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Home / Tales of the Legends: Ode to an unsung rugby icon, the great Andre Stoop
Tales of the Legends: Ode to an unsung rugby icon, the great Andre Stoop
2016-01-29Staff Report 2 "Windhoek It’s a well-kept secret that the game of rugby was introduced to locals by South African soldiers, who invaded the then Germany administered colony during the First World War in 1915. Back in the day, excelling athletes from South West Africa (SWA), to be renamed Namibia in later years, were eligible to represent the Springboks in international Tests against the world’s finest rugby playing nations. Although the late Jan Ellis, and Percy Montgomery, are the only notable Namibian Springboks in history alongside fringe squad members Sias Swarts and Lofty Fourie - Andre was constantly banging on the door for Springbok selection as can be confirmed by his numerous inclusions in the star-studded Barbarians invitational side. Born in the copper town of Tsumeb on October 8, 1960, Andre was destined for the bigger stage since his infant years at primary school. A hyperactive young boy, he started chasing the oval ball at the age of seven playing ‘tjokker rugby’ for Tsumeb Primary School before his parents relocated to Windhoek. Aged 10 and hardly out of his pair of shorts, the skinny boy with the Midas touch also excelled in cricket and athletics, showing his competitors a clean pair of heels in the 100m sprint as well. Young Andre was also the school’s undisputed champion in both the long and high jump during his days at Eros Primary and later Windhoek High School (WHS). “I was sports crazy and would always find myself being caned by teachers because I used to neglect my homework,” reveals Andre with a wry smile on his baby face. Andre rose to prominence when he was in the army based in Oudtshoorn, South Africa upon completing high school. He was spotted by the late SWA rugby coach Oom Henning Snyman while turning out for the army team and went on to make his debut as a 19-year-old for the SWA Rugby Fifteen, coming on as a late second half substitute against West Transvaal in 1980. “I was playing flyhalf with my elder brother Leon (Stoop) at scrumhalf but one day the team fell short of a fullback and I was obliged to shift to fullback because of my speed and big heart,” he laughs. Next stop was the White Stallions (Wanderers) where he established himself as a vital cog in the club’s star-studded line-up. Andre played a pivotal role in the South West Africa (SWA) rugby fifteen’s back to back promotion from the South African Provincial Sport Pienaar to the prestigious Currie Cup A division via the B division. He was one of the star performers when SWA stunned South African rugby followers by finishing in a modest 3rd place in only their maiden season in South Africa’s first tier competition. The SWA part-timers claimed the scalps of the star-studded Western Province with a double including the historic victory in the rain-soaked clash at Newlands Stadium in Cape Town in 1989. The team narrowly lost 12-15 to Transvaal in the seminal at the then Suidwes Stadium (now Hage Geingob) in Windhoek but did enough to earn an invitation to tour South America where they played against Argentina. His exploits did not go unnoticed as Andre was called up for the Barbarians side on no fewer that seven occasions. Those with intimate knowledge of the politics in rugby in those days let it slip through their untamed tongues that Andre would have been a Springbok had it not been for his off-the-field escapades. The speedy fullback became notorious for hogging newspaper headlines on the back pages for his exploits on the rugby field and front pages for all the wrong reasons. He (the late Dan Craven) had made it very clear to Andre that he would not be selected for the Springboks because of his poor social behaviour off the field. Andre was among the first group of rugby players to represent a democratic Namibia during the country’s inaugural independence celebrations in 1990. Debutants Namibia beat Zimbabwe. Ironically, his last test match for Namibia was against the very same Zimbabwe the following year. Andre found himself in the referee’s crime sheet when Namibia welcomed Wales in the two Test series in Windhoek in 1990. The Namibians presented a tough challenge for Wales before narrowly losing 18-9 that saw Andre being sent off by referee Fred Howard for head-butting Steve Ford. In the second Test a week later, Wales narrowly won as they needed a last minute try from Arthur Emyr to clinch a win. The following year, Namibia won all 10 Tests including two wins against Ireland and two in another home series against Italy. Subsequently Namibia toured England and France and it was during this European safari that Andre’s talents were noticed by talent scouts. He was offered a professional contract by Wigan Warriors and as they say, the rest is history. “That was my toughest decision in life, leaving my country to venture into foreign territory and having to adapt to different cultures. Nevertheless, I took a decision and managed to venture into previously unsheltered terrain.” Andre quickly established himself as a pillar of strength and became a valuable member of the side, winning almost everything there was to be won between 1991 and 1993 as he established a telepathic partnership with the great Martin Fire. He later moved to London Crusaders and Keighley Cougars respectively. He returned to rugby union – joining forces with Blackheath in 1996. Andre got married to his English rose, Ruth Walsh, who bore him two beautiful siblings, a son and daughter. " 2016-01-29Staff Report 2
