Club rugby dream to be fulfilled

Don Speirs dreamt about taking his club on an international tour.

And, in his final season of being at the helm of the Old Boys Club, the long-serving chairperson has fulfilled a life ambition as his team has embarked on a trip to Argentina.

"It would have been easy to take the R200 000 we raised for the tour and gone out there and bought the best local club players and won the Moor Cup this year," said Speirs.

"But that doesn't mean we leave a legacy. All the players have pulled together and worked hard to raise money for this tour.

"And that's something to be immensely proud of, because we've picked a team of players who represent this club and embody the principles of Old Boys. It's not a team made up of guys who could just afford to come," Speirs continued.

With the Old Boys title sponsor ARB Electric once again providing assistance along with supporting sponsor Super Tyres and other donations from the likes of GM Demolishers, Blue Security, Prior and Prior Attorneys, Conrite Walls, Clean Team Services and Pelican Systems, the tour was able to come to fruition.

Old Boys will head to Bahia Blanca in Argentina to defend the Patagonian Cup, which is where the tournament is played on a biennial basis.

Two years ago it was the Glenwood Falcons who successfully hoisted the trophy aloft when they beat off clubs from around the world.

With the merger last year between the Falcons and DHS Old Boys, the Old Boys club was born and it is this "super club" which will play at the invitation tournament.

Oldies will take on losing finalists Christchurch Old Boys (New Zealand), Brothers (Australia), Universitario, El Nacional and Sportiva (all Argentina) in a round robin format, with the final taking place next Saturday.

"Two years ago the Falcons took an under-23 team to play in this tournament, along with a few experienced players, and it was a great experience for all," Speirs said.

"It's not often that a club side goes on tour, and in my final year in charge I can only describe it as a dream come true," he concluded.

The tour party also includes referee Steve Light who will be representing the KwaZulu-Natal Referees Association.

Old Boys squad: Absolum Mumba, Max Havemann, Scott Brown, Matt Copeland, Johannes Geldenhuys, Schalk Oliver, Nolan Clark, Denis Dempsy, Mitch Murphy, Mike Speirs, Sean Van De Broek, Jeff Williams, Sean Kommer, Greg Manning, Calvin Masson, Chris Speirs, Sean Manning, Brandon Hart, Marc Fouche, Andrew Nepgen, Deon Stow, Zimele Khoza, Chester Koyana, Jade Barkhuizen, Colin Mbongwa

Coach: Roland Savage

Assistant coach: Ron Byng

Doctor: Phillipa Geyser