October 5th marked an unfortunate announcement for supporters of the South African Rugby League. It was revealed the Silas Nkanunu has died at 87, which is saddening after the influential role he played in modernizing & sustaining Rugby throughout South Africa. Silas Nkanunu was the former SA Rugby President during the late 1990s. His leadership in SA Rugby began in 1992, maintaining an executive role until his promotion to President in 1998. His time leading the South African Rugby League was minimal, sustaining five years until being outbid by Brian van Rooyen.
Silas Nkanunu might’ve not sustained the longest career as SA Rugby President, but his time spent in the position was influential. The South African Springboks saw a prominent part of their history acquired during Nkanunu’s leadership, with Kaya Malotana being the first Black-African to play from the SA Springboks. It’d take decades after the Springboks were established for Black-Africans to begin being employed. Silas Nkanunu being a Black-African, played a substantial factor into Kaya Malotana being contracted. Had SA Rugby elected another Caucasian President, the possibility of Black-Africans being involved in international & domestic Rugby might’ve never been possible.
Most aren’t aware that after leaving the role of SA Rugby President, Silas Nkanunu became the “World Rugby Regulation Commission President” & would play an influential role in international sporting operations. Worldwide, Silas Nkanunu has been hailed a distinguished administrator & ambassador for professional Rugby. Prominent individuals throughout the global Rugby community has expressed their condolences after learning Silas Nkanunu had passed. This included Mark Alexander, SA Rugby’s President in 2020. He’d evoke that Silas Nkanunu was the “Nelson Mandela” of international Rugby.
Praise for Silas Nkanunu
Numerous colleagues, friends, and rivals expressed that Silas Nkanunu maintained exceptional qualities that could be seen in his professional & personal lives. President Mark Alexander mentioned that Silas Nkanunu didn’t have aggression, malice, or ego behind his role in international Rugby. His calming nature made prominent influences on numerous Rugby athletes & corporate colleagues that will be passed down to future generations for decades. Mark Alexander ended his remarks on Silas Nkanunu by evoking nobody will accomplish this formidable legend did between 1990 to 2010.
