Inside the Currie Cup champions’ locker room – joy, tears, and tradition

Victories are fought for on the field of battle for everyone to witness, but what the victories mean to the men who achieved them is not often seen, as it is a private moment between comrades, hidden behind closed doors. In the Griquas’ locker room, the DFA’s sports reporter witnessed the raw emotion of a union reclaiming its place in rugby history.

Danie van der Lith writes:

When coach Pieter Bergh invited me to join the team in the locker room, my heart raced. This was sacred ground, where celebrations and emotions overflow. Few are offered this opportunity, and I was not going to miss it.

Inside the room, bruised bodies became champions. Songs erupted. ‘Daar’s net een kwas, Griekwas, net een blou, pou blou,’ echoed off the walls. Players danced, laughed, and embraced each other. The Currie Cup became more than silverware; it became a chalice as players drank from it, continuing a 139-year-old rugby tradition.

Legends of Griquas rugby filled the room with their presence and aura. André Markgraaff, Larry Schoeman, Monte Engelbrecht, Arnie van Rooyen. Their faces shone with pride. 

Markgraaff, a man who has given his life to Griquas rugby, stood before the players. His voice, calm as always, said, “This is the best thing that has ever happened to me in my life; I thank you.”

It was a moment I will never forget.

The party was wild. Singing, laughter, and even a cool-down pool became part of the celebration. These young men had, after 80 minutes of giving their all, evolved from being just rugby players to history makers. 

There’s a saying: what happens in Vegas stays in Vegas. On Saturday, Griquas’ Vegas was the locker room … so I’ll leave it at that for now.