Springbok Legend Adriaan Richter Auctions World Cup Medal Amid Financial Hardship
eMalahleni – In a poignant turn of events, former Springbok captain Adriaan Richter has been forced to auction off his cherished 1995 World Cup winner's medal to alleviate mounting financial pressures. The medal, a symbol of South Africa's historic victory against the All Blacks, was sold for R62,500 by The Old Johannesburg Warehouse Auctioneers. A mini trophy commemorating the same achievement also went under the hammer, fetching R34,000.
Richter, 59, who resides in eMalahleni, says his age and race have become significant obstacles in securing employment. He claims that his financial distress has been exacerbated by the challenges he faces in the current job market.
The former loose forward, who scored four tries during the '95 World Cup and captained the Springboks in their match against Romania, expressed deep regret at having to part with his prized possessions. "I definitely didn’t sell it because I wanted to. It’s just because we live in South Africa and I just can’t find work. It’s not nice," he told Rapport.
He added, "It’s my last personal belongings that I could sell. They were precious to me. I think I won six Krugerrands in my rugby career and I’ve already sold them. My car has already been sold. It’s the last thing you want to sell, but at one point, I even had to sell my rugby jerseys."
Richter says that his decision to sell his medal and other memorabilia was driven by necessity. He says he would have liked to leave his precious mementoes to his children, but he was left with no other choice.
Richter also spoke about the emotional impact on his family, particularly his two children, aged 16 and 14. "I have two children, 16 and 14, with my second wife and they’re only now really finding out who I am and what I’ve achieved. There’s not much left for them," he explained. "They might watch a video here or there are a few photos or newspaper articles, but there’s nothing physical left for them."
The auctioned medal was presented to Richter by former President Nelson Mandela after the Springboks' memorable 15-12 victory over New Zealand at Ellis Park. While Richter wasn't part of the final team, he played in three matches during the tournament, including the quarter-final victory against Samoa. Both the medal and the mini trophy were sold in their original display cases, each engraved with Richter's name.
Richter says he has struggled to land contracts over the years due to BEE. "These days, everything is race-oriented, and I just couldn’t get contracts any more. I had to work through someone else all the time," Richter explained. "Then you work for three months and you never get your money. I would often hear that the guys never got paid, but then they lied."
He added, “Now, what do you do if you don’t get paid? If someone first tells me to trust them and they are a man of God, I want to run. Then I know they are going to screw me.”
Reflecting on his post-rugby career, Richter shared his diverse experiences. He initially worked as a financial broker before transitioning to farming in Modimolle, where he cultivated cucumbers, lucerne, and Brahman cattle. Subsequently, he ventured into renting out industrial machines in eMalahleni.
“I had a farm, a plot and cars, and everything was paid off when I stopped playing rugby," Richter recounted. "I saw my backside on the farm and it was a case of everything going wrong, no matter what you do. I would get a big contract to plant maize and I went out and put up pivots and everything. But that was the year that maize fell. There was no maize or anything. In that case you can only hold out for so long.”
“After that, I went to eMalahleni and I now have a few rental properties. But now, for example, two houses have not paid their rent in two months. You are talking about R50 000. Now what should I do? Be inhuman and throw them out?”
Richter hopes that the funds raised from the auction will provide some respite for his wife, Christa. “She bakes rusks and makes platters. She works her backside off and she’s really kept us alive lately," he said. "In the new year, there may be new prospects for me. We’ll see, maybe it will be better next year.”
Despite the challenges he faces, Richter remains philosophical about his life's journey. “I tried a few things and they just did not work for me," he reflected. "We also come from the amateur era and there are a few guys who are doing very well and are happy and I grant them that. Others are not so lucky and I’m sure I’m not the only one in this situation." He also expressed his appreciation for the support he has received from the Blue Bull Trust, which assists former players. "For example, I have a lot of respect for the Blue Bull Trust, which helped me replace both of my knees. It raises money for the older guys with golf days and events. The other day, I attended an event for Uncle Frik (du Preez). Uncle Frik is struggling himself and he was the Player of the Century.”
Richter concluded by saying that when he looks back on his life, he would not change anything.
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