By Lehlohonolo Lehana.
@GalloImages.
The captain of South Africa’s first black team to play outside the country Dougie Dyers has died, SA Rugby announced on Tuesday.
Dyers led the Proteas, with only white players allowed to feature for the Springboks due to the apartheid regime, in 1971 for games in England and the Netherlands.
“As a player, ‘Oom’ Dougie never got the recognition that was bestowed on other of his contemporaries, but that didn’t stop him from pursuing his own dreams, and after his playing days, be worked tirelessly at all levels of the game to ensure others’ dreams also come true,” SA Rugby president Mark Alexander said.
“He left an immense mark on the game he loved so much – as a player, national captain, coach, selector and administrator.
“He devoted his life to South African rugby, and for that I would like to honour him.
“Our thoughts are with his family, friends loved ones in this very difficult time – may you find solace in the memories of ‘Oom’ Dougie and the knowledge that he was a true pioneer in South Africa.”
After he retired from playing rugby, Dyers went into coaching and later, he took charge of the Proteas, before being appointed to coach the SA Barbarians team in 1979, the first of its kind to tour outside South Africa.
A year later, in 1980, Dyers had his second taste of facing the British & Irish Lions when he coached the SA Barbarians in their tour game against the men in the famous red jerseys, and in 1983, Dr Danie Craven offered Dyers a position at the South African Rugby Board.
In his role as national selector, a position he held for 17 years, Dyers stood firm in his belief that black players were good enough to play for the Springboks and as a result, Errol Tobias was selected to face England in 1984.
From 1991 until his retirement in 2002, Dyers served with the Western Province Rugby Football Union, working on development structures, and later he was elected as junior vice-president of the union.