The village of Barrydale, on the border of the Overberg and Klein Karoo regions of the Western Cape, has two rugby clubs that help to unite the local community, writes MARK KEOHANE.
Stormers coach John Dobson is a regular visitor to Barrydale. He gives easily of his time to support his mate Rick Melvill and the Karoo Art Hotel, but more significantly both Dobson and Melvill invest energy into the local rugby community.
Melvill has a Pied Piper presence in Barrydale. Where he walks others follow because of his generosity to improve someone’s day, be it in an interaction or an opportunity.
Dobson is from similar ilk. He loves to give back to the sport that gave him so much and he loves to do so through community projects.
The Flying Eagles were once the singular club rugby entity in Barrydale. The club was established in 1950 but in 2018 there was a breakaway and the Barrydale Stryders were born.
No community is exempt from club rugby politics, not even Barrydale, but the two clubs have embraced the derby element, and they share a field of dreams and the dream that is rugby.
Dobson, who last season arranged a jersey sponsorship through BLK, visited the two clubs on the eve of the Springboks’ home season opener against Ireland.
It was an inspirational session as he addressed players and supporters of both clubs.
The Stormers coach, comfortable in speaking what he called ‘kitchen Afrikaans’, applauded the community leaders for emphasising the importance of rugby, not only as a sport but as a way of driving community unity and keeping youngsters off the streets and out of the bars.
He singled out Conroy Williams, whose devotion to improving the lives of so many in Barrydale, through sport, for an unwavering belief in the community.
Williams, a boxing and rugby coach and a sergeant in the South African Police Service, launched the Barrydale Fight Night at the Karoo Art Hotel. The event raised the first R100,000 towards building a youth sports centre in Barrydale.
Williams spearheads Upskill Sports, which is about creating opportunities and an environment for healthy sporting activities. He has, through his Panic Room Boxing, Kickboxing Academy and involvement in rugby, mentored many kids and saved them from a gang upbringing.
Dobson said everything Williams was doing with the Upskill programme identified with the Stormers as a group. If the Stormers’ mission was to make the people of the Cape smile, then it was the likes of the Stryders and Flying Eagles who put the smile on those Stormers players and coaching staff.
‘They play for you,’ said Dobson. ‘They are you. They all come from different backgrounds and suburbs. Many had upbringings mirrored with the challenge of gangsterism within their communities and of so many distractions.
‘Many faced adversities but playing rugby gave them hope, and schools and club rugby communities gave them direction and purpose. They had something to dream about, to look forward to and they had a reason to smile each time they got to train or play a match.’
Dobson implored the youngsters to never stop having hope and thanked the elderly for creating an environment that keeps the young talent on a rugby field.
‘Rugby gave me a home,’ said Dobson. ‘It gave me friendships that have lasted a lifetime, and it taught me so many things about myself. I learned discipline and I learned so much about life, through sacrifice, through disappointment and through achievement.’
Dobson spoke of how rugby’s on-field battles, as a collective and individually, were so often
that of the daily grind. There were ongoing lessons but there was also such a sense of victory.
‘Just making it to a training session on a wet and cold night and doing so because you did not want to disappoint your teammates, scrambling on defence to make the tackle because of a desire to be there for your teammates and doing everything to create the magical offload to the speedster on your outside … there is so much that this sport will give you. Just never stop believing.’
The Stormers coach detailed the humility of his players and the appreciation of the sacrifice that thousands make to buy a ticket and get to DHL Stadium.
‘There is just so much passion from the Stormers fans. We get to experience it firsthand as a group, and I can’t thank you enough. We see you making it to the stadium, rain or sunshine, and we see that smile on your face, no matter the result.
‘The support has always been unconditional and where we can, we always want to give back to our fans.’
Dobson delighted the players with the news that both clubs’ 1st XVs would get sponsored BLK tracksuits for the new season and there would be a revisit on the state of the jerseys, which were also courtesy of BLK.
Stryders have won the past three derby matches, with the June installment finishing 10-0, and Dobson joked that it was time the younger brother gave the older one a victory.
Melvill confirmed there would be live field commentary at matches next season and the final month of the club season would double as auditions.
‘Who knows, perhaps the next voice of rugby is in the community,’ he enthused.
Dobson promised continued support, by way of Stormers memorabilia, playing kit and regular visits. He even hinted of a Stormers visit to Barrydale – and that got the biggest cheer of the night.
‘Who knows, we get the field in a bit better shape, and we may just have a game here.’
Photos: Rick Melvill/Mickey Mentz
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Src: sarugbymag.co.za
