Dougie Dyers at the SA Rugby museum

Dougie Dyers at the SA Rugby museum. Photo: Supplied.

RIP | SA Rugby pays tribute to local rugby pioneer ‘oom’ Dougie Dyers

SA Rugby boss Mark Alexander paid tribute to ‘Dougie’ Dyers, a pioneer in the history of South African rugby who died on Tuesday.

Dougie Dyers at the SA Rugby museum

Dougie Dyers at the SA Rugby museum. Photo: Supplied.

SA Rugby president Mark Alexander has paid tribute to Douglas Martin ‘Dougie’ Dyers, a pioneer in the history of South African rugby who died on Tuesday.

The 86-year-old Dyers, who became the first captain of a black national side to leave South Africa when he led the Proteas on their tour of Europe in 1971, was also a revered coach, selector and administrator. He was born on 16 January 1936. 

SA Rugby salutes Dougie Dyers:

“When it comes to major role players in the history of South African rugby, ‘Oom’ Dougie’s name stands alongside all the greats,” said Mr Alexander.

“A courageous player, he was a true servant of the game at all levels, who captained South Africa at a time when a large part of the population was excluded from playing for the Springboks.

“Rugby played a massive part in his life and I have nothing but endless admiration for a man who was central to the game for a very long time, in club and provincial colours, green and gold and later on training fields and boardrooms.”

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Summary of oom Dougie’s rugby career and contribution to the sport:

Dyers made his union debut for Parow at the age of 19 and soon established himself as a player and leader in the team before moving to Walvis Bay in 1961, when he helped to start a rugby club in the town so that he could continue to play his beloved game.

Upon his return to South Africa a few years later, Ramblers had to close due to apartheid policies and Dyers’s family had moved to Elsies River in Bellville, where he joined the Blue Birds Rugby Club, part of the new Northerns Rugby Union.

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Blue Birds was part of the South African Rugby Federation and they played for the Silver Cup, from which Dyers was selected for the Proteas, as the Federation’s national representative side was called.

At the end of 1971, Dyers captained the Proteas on a seven-match tour to England and the Netherlands, where they won four, lost two and drew one game. A few months later, in May 1972, Dyers led the Proteas against the touring England side, with the visitors winning the match 11-6 in Cape Town, a few weeks before they beat the Springboks in Johannesburg.

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SA Rugby legend and pioneer Dougie Dyers.
SA Rugby legend and pioneer Dougie Dyers (front left).