(10 October 1946 – 19 January 2025)
Maritzburg College joins the Van der Watt family and his legions of friends, past pupils and admirers in mourning the death on Sunday afternoon of Andy van der Watt, one of the school’s greatest athletes, whose speed and dash on the sports field were matched only by his kindness and innate humility off it.
Admission #7043 (Langley’s House), Andy entered Maritzburg College in January 1959, having been sent to the school by his father all the way from Emma Hoogenhout Primary School in Windhoek, in the Namibia of today.
His progress at College to begin with was vigorous but not yet outstanding, and although he managed first place in the U13 long jump on sports day in 1959 and second place in the hurdles, the U13 age-group was dominated by BA ‘Toffee’ Sharp. At rugby, Andy turned out for a strong U13A team that was captained by Andre Bruyns and included Sharp and AJ ‘Spot’ Egner, and he also earned inter-town colours.
By 1962, Andy had as a Fourth Former – his progress through College was rather dogged and was not characterised by his customary speed – earned selection for Dave Anderson’s First XV at centre. Described by coach Skonk Nicholson at the time as ‘probably the youngest team ever to represent College’, the team, despite the relative youth of its personnel, was very successful, going unbeaten over a season of 16 matches. Andy’s first cap for Natal Schools was deservedly earned – alongside Sharp and Egner, and several other College teammates.
We now move to the Centenary XV of 1963:
‘While the unbeaten 1962 First XV was surely the youngest team to represent College, 12 members of that initially inexperienced side returned to the 1963 First XV, which brimmed with talent and brawn, and was skippered once again by burly front-ranker, David Anderson. From the beginning of the season, Anderson’s side played rugby of a quite startling calibre and the extravagantly talented backline, almost intact from the previous year, was a sheer delight to watch, while the forwards epitomised the virtues of strength, mobility, vigour and unceasing support.
‘In the school’s centenary year it was altogether appropriate that the First XV should be one of the very best produced during those 100 years. A record 10 players were chosen to play for Natal Schools, the team was unbeaten in a 17-match season, and many records were re-written. Future Springbok, Andrew van der Watt, used his electrifying speed to score 23 tries, while winger, BA “Toffee” Sharp, scored 229 points (16 tries, 25 penalties and 53 conversions), easily outstripping the 106 points that constituted the previous record. While one would hesitate to describe any team as College’s best-ever, the 1963 side must come very close to deserving that accolade. It set new standards of excellence.’
Skonk Nicolson chats to the ‘brains trust’ of his triumphant 1963 First XV (from left to right) A Bruyns, A Egner, C Marsh, A van der Watt and D Anderson (captain)
As Skonk wrote of Andy in his First XV critique in the school magazine of that year: ‘His great speed coupled with his ability to swerve sidestep and change his pace made him the outstanding back in Natal.’
At sports day in 1963, Andy managed to finally pry off the fingers of his friend ‘Toffee’ Sharp from the Victor Ludorum trophy – prevailing in both the 100 yards (in 10s – an equal record) and 220 yards, the hurdles and the long jump, and winning second places in the high jump, the triple jump and the shot putt.
In 1964, Andy was appointed as a prefect, and he again shone for yet another formidable and experienced First XV, captained by Egner, that included the prodigious Sharp and Timm (his centre partner since 1962). Andy earned his third Natal Schools cap, attending the very first Craven Week at East London. His athletic achievements were prolific – another tied record in the Open 100 yards, record times for the 220 and 440 yards, and wins in three of the jumping events – high, long and triple – plus another second place in the shot putt.
By 1965, Andy was at the height of his schoolboy powers – the Deputy Head Prefect, lynchpin of the First XV, ‘the outstanding centre [at Craven Week]’ and the dominant athlete at sports day. Again, the athletics records tumbled – 9.9s for the Open 100 yards, 22s for the 220 yards and 49.7s for the 440 yards – with the ‘usual’ wins in the three jumps and a second place (his third!) in the shot putt. His fame as a sportsman and no doubt his charm and humility had by then also earned him admiration from beyond the boundary of Maritzburg College – and the author well recalls a Girls High alumna now in her late 70s describing the hubbub when Andy popped ‘round at GHS on a Sunday for an afternoon visit. This popularity is more than hinted at in Andy’s ‘6th Form According to the Poets’ quote from 1965: ‘The maidens tore their hair, For him they’ll see nae mair’!
Wearing the colours of Langley’s, Andy van der Watt wins the Open 440 yards in a record time of 49.7seconds at Sports Day in 1965
In later years, Andy was generous in his acknowledgment of his famous coach, Skonk Nicholson: ‘Skonk was a great spirit. We became good friends in later years, when I also got involved in coaching. He was especially effective in forward play, and therefore the backline was permanently assured of quality ball possession. Skonk was an advocate of positive thinking and had a phenomenal ability to inspire a person.’
After a year in the Defence Force in 1966, Andy was despatched to the great rugby nursery that is Stellenbosch University, then under the steely control of ‘Doc’ Craven. He duly earned selection for the Maties First Team, for Western Province, and, in 1969-70, for the Springboks under Dawie de Villiers, on their ‘demo tour’ of the United Kingdom. He played in 17 of the 24 matches, mainly as a winger, including the Tests against England and Ireland. He also toured with the Springboks to Australia in 1971, but didn’t play in any of the tests.
2nd XV captain and flyhalf from 1964, John Bishop, wrote a warm obituary for News24 that appeared shortly after Andy’s death. Having had to face Andy at ‘First Game’ practice throughout the 1964 season, John was able to write a first-hand description of having to tackle the star player of the First XV:
‘[Andy] had powerful thighs, a low centre of gravity, an eye for the outside gap and a strong hand-off. And, if that was not enough of a challenge for apprehensive defenders, he possessed the blinding pace and acceleration of a sprinter.’
While at Maties, Andy was the WP champion in both the 100m and 200m (1967-69) and could boast a fastest time of 10.4 seconds for the 100m – an open relay event in Swakopmund, Namibia. ‘I have to add that the course was downhill, and my father was the official timekeeper!’ he later joked, with typical modesty.
In 1973, Andy accepted a position as a PE teacher at Hilton College, where he would teach for 37 years. The outpouring of tributes to Andy on the Hilton Facebook page is some measure of the admiration and affection in which he was held at that noble institution.
Yet, for all his successes and fame as a sportsman, Andy remained modest and unassuming.
His old captain from 1962-63, Dave ‘Big D’ Anderson, spoke of his humble and reserved nature – but also his ability to command respect for who he was.
DL ‘Doc’ O’Connor was the vice-captain of the 1964 side and played Natal Schools with Andy at the first Craven Week. ‘Andy’s overriding characteristics were his modesty and gentlemanly manner. He was a wonderful athlete and – with ‘Toffee’ Sharp – an incredible team man. They never thought of their own successes and accolades – it was always about the team. Probably the only thing he was not modest about was his family. He spoke with reverence of Vere, his children and his grandchildren. His love for them was open and genuine,’ Doc said.
MJ ‘Mush’ Stone turned out for the 1965 College and Natal Schools teams with Andy and remembered ‘a private man and a true gentleman,’ as well as a man who as a boy had been pushed hard to succeed by his father, but who, as a totally natural but otherwise very modest athlete, ‘didn’t know what the fuss was about!’
Andy is survived by his wife of over 50 years, Vere, and his two children, Nicholas and Kate. Our sincere condolences go to them.
He was 78.
Pro Aris et Focis.