Tony de Munnik was a Jeppe old boy and parent and a fiercely loyal supporter of the school.
Even though he rose to the level of vice-president of the Golden Lions Rugby Union, he was a constant presence at all of the Jeppe home first-team rugby games and was keenly interested in Jeppe rugby at every level. He loved to stand under the trees next to the VIP enclosure behind the Northern posts of the Collard Field and that area has now been named Tony’s Spot in his honour.
Tony was a great servant of the game of rugby, with a special passion for the grassroots levels of the game. He championed the cause of school and club rugby on the Lions executive and helped keep the game alive in the province’s township areas.
All the while, Tony de Munnik was Jeppe through and through and dedicated much of his life to serving the school in a variety of capacities, as both a parent and an old boy. He was tireless in his enthusiasm for the school and his steadfast love for the black and white. He was perhaps best known for his support of the rugby section, but he was also a vocal and committed member of various Old Boy committees over a number of years.
He was president, at one stage, of the Jeppe Old Boys Association and was chairman of the Governing Body of Jeppe High School for Girls while his daughter attended there.
The Jeppe Easter under-16 rugby festival was particularly close to his heart. He played a big part in its getting established in the first place and was an enthusiastic part of its organisation every year. He persuaded the company he worked for sponsor the event at one stage.
His untimely passing in July 2020 was a big shock to the Jeppe family, and to the rugby community of Johannesburg. Few had his passion and love for the school and for the game of rugby.
It’s fitting that school rugby gets back on track in the post-Covid era with the 1st Tony de Munnik Memorial under-16 festival.
Fixtures
Thursday, April 14
12pm Grey High vs Michaelhouse, St Benedict’s vs Northwood; 1pm King Edward vs St Andrew’s College, Pretoria vs Hilton; 2pm Jeppe vs Wynberg, Parktown vs Lions XV; 3pm Helpmekaar vs Queens, St David’s vs St Charles; 4pm Monument vs SACS, St Alban’s vs Die Anker.
Saturday April 16
8am St Andrew’s vs Northwood, Parktown vs Queen’s; 9am Helpmekaar vs Grey High, Jeppe 2ndvs Michaelhouse 2nd; 10am Monument vs Wynberg, Lions vs St Benedict’s; 11am KES vs SACS, Hilton vs St David’s; 12pm Jeppe vs Michaelhouse, Pretoria vs Die Anker; 1pm St Alban’s vs St Charles.
Monday April 18
8am KES vs St Charles, Lions vs St David’s; 9am St Andrew’s vs Michaelhouse, Helpmekaar vs Northwood; 10am Jeppe vs SACS, St Benedict’s vs Wynberg; 11am Affies vs Hilton, Pretoria vs Queen’s; 12pm Monument vs Grey High, St Alban’s vs Parktown.