We all know the UAE as a transient place where people frequently come and go, but rugby in the Emirates is an eternal community.
And one particular group of players thrown together here have forged a lasting bond – one that will become even stronger after the death of one of them, Garth van Niekerk, this week.
Football may be referred to as the beautiful game, but the modern-day version has been made uglier by the petty tribalism, financial greed of the elite and eroding links of realism between passionate fans and increasingly indifferent players.
Rugby retains a pureness, where rival fans sit, unsegregated from one another at its biggest games and its stars don’t earn unfathomable sums of money.
News of Abu Dhabi Harlequins and former Abu Dhabi Saracens centre Van Niekerk’s death shocked the UAE rugby community.
The South African was a fiercely proud Sharks and Springbok supporter, but was able to realise a lifetime ambition earlier this year when he took a trip to Wales with Sarries team-mates Sean Stevens and Craig Nutt to watch Wales play Ireland in the Six Nations at the Millennium Stadium.
Nutt (2nd l), Van Niekerk (3rd l) and Stevens (2nd r) in Cardiff.
“That was one for him to tick off on the bucket list and something we’ll never forget. I think we’ll keep that memory with us and it will strengthen the bond between us,” said Sean Stevens, who along with Van Niekerk and Craig Nutt, moved across Abu Dhabi to Quins this summer.
Despite being a fellow South African, Bloemfontein native Stevens admitted he didn’t think much of his compatriot when they first met at Sarries training around April 2015.
Stevens, 28, felt perturbed by the fact Sarries had brought in another centre weeks after Stevens had arrived to replace the Quins-bound Pieter Morton.
“I joined the club a few weeks before him. I was going to replace Pieter but then he came in and was this big South African centre,” recalls centre/flanker Stevens.
“He was wearing a Sharks jersey and I’m a Cheetahs fan. I didn’t speak to him a lot the first few weeks. I thought ‘who is this guy, from Johannesburg, but who’s a Sharks fan’.
“But he slotted straight in and not even his rivals had a bad word to say about him. And he turned out to become one of my closest mates out here.
“A few of us at the club went on holiday together a few times and those are times we’ll always remember. We went to Bali for nine days last year and then to Wales to Nutty’s home town this year. We went to a Six Nations game at the Millenium Stadium, Ireland v Wales.”
The Millennium holds 74,500 and Wales games are littered with thousands of fans wearing inflatable daffodil headdresses. They may look daft but Nutt revealed wearing one and belting out the Welsh national anthem was something Van Nierkerk had long wanted to do.
“He always wanted to dress as a daffodil and sing the Welsh national anthem and he loved every minute of the trip,” said the 33-year-old prop, from Bargoed, 18 miles outside Cardiff.
“For the game to be so close and Wales to win was an unbelievable experience for the boys and Ireland always travel so well also.
“It was really good to get a South African’s perspective on our country and also for them not to be just in Cardiff, but to spend time in the Valleys was also really good.”
Van Niekerk (l) with Stevens (c) and Stephen Hamilton while at Sarries.
Social media has been awash this week with tributes to Van Niekerk, described as not only a great player, but a great guy. And despite only meeting most of his friends and family once on his visit to Wales, Nutt said his new pal left a lasting impression.
“I have had loads of messages from people that met Garth that weekend saying how much of a nice guy he was and sending condolences even though they only met him once, he left such an impression on them,” Nutt added.
Stevens and Nutt both featured in Quins’ 29-25 triumph over Exiles in the West Asia Premiership on Friday. A game usually filled with animosity saw both sets of players come together at the final whistle as they embraced for a joint photo that Nutt was sending to Van Niekerk’s family.
News of his death reached the players the following morning and Stevens revealed the previous night’s win had been a nice way to honour Van Niekerk.
“Everyone played for him and we wanted to go out and do our best,” said Stevens. “The game was a fitting tribute to him. A win is special against Exiles but even though the scoreboard has a loser, I think rugby won.”
The game was also poignant for Exiles, particularly a few of their former Sarries players who also knew Van Niekerk well.
Number 8 Jaen Botes described his fellow South African Van Niekerk, known to his friends as ‘Mamba’, as the same guy on and off the field.
“Garth was the type of guy who always introduced himself to people with a warm hand and a bright smile,” said the UAE international.
“He was a tremendous rugby player with a heart of a lion. I have never played with a centre that would run a hard line like he did. Every time we took to the field he always ensured that we had something to smile about. I’m sure those who knew him would agree.
“There was really no change in character on or off the field, he was pretty much the same guy. He did everything with a smile and full intention.
“The news about his illness was a shock to many and the fact that everything happened so quick just goes to show that you never know when it is your last.
“This is a tough one to swallow, however the friends and rugby community here in Dubai will cherish the memories we have of him and our condolences goes out to his family.”
