Andre Markgraaff

{{short description|South African rugby union player & RU administrator}}

{{Infobox officeholder

| honorific_prefix =

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| office = President of Griqualand West Rugby Union

| term_start = 1992

| term_end = 1996

| deputy =

| predecessor = Bauser, R.S.

| successor = Smith, T.

| module =

{{infobox rugby biography

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| birth_name = Andries Thomas Markgraaff

| birth_date = {{birth date and age|df=yes|1956|12|23}}

| birth_place =

| ru_position = Lock

| province1 = Western Transvaal

| provincecaps1 =

| provincepoints1 =

| province2 = Western Province

| provincecaps2 =

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| province3 = Griqualand West

| provincecaps3 =

| provincepoints3 =

| province4 = South West Africa

| provincecaps4 =

| provincepoints4 =

| coachteams1 = Griqualand West

| coachyears1 = 1988–1990

| coachteams2 = Springboks

| coachyears2 = 1996

| coachteams3 = Cats

| coachyears3 = 1998–2005

| school = Diamantveld High School

| university = Potchefstroom University for Christian Higher Education

}}

Andries Thomas "Andre" Markgraaff (born 23 December 1956)[http://www.espnscrum.com/southafrica/rugby/player/105525.html Andre Markgraaff rugby profile] Scrum.com is a retired South African rugby union lock. He matriculated at Diamantveld High School and was a controversial national coach, who resigned after he was taped using the racial term kaffir.{{cite web |url=http://www.schoolofrugby.co.za/galleries/6290-dynamic-import-086|title=School profile Diamantveld|accessdate=13 May 2018}}{{Cite book | url=https://books.google.com/books?id=kHi7AAAAIAAJ&q=DIE+ANC |title = Rugby and the South African Nation: Sport, Cultures, Politics, and Power in the Old and New South Africas|isbn = 9780719049323|last1 = Black|first1 = David Ross|last2 = Nauright|first2 = John|year = 1998| publisher=Manchester University Press }}{{Cite news|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/sa-rugby-coach-quits-over-racist-outburst-1279426.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121107040536/http://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/sa-rugby-coach-quits-over-racist-outburst-1279426.html |archive-date=2012-11-07 |url-access=limited |url-status=live|title=SA rugby coach quits over racist outburst|date=1997-02-19|work=The Independent|access-date=2018-01-09|language=en-GB}}

Playing career

Markgraaff was selected for the South African team in 1986 against the Cavaliers but as an unused substitute. Markgraaff also represented Western Transvaal, Western Province, Griqualand West and the then South West Africa{{cite web|url=http://www.rugby365.com/schools/profiles/586158.htm |title=www.rugby365.com | schools | school profiles HOËRSKOOL DIAMANTVELD |accessdate=2010-03-11 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20110616021250/http://www.rugby365.com/schools/profiles/586158.htm |archivedate=2011-06-16 }} in 20 games. He captained the South African Barbarians on a tour to Europe and the Junior Springboks.

Coaching

In 1988, he became coach of Griqualand West. He became president of Griquas in 1991.

In 1996, Markgraaff was appointed as the Springbok rugby coach.

In 1997 Markgraaff was forced to quit after his controversial racial statements,[https://web.archive.org/web/20110604200230/http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/sport/rugby_union/article2703486.ece South Africa colour future without Jake White] Times Online, 21 October 2007 when he referred to a black senior rugby administrator Mluleki George as a "kaffir".{{Cite news|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/africa/he-refused-to-room-with-a-black-teammate-for-some-the-era-of-apartheid-never-ended-537405.html|title=US|work=The Independent|access-date=2018-01-09|language=en-GB}}{{dead link|date=August 2021|bot=medic}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}} In his apology, Markgraaff said

:"I'm not making any excuses. I was very emotional at the time. I apologise to the black people of this country and to the whites for causing them embarrassment."

During his short reign the Springboks won eight and lost five tests.

In 1998, Markgraaff took the Griquas to victory in the Vodacom Cup and then to the semifinals of the Currie Cup, losing by 11–27 to the {{rut|Western Province}}.[http://www.scrum.com/scrum/rugby/story/60216.html Griquas and Cheetahs meet in pick of the Currie Cup action] Scrum.com, 20 July 2005 He also coached the Cats in Super Rugby and was a founder of the PUK Rugby Institute.

Markgraaff made a comeback in rugby administration and was the Deputy President of SARFU and the convener of SARFU's technical committee.