Book Review: SA Rugby Annual 2016

For many years the South African Rugby Annual has been outstanding, the best national annual in the world, and this one is without doubt the best of them all.

The first SA Rugby Annual saw the light of day in 1950. There were no annuals in the 1960s and it seemed again that it would die with the death of Quintus van Rooyenb in 1998 but it was rescued by Andy Colquhon in 2000 and has gone from strength to strength ever since.

The Annual for 2016 covers South African rugby in detail for 2015, the World Cup year, and for all the years before then back to 1891. It is a treasure of rugby information and a mass of statistics which can easily put an end to guesswork and surmise, and stop arguments. It is a lot more than just statistics.

It is not a book to read in bed but it is a book to consult if ever you are looking for information of all sorts - who played for Boland in 2015, who scored the most points in first class rugby in South Africa, who won the Currie Cup in 1911, what referees refereed what Tests at home and abroad since John Griffin in 1891, where Luther Obi went to school, what Springboks played what Tests and who scored most tries, the losing list of South Africans playing overseas in 2015, including 50 Springboks and the 30 who played for countries other than South Africa, what happened at the Rugby World Cup, and so on and on. If you want information about South African rugby, the annual is the place to find it.

On the cover this year there is a picture of Lood de Jager playing against Scotland at the World Cup. He is on the cover because he has been named South Africa's Player of the Year for 2015, just edging out Damian de Allende. There is also a profile on him and also one on Jesse Kriel, the Young Player of the Year. There are also lists of previous nominees and winners of these titles. There are also a list of other 2015 awards, like Team of the Year, coach of the Year, Super Rugby Player of the Year, Sevens Player of the Year, Craven Week player of the Year and more.

Then there are pen sketches of all players involved in senior provincial rugby in 2015 and obituaries of notable rugby men who died during the year.

There are also the lists of Springboks and South African Schools players, reports on Super Rugby, the Currie Cup, the Vodacom Cup, the Varsity Cup, the Community Cup, Women's rugby and the Craven Week. The names of all the players who attended Craven Week are there.

Bless Duane Heath and Eddie Grieb and Ryan Manning who did the design.

I have all the annuals dating back to 1950 and consult them regularly, resenting the 1960s because they produced no Annuals. This, the best of them all, is certainly worth having and worth cherishing.

Title: SA Rugby Annual 2016

ISBN 978-0-620-69290-8

Price: R195.

Paul Dobson