The Old Diocesan Issue 13 - Magazine - Page 86
Cole Cruickshank in action at the Premier IPT in April.
and Mustapha, together with
Idrees Abdulla (2018M), then
helped their club side to victory
at the Belgotex Sport Elite Hockey
Challenge in Durban. Dayaan also
captained Team South Africa to
12th place at the 2026 FIH Hockey
World Cup played in Belgium
and the Netherlands in August.
The Cassiems scored all three
goals in an impressive win over
France, a match in which Dayaan
celebrated his 100th cap for South
Africa. Also in August, Mustapha
was honoured by the Ministry
of Sport, Arts and Culture with
an Excellence Award at the
SA Sports Awards.
Meanwhile, in the more junior
ranks, James Grieve (2024M)
and Josh Mettler (2024F) helped
Western Province to the 2026 SA
U21 Hockey IPT title, edging out
Northerns Blues 6–5 in a shootout
after a thrilling 6–6 draw in the
final. Andrew Raubenheimer
(2024O) turned out for WP
Peninsula, who finished fifth.
On the cricket pitch, Jono Bird
(2019G) has signed with the
Knights in Bloemfontein for the
2026/27 season, which got under
way in September. Shortly before
we went to print, current matric/
82 | THE OLD DIOCESAN
future OD Michael Kruiskamp (G)
made his first-class debut for
Western Province in a draw
against the Warriors. Travis Norris
(2020M) represented the famous
MCC at Lord’s, taking on the Jersey
national side in two fixtures and
producing a superb century in
the first game – continuing the
fine form he has shown for Esher
Cricket Club. Adnaan Lagadien
(2025F) has also been in the UK,
playing club cricket for Egham CC.
On the rugby field, ODs continue
to represent their provinces, clubs
and countries at the highest level.
Tristan Leyds (2015S) – crowned
the 2026 HSBC SVNS Men’s Player
of the Year (see page 76) – had the
honour of being flag bearer for the
Springbok Test against England in
the Nations Championship at Ellis
Park on 4 July. Jean-Pierre Smith
(2015S) represented Romania at
the 2026 World Rugby Nations Cup
in North America, playing in two
games, while Victor Allen (2018F)
turned out for Austria in the 2026
European Nations Conference.
Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu
(2020F) was among the Springboks
who ground out a tense win over
Argentina in Buenos Aires on
8 August, then squared up to the
All Blacks in all four of the Rugby’s
Greatest Rivalry tour Tests that
followed. Before that, Connor Evans
(2020W), Imaad Khan (2021S) and
Jonathan Roche (2021M) were
involved for the Stormers in their
historic clash with New Zealand in
the tour’s curtain-raiser, a match
in which they ran the visitors close
until the final 10 minutes. It was
also a big day for John Dobson
(1986K), who remains the Stormers’
head coach. In September, Hashim
Pead (2023O) announced that he
was moving from the Lions to the
Stormers for the upcoming URC
season, a welcome return home.
Cornel Smit (2015W) has also
returned to the Cape, while global
veteran of the game Tim Swiel
(2011F) has found a new home
at the Sharks. Both got regular
game time in the 2026 Currie Cup,
as did Liam Kloosman (2019W)
who represented the Valke, the
eventual runners-up.
Imaad and Hashim represented
South Africa A in an international
friendly against Zimbabwe in
Gqeberha on 20 June – an occasion
made even more special when
they each scored a try. Oli Kebble
(2009S) was also involved that day,
turning out for the Barbarians
against the Springboks. Nizaam
Carr (2009M) helped the Vodacom
Bulls reach the 2026 URC Final in
Dublin, where they came up short
against a rampant Leinster side
chasing back-to-back titles.
Finishing off on the fairways,
Cole Cruickshank (2015G) enjoyed
another strong season on the WP
golf circuit. In May he claimed
the individual honours at the
Winter Team Championship
in Strand, shooting 64 and 69
for an outstanding 11-under-par
total of 133. In August he added
the Somerset West Open trophy to
his cabinet, winning on the fourth
playoff hole. Congratulations to
him, and to all our sporting ODs.
PHOTOGRAPHS GETTY IMAGES, COURTESY OF GOLFRSA
SPORTS NEWS
