Rushmere made his first-class debut for Eastern Province against Orange Free State in a friendly match in 1956–57, scoring 46 and 55 batting at number five, and taking 3 for 49 and 3 for 27 with his medium-pace bowling.
[4] He toured England in 1961 with the South African Fezela XI of promising young players, taking 4 for 29 and 3 for 16 in the victory over Essex.
In subsequent years Kariega Game Reserve expanded to 10,000 hectares, including land on the Bushman's River.
[9] The reserve now has several important conservation species, including lion, elephant, giraffe, black and white rhinoceros, hippopotamus and cape leopard.
[11] Colin's son Mark played Test cricket for South Africa in the 1990s and now helps to run Kariega Game Reserve.