Simmer & Jack Rugby Club clinched victory in the Pirates Grand Challenge competition not once, but thrice, in 1921, 1922, and 1931. To demonstrate their prowess on a national level, they triumphed over Ikeys with a score of 14-8 in 1921 and secured a draw against Maties with a 6-6 tie in 1923.

Emerging as a dominant force, Simmer & Jack owed its success, in part, to the support from the Simmer and Jack gold mine. This backing not only propelled the club to prominence but also provided job opportunities for rugby players, thereby elevating the status of rugby across the entire Witwatersrand region.

In the early days, rugby in the area was primarily contested between two clubs, Germiston, and Simmer & Jack. Germiston performed admirably, claiming the league title in 1907 and again in 1915. Simmer & Jack left its mark by winning the “survivor” competition in 1919 following the resumption of rugby post-World War 1.

The roots of these early developments are still evident in the present-day Germiston Simmer Rugby Club. The club’s name and its emblem, featuring the head of the Eland buck from the Elandsfontein farm, reflect its historical origins.

In 1963, facing challenges and player losses, Germiston and Simmer & Jack merged, giving rise to the Germiston Simmer Rugby Club. The amalgamation initially posed difficulties for the senior team, resulting in 13 consecutive losses and a second-to-last position on the log in the inaugural year. However, by 1967, 1968, and 1969, the club rebounded, securing second place in the Pirates League. The pinnacle of the club’s history came in 1978 and 1979 when Germiston Simmer claimed victory in the Pirates League. Games on home ground in Driehoek, drew crowds exceeding 6,000 spectators. Despite losing its Pirates status and being relegated to the President league, the club’s elder members rallied in 1990 to restore it to its former glory.

In 1992, under the coaching of Gert Schutte, Germiston Simmer achieved a remarkable feat by winning all 14 league matches, clinching the President League title with an average score margin of 47 – 10. The club also won the promotion-relegation match, reclaiming its coveted Pirates League status.