Club stalwart laid to rest

Former Progress RFC stalwart and pioneer of the of the social group The Pine Boys, Graham “Rooibaard” le Roe, 66, of Crawford, was laid to rest at the weekend.

Le Roe, who died last week after a short illness, was described by lifelong friend and former Cape Herald sports reporter, Russel Michaels, as the club’s biggest fan, an unofficial selector, and an astute analyst of the game who also supported the All Blacks.

“We lived one road apart and when l made my debut for Progress as a junior player (the team was short a few players), Graham was in that time. He was a fiery flank, fearless tackler and a great fetcher of the ball.

“He was a great rugby player. Above all, he and the Pine Boys were a respectable group of friends who had the interests of the community at heart,” Michaels said.

Le Roe was not married, had no children and leaves behind two siblings.