritzburg College 1st XV
Natal Schools 2003
College Rovers U20 (04-06)
Natal 7s (05)
Richmond RFC UK (06)
LSA RFC (07 – present)
Name: Matt Fendick
Nickname: Fender/Matty
Position: Flyhalf/Centre
Nationality: South African
Playing History
Michaelhouse 1st XV (Balgowan, SA) (00)
Maties (University of Stellenbosch (01 – 03)
Blackheath (UK) (04-05)
LSA RFC (05 – Present)
Name: Louis van Zyl
Nickname: Visstok
Position: Flyhalf/Centre
Nationality: South African
Playing History
Lurgan (NI) – (03-04)
Old Pelhamians (UK) – (04-06)
K.C.S. Old Boys (UK) – (06)
LSA RFC (07 – Present)
Name: Johan Alberts
Nickname: Fola/Jonny
Position: Flyhalf/Fullback/Outside Center
Nationality: South African
Playing History:
Eldoraigne 1st Team SA (00)
ICON-Professional Institute of SA (01)
TUKS (University of Pretoria) SA (01-02)
Centurion Rugby Club SA (03 – 05)
Old Emanuall Rugby Club UK (06)
LSA RFC (Present)
Name: Gareth Williams
Nickname: Gaz
Position: Flyhalf / Centre / Fullback
Nationality: South African
Playing History:
Scottburgh High 1st XV (96)
Newcastle Falcons (96-97)
Amamzimtoti 1st XV (97-00)
Metropolitan Police
LSA RFC (06-Present)
Name: Nick Osman
Nickname: Donny
Position: Centre
Nationality: English
Playing History
England U16, U18, U21, Students
South & South West Division
Loughborough Uni (93-97)
Newbury (96-97& 99-01)
Gloucester (97-99)
Henley (01)
LSA RFC (05 – present)
Name: Ben Bougas
Nickname: Benny/Bevan
Position: Centre/Wing
Nationality: South African
Playing History:
Pinelands High School 1st XV (99-00)
Glenn Res 1st XV (UCT) (04-05)
Old Emanuel RFC 1st XV (06-07)
London South Africa RFC (07-present)
Name: David Kelly
Nickname: Kelo/Davo
Position: Fullback/ Wing
Nationality: South African/Irish
Playing History
Wynberg Boys High 1st XV (00-01)
UCT u21A & 1st 7’s Team (02-04)
Western Province u19 & u21 (SA) (01-02)
Villagers 1st XV 2003/04
LSA RFC (05 – Present)
Name: Gary Johnston
Nickname: Johno
Position: Winger/Centre
Nationality British
Playing History:
British Army
Welsh Exiles
Sutton and Epsom
Metropolitan Police
LSA RFC (present)
Name: Malcolm Mirfin
Nickname: Raver
Position: Fullback
Nationality: South African
Playing History:
Wynberg Boys 1st XV
Hamiltons U21
LSA RFC (05 – present)
Name: Tom Howell
Nick Name: The Dude
Position: Fullback/Centre
Nationality: English/Italian
Playing History:
Brighton College 1st XV (03)
Royal Holloway 1st XV (03 – 06)
NEC Harlequins U19’s/U21’s (02 – 04)
Italy U19’s/U21’s (02 – 06)
Italy Sevens Squad (07)
Overmach Parma RFC (06-07)
London South Africa RFC (07 – present)
Good to see a few guys from Natal High Schools too… 😀
I like the way they feel the need to specify where Michaelhouse is 😆
Name: Matt Fendick
Nickname: Fender/Matty
Position: Flyhalf/Centre
Nationality: South African
Playing History
Michaelhouse 1st XV (Balgowan, SA) (00)
Maties (University of Stellenbosch (01 – 03)
Blackheath (UK) (04-05)
LSA RFC (05 – Present)
All they need to do now is specify where Balgowan is.
😆 Yeah i think Michaelhouse is better known than Balgowan