SA Rugby pay tribute to Dougie Dyers, captain of first black SA touring side

SA Rugby president Mark Alexander has paid tribute to one of the most important pioneers in the history of South African rugby, Douglas ‘Dougie’ Dyers, who died on Tuesday.

Dyers was the first captain of a black national side to leave South Africa when he led the Proteas on their tour of Europe in 1971.

He later became a revered coach, selector and administrator.

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

"A courageous player, he was a true servant of the game at all levels, and 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."

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, where he helped start a rugby club in the town.

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.

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

At the end of 1971, Dyers captained the Proteas on a seven-match