Abu Dhabi Harlequins beat Dubai Exiles but support is shown for cancer-stricken Garth van Niekerk

Matt Jones - Editor 22:54 03/11/2017
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  • Sad news: Garth van Niekerk pictured in action scoring a try.

    The latest installment of the Abu Dhabi Harlequins and Dubai Exiles rivalry provided another classic encounter, even on a night when the game was probably at the back of most people’s minds.

    It’s the fiercest rivalry in modern-day UAE rugby, yet somehow the malevolent feelings died down rather than rose up just after the final whistle sounded, as both teams came together on the halfway line for a photo.

    Quins’ 33-month unbeaten record lives on but someone who won’t was at the forefront of everyone’s thoughts.

    “This is going to Garth’s family,” someone shouted. And despite having just gone to war on the field, Quins and Exiles players smiled and wrapped arms around one another.

    The Garth in question is Quins’ South African centre Garth van Niekerk, who flew home to Johannesburg just over a week ago after being told he has weeks to live.

    The 28-year-old received the news he had advanced stage colon cancer around eight weeks ago.

    Van Niekerk, a flight paramedic with Abu Dhabi Aviation Search and Rescue (SAR), last played for Quins in their 36-32 Western Clubs Champions League win over Bahrain on September 8. He’d undergone tests but still played, earning the man of the match award, before being told the devastating news that it had spread to his liver and lungs the following day.

    Garth van Niekerk (l) goes over for a try against Doha at former club Saracens

    Garth van Niekerk (l) goes over for a try against Doha at former club Saracens.

    Despite having only moved to Quins in the summer from city rivals Saracens, the club said he’d made an instant impact.

    “He’d had a massive impact since arriving. He was liked straight away,” said Quins coach Mike McFarlane.

    “When things like this happen you realise there’s more important things than rugby, but at the same time playing a game and winning the way we did is the best way to honour him,” said Quins prop Craig Nutt, who knew Van Niekerk better than most having played with him at Sarries for nearly three years.

    “He was always a competitive rugby player and he would have thrived being on the field today. He’s a magnificent man and that win’s for him.”

    Van Niekerk had been in the UAE since early 2015, winning Sarries’ Player of the Season accolade that year. After receiving the news his parents, sister and brother-in-law had been visiting him in the UAE and accompanied him home around 10 days ago.

    Despite the simmering nature of the rivaly between Exiles and Quins, the real ethos of rugby shone through as the entire Exiles side wore pink socks as a show of support for their hosts and Van Niekerk.

    “We’re here to play rugby but we’re all mates,” added McFarlane.

    “You saw Exiles wearing pink socks today and that just shows what UAE rugby is all about. When Canes came here they jumped in to help us too. It’s the same with Mikey Ballard, the rugby community does come out and support each other and it’s a great place to be.”

    Several of the Exiles players know Van Niekerk well having also played with him at Sarries, including compatriots Jaen Botes, Lehan Koekemoer, Gio Fourie and Thinus Steyn.

    And even though fly-half Durandt Gerber doesn’t know him well, he revealed everyone at the club wanted to show their support for their fellow player.

    “It shows what the game of rugby is about. I don’t know him personally but when I heard about it, my heart felt for him because he’s a fellow rugby player,” said fellow South African Gerber.

    Quins and Exiles players embrace at the final whistle

    Quins and Exiles players embrace at the final whistle

    “It just goes to show you never know when your last game is. He went to Bahrain and then a week later you can’t play rugby anymore. Rugby builds families and friendship and you have to enjoy it as much as you can for as long as you can.

    “I don’t know him but I’ve played against him, and Jaen, Thinus and Kookies are all good mates. They told us the news last week so we wanted to do something. We got the socks and we’ll raffle them off for the boys and whatever money we get we’ll get it over to his family or the charity.”

    Despite the terrible news underpinning the fixture, both sides put on a show befitting of the rivalry between the two, a game and result that would have pleased Van Niekerk immensely.

    The hosts fell behind to an early Steyn score but led 19-12 at the break, thanks in large part to the flawless kicking of fly-half Luke Stevenson – who was 100 per cent from the tee.

    Quins hit back after going behind with Nutt’s converted try leveling the scores before Stevenson took over.

    Botes powered over for Exiles’ second score before the interval and scrum-half Carel Thomas darted over for number three just after the restart and Gerber’s conversion squared it at 19-19.

    In a see-saw second half, Stevenson and Gerber exchanged penalties, Gerber’s second putting Exiles back in the lead at 25-22. Rapid Quins winger Barry Dwyer showed lightning reactions to snipe over from close range after a tip tackle on Stevenson, with the UAE international’s conversion sending Quins 29-25 ahead.

    And the proud home record was kept in-tact when Exiles centre James Crossley knocked on in the final seconds, despite having a two man overlap.

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