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Eddie Chikamhi-Senior Sports Reporter
ZIMBABWE Rugby Union president Aaron Jani says the late national team captain Iain Forsyth Buchanan left an enduring legacy for domestic rugby with a career spanning over 100 games and captaining the Sables a record 53 times.
The former Sables scrumhalf died this week at the age of 74 years. A memorial service was held in his honour yesterday at Old Miltonians Sports Club in Bulawayo.
Buchanan who holds the record of captaining the Zimbabwe Sables for a record 53 times and playing 103 games, with 57 of those games in succession for the national rugby team.
“The Zimbabwe Rugby Union president Aaron Jani, his executive committee and the board have paid tribute to former and record holding Zimbabwe Sables captain, with 53 matches as captain for Sables, Old Miltonians and Matabeleland rugby legend who sadly passed away on Monday the 17th of April 2023, at the age of 74,” said a statement from ZRU.
Buchanan was born in Bulawayo on 15 July 1949 and was educated at Northlea School, playing first XV rugby for a remarkable four years.
He was chosen for the Craven Week national schools team in 1966 and 1968, and for the national team under-20 in 1969, when he began his impressive club career for Old Miltonians.
He made his Sables debut at 21 years of age in 1971 against Griqualand at the Morris Police Grounds (then Salisbury Police Grounds) in a Currie Cup game which they lost 14-16. He made the national team scrum half position his for over a decade.
By 1980 Buchanan had a total of 85 caps for the national team having played 57 games in succession and 50 of those games as captain.
Buchanan had the honour of being the first player to captain the Sables after attaining Independence in 1980.
He was quoted in the national press saying: “I am as proud today to be playing for my country as I was in my first season,” he said.
“I will continue to give everything I’ve got.”
Buchanan was justly entrusted with the captaincy for Zimbabwe’s first overseas tour to England in October 1980.
“Bucky” as he was fondly known, was an epitome of a team man and a patriot. A highlight of his career was when he was selected into the World XV in 1979 and the South African Barbarians to face the British Lions in Durban, South Africa. At his retirement from playing he gave back to the sport that brought him fame and fortune as he became a member of the Matabeleland Rugby Football Board, a position he held for many years until his retirement and elevation to be a Matabeleland Rugby Football Board Life member, a position he held at the time of his death
“He was an intensely passionate rugby man who left an indelible mark on the Zimbabwean rugby landscape and a record,” said the ZRU statement.
“Our thoughts are with his family, as well as the rest of the Buchanan family, friends and other loved ones in this very difficult time.
“May they find solace in the memories of a man who will forever be remembered as a pioneer in rugby and whose influence stretched over generations.”
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