Memorial game for UCT rugby club

The annual Mark Jordaan Memorial Rugby matches between the UCT and False Bay Rugby Club will be played at UCT on Wednesday, March 17, starting at 18h45.

The first teams will clash at 20h00. The two clubs played this pre-season friendly, established in memory of the late UCT and False Bay player Mark Jordaan, for the first time in 1989. Jordaan died tragically in 1987.

He began his rugby career like many other good sportsmen at junior school. He attended Bergvliet Primary before moving to SACS at the beginning of grade six. Here he captained the A sides for most of his junior and high school days.

After school, Mark studied building science at UCT, where he also played rugby for the U21A and first team. He was also chosen to play for the Combined Southern Universities on a number of occasions.

He and his brother Brent were one of only four pairs of brothers to play together in an intervarsity game for Ikeys.

After graduation from UCT, Mark joined False Bay and played for the first team until 1984. Besides rugby, Mark enjoyed surfing, hiking, camping and outdoor life in general.

After retiring from serious rugby, he and a group of friends formed the first 'Young Crocks', or 'Jocks' social side. He played for this side until his untimely passing away on the evening of Easter Sunday 1987.

Over the years, many players have represented both clubs, and this Memorial Day also serves to bring those people together again and revive old friendships.