It wasn't quite Jansher versus Jahinger Khan: Nicholl versus Andy Jury. The heavyset Oxford rugby player, thundering round a squash court at the Wanderers with a grace and elegance not often seen outside of the heavyweight wrestling circuit. But of more immediate notice was the top of the range gear we had at hand: two wooden rackets, heads the size of a large orange and no more, a throwback to the glory days of the Dunlop Warwick and the Ascot Blue Arrow.

Squash in slow motion, then, but offset by plenty of nostalgia, and memories of sport in halcyon days.

Sport's love of history, tradition, and days gone by, is highlighted by the affection we have for past players, for records, for relics of a game's evolution, and a runabout with a couple of vintage squash rackets (two of every three shots off the frame or shaft, and delivered with the pace and menace of Paul Collingwood off his long run) makes for enormous fun. And a similar throwback to the sporting past emerged on Friday, with the launch of a rugby tournament that promises Cape Town a rather special weekend.

Drowned out somewhat by the fallout from Newlands — and Peter de Villiers's descent from celebrated architect of victory in New Zealand, to national pariah deserving of the gallows (our rugby public is wonderfully moderate) — the Cape Town Tens will have substantial attention by the time it gets underway in February next year. Drawing inspiration from the Bangkok and Hong Kong Tens, the Cape Town edition brings the Sevens/XV man hybrid to South Africa on a grand scale, and with plenty of familiar names.

Skinstad and Fleck probably don't quite fit into the wooden squash racket category of rugby player just yet, with Skinstad, in particular, less than a year into his latest retirement, but both men are firmly in the former player category now, and as the duo behind the Cape Town Tens — along with former Comrades winner Ron Rutland — they've been hard at work tracking down fellow veterans for the tournament.

The beauty of Tens is that, where Sevens is essentially a game for backs, Tens demands a genuine tight five, thus making it a more inclusive version. And the beauty of the Cape Town Tens is the three divisions: the elite section, which will include semi-professional teams from around the world, as well as fringe players from assorted Super 14 squads; the ceramic hip division, which will include John Allen's SA Rugby Legends crew; and what Skinstad refers flippantly to as the beer-drinking league, which he and Fleck will headline.

A legion of former stars will be liberally sprinkled through the lager tier, with Josh Kronfeld, Pat Howard, Tim Horan and Kenny Logan amongst a slew of internationals already spoken to.

And that'll be the magic of the Cape Town Tens: Skinstad, Fleck and co. playing alongside the weekend rugby warriors who form the heart and soul of club rugby, and the up-and-coming stars and genuine veterans joining them on the same stage. Throw in crowds, cheerleaders, DJs, and a healthy commitment to the consumption of beer (Fleck's chief portfolio), and the Cape Town Tens promises to light up the Mother City.

You can sign up online to get involved; if you're of a rugby-playing persuasion — wander over to www.capetowntens.com, or just join in the carnival atmosphere when the tournament does roll into town (7-8 February next year, if you have your diary handy).

The prophets of doom have been in full cry so far this week regarding the rugby; I might not agree with them, but a light-hearted reunion of some of rugby's retired illuminati in a quickfire brand of festival rugby? This is one weekend you don't want to miss.

  • Contact Dan at dan@metropolis.co.za or leave a comment below!
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