Warm welcome for first SARFU president
Newlands
January 17, 2001

One of the architects of the modern day South African Rugby Football Union made a poignant visit to its headquarters this week.

John David Kester, 87, the first president of what was at the time called the South African Rugby Union, was back in the country he was forced to leave in 1967, because of political reasons, for Toronto, Canada.

Numerous SARFU dignitaries were present for the visit at Newlands on Tuesday including chief executive officer Rian Oberholzer.

"The hard work of you and many others enabled us to have a unified national rugby body today. It is a privilege and honour to have you here," he said in greeting Kester.

The former teacher, who now lives in Peterborough, Ontario, said he has retained a keen interest in South African rugby and had attended last year's test against Wales in the Millennium Stadium and the 1995 Joel Stransky inspired win over the All Blacks in the 1995 World Cup.

"It is wonderful to see friends of more than 60 years after so many years. This is a proud and happy day in my life. I hope SARFU and its leadership will prosper and go from strength to strength," he said.

SARFU General Manager Sas Bailey said: "You are very much part and parcel of what SARFU is today. Your visit is therefore so much more significant to us after our Yesterday's Heroes campaign late last year."

Kester will leave South Africa on 27 January to visit his son Ralph, a medical doctor in Leeds, England before going back to Canada.

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