29/05/2026
Cecil “Bill” Payn was 'n geharde Springbok-rugbyspeler, 'n oorlogsheld. Hy het vir baie jare vir Natal gespeel en in 1924 in het hy in twee toetswedstryde gespeel.
Hy het ook in die Tweede Wêreldoorlog gedien, waar hy die Militêre Medalje vir dapperheid ontvang het. Selfs as krygsgevangene het hy rugby in die kampe lewendig gehou deur wedstryde tussen Suid-Afrikaners en Nieu-Seelanders te organiseer (die sogenaamde “Stalag-toetse”).
Maar sy bekendste storie kom uit die Comrades-marathon van 1922. Na ‘n paar drankies is hy die aand oorreed om die marathon die volgende dag te hardloop. Hy het die wedloop in sy rugbystewels begin en steeds 'n ongelooflike 8ste plek behaal. Sy wedloop was allesbehalwe normaal. Hy het gestop vir spek en eiers, 'n hoenderkerrie met 'n ander hardloper gedeel, en selfs biere by 'n kroeg langs die pad gereël voordat hy verder gegaan het!
Asof dit nie genoeg was nie, het hy die heel volgende dag 'n rugbywedstryd gespeel en dit tenspyte daarvan dat sy voete vol blase omdat hy in rugby stewels gehardloop het.
Cecil “Bill” Payn was a tough Springbok rugby player, a war hero, and a man who loved his sport. He played for Natal for many years and played in two Test matches in 1924.
He also served in World War 2, where he was awarded the Military Medal for bravery. Even as a prisoner of war, he kept rugby alive in the camps, organising matches between South Africans and New Zealanders (the so-called “Stalag Tests”).
But his most famous story comes from the 1922 Comrades Marathon. The night before the race, after a few drinks, he was talked into running it. He started the race in his rugby boots and still finished an amazing 8th place.
His run was anything but normal. He stopped for bacon and eggs, shared a chicken curry with another runner, and even lined up beers at a pub along the way before carrying on!
And if that wasn’t enough, he played a rugby match the very next day, even though his feet were full of blisters from running in those
