The IC of South Africa host the Nations Cup and Legends Awards Dinner

The IC of South Africa hosted the Nations Cup and Legend Awards Dinner from 18-23 March 2026.

Nations Cup – Three Days of International Tennis

The Nations Cup was contested over three days of highly competitive and engaging tennis hosted at Kelvin Grove Tennis Club. The event brought together international teams in a format that balanced competitive intensity with the core IC values of sportsmanship, camaraderie, and friendship. In addition, guests were given a free day to arrange their own excursions.

Day 1 – Arrival and Welcome

The opening function set the tone for the tournament, with players having arrived from various parts of the globe. The Welcome Dinner was held at Kelvin Grove, providing an opportunity for players and officials to connect in a relaxed environment, renewing old and making new friendships, reinforcing the values that underpin IC events.

Day 2 – Opening Matches

Teams began engaging in well-contested matches. The standard of play was consistently high, with several closely fought encounters that highlighted both the depth of talent and the competitive pride of each nation. At the end of the day, the Nations tie was won by South Africa who edged out GB. Two other mixed regional teams completed the group.

Day 3 – Day at Leisure

This was a free day with guests able to plan their own excursions.

A highlight of the day was the evening cruise, which provided a unique and memorable setting for social interaction. Against the backdrop of Cape Town’s coastline, participants were able to unwind, connect, and celebrate the shared experience of international tennis. The cruise was widely regarded as a standout feature of the event. The return to the harbour and its twinkling lights with dancing on deck to the strains of Johnny Clegg and other African tunes, was a lovely ending to the event (the outward leg in choppy seas notwithstanding!!). 

Day 4 – The programme continues

The second day of competition featured a full schedule of matches across all participating teams. The level of competition intensified, with decisive results beginning to shape the standings. Off the court, the atmosphere remained vibrant and inclusive, with players supporting one another and sharing in the experience beyond the matches themselves.

Day 5 – Final Matches and Closing Ceremony

The final day of the Nations Cup brought the tournament to an exciting conclusion, as the remaining round robin matches were played. With everything still to play for, the level of tennis remained high throughout the morning. Close matches, competitive rallies, and strong team performances defined the final rounds, with results ultimately decided by fine margins.

The closing prizegiving marked a fitting conclusion to the Nations Cup. IC South Africa had the honour of awarding honorary membership to Louise Field (New Zealand), Peter Harding and Karen Cass (GB) and Pam Rosenbaum (Canada). In addition, Duard Botha was awarded honorary membership of IC Great Britain, reflecting the strong international ties fostered during the event. The formalities were followed by a relaxed pizza farewell, allowing participants to conclude the tournament in a warm and informal setting.

Legends Dinner – A Celebration of Excellence

The Legends Dinner, held at Grand Africa Café & Beach, was undoubtedly one of the defining highlights of the week. Set under the evening sky, with the ocean as a backdrop to dancing on the sand, the event created a unique and memorable atmosphere befitting the occasion. Dinner on the Deck was served buffet style and proved to be a sumptuous affair. From oysters to salmon and fillet accompanied by vegetables and salads, it was an outstanding experience.

The evening celebrated the rich legacy of South African tennis, with:

• 13 new Legends inducted
• 6 Lifetime Achievement Awards presented
• 6 Masters World Champions recognised.

Each recognition was a testament to the enduring impact of individuals who have shaped the sport at national and international levels.

The IC of South Africa were particularly privileged to host Brigitte Cuypers-Fourie and JL de Jager, both crowned Legends in 2023. Their presence added further prestige to the evening and served as a powerful reminder of the excellence and tradition that define South African tennis.

The event successfully combined formality with celebration, creating an environment that honoured past achievements while inspiring future generations. The feedback received from attendees has been overwhelmingly positive, with many noting the setting and organisation as truly world-class.

Further Details

• Venue
  The historic Kelvin Grove Country Club proved to be the ideal venue for the Nations Cup Tournament hosted by the International Club of South Africa (IC SA) in March 2026. The Club’s beautiful grounds feature the grand old historical clubhouse, 2 restaurants, bar, coffee shop and swimming pool. 
• Teams
  Originally meant to be a gathering of 4 Nations, it soon transpired that clubs were having difficulty fielding full teams and the event became an open competition. Representatives from the US, Canada, Great Britain, Luxembourg, Australia, New Zealand and South Africa found themselves playing for the Ellies, the Pumbas, the Daisies and others. In total, some 40 players had the opportunity to participate in the competition.

Format

• Day 1: 4 teams of 8 competing as  countries or regions. Won by SA with GB second.
• Days 2 and 3: 8 teams of 4. Ladies, Men’s and Mixed Doubles.

Entertainment/Functions

• Welcome function and dinner
• Sunset cruise
• The Legends Dinner and Awards
• The prize-giving and pizza evening.

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Virtual AGM and Executive Committee Meetings

Both Executive Committee meetings and the IC AGM for 2020 still took place on their usual weekends but like everyone in the world, things were a bit different and they were held virtually over zoom. However, all three meetings were efficient and successful – key takeaways shown below.

Sunday 31st May 2020 – Executive Committee Meeting

• The Chairman reported that Rafael Nadal has graciously accepted the IC Jean Borotra CQS Sportsmanship Award. The granting ceremony is still to be re-arranged.
• Finances and IC Philanthropy update and discussion
• Events – all cancelled (some subsequently) due to Covid-19
• Alumni networks – work has commenced to build up a network for the Potter Cup and IC Junior Challenge participants, who can be convened closer to the IC Community, strengthening our network of active members

Sunday 5th July 2020 – IC Annual General Meeting

• 59 participants in attendance

• Business Returns 2019 – 38 out of 42 ICs responded to the survey. The 2019 IC Business Report can be found here.

• Executive Committee recommend that ICs work together regionally to support and learn from one another through Covid-19 – starting with zoom meetings in smaller groups

• The Chairman and Executive Committee expressed their immense gratitude to Julian Tatum, a longstanding member of the Executive Committee who has been instrumental for decades in many important initiatives

• The following slate of candidates was presented for election to the Executive Committee:
  a. Thierry Pham, Permanent Member (France)
  b. Alex Kurucz (Europe)
  c. Des Shaw (Australasia)
  d. Philippe Pinet (replacing Gustavo Herrero) for South America Regional Representative
  e. Kit Spencer (Events)

• Finances update – full update can be found in the minutes section, in the members login area

• IC Rod Laver Junior Challenge Worldwide Finals – postponed to 2021

• The Professional Game – work being carried out by the ICs of Australia (Beyond the Tour initiative) and the United States (Career Supportive Initiative) to assist active and retiring tour players in their post-play careers and lives. Further information can be found at www.beyondthetour.com.au and on Facebook @BTTIC.

• IC Philanthropy - Since inception in 2010, in excess of 15,000 disadvantaged or disabled children and young people have attended and benefitted from the ICP Foundation’s programmes. The ICP Foundation is supporting 14 programmes again in 2020, that are in different stages of activity, due to the pandemic

Sunday 8th November 2020 – Executive Committee Meeting

• Finances and the impact of Covid-19. A full update can be found in the minutes section, in the members login area
• Events update – including rescheduling fixtures, the impact on the IC Rod Laver Worldwide Junior Challenge Finals (postponed to November 2021), and the proposal for a younger IC Council event
• Business returns - the EC agreed that next year, the business returns questionnaire would not be distributed and collected for each IC, given this unique year and halt of IC activity. Although, Regional Representatives will continue to work with their ICs to support the issues raised in this year’s report
• An additional EC Meeting will be adjourned in January 2021 to focus on events for 2021 onwards