Platinum miner Sidney Tobias breaks down barriers with Bulls ... just like his Springbok dad

The Tobias family is evidently one born to break barriers in South African rugby, even if their achievements vary a bit in significance.

Errol will always remain the big pioneer, the brick-layer from Caledon who would become the first player of colour to ever appear in a Springbok jersey when he debuted against Ireland at Newlands in 1981.

The nimble pivot who started at inside centre, broke the line and fed Rob Louw with the pass that saw the flanker score that very same afternoon.

Three years later, he would have the honour of scoring a Test try at Ellis Park, memorably leaving England centre John Palmer clutching air with a disdainful hand-off.

Just shy under 40 years later, Tobias' youngest son, Sidney, is breaking barriers of his own.

Sidney's achievements will, admittedly, not be as glittering as his dad's, but the 33-year-old Bulls hooker has vividly illustrated to every local player that playing club rugby can lead to a career revival.

It's not a proverbial cul de sac.

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A former Paul Roos pupil, Tobias played age-level and senior rugby for Western Province and South Western Districts before moving to Pretoria to become a two-time member of Tuks' Varsity Cup squad before a severe leg injury seemed to erode his confidence.

A move to Griquas proved generally underwhelming and an overseas move to Zebre in Italy lasted one season.

He returned to South Africa in 2018 with little rugby leverage, prompting him to go work full-time - just like Errol had to do in eventually establishing his own construction company - at Northam Platinum.

"It's really given me a different perspective," Tobias said on Monday, ahead of the Bulls'