Nice guys don’t always finish last. Recently replaced Glenwood 1st XV head coach Rudi Dames has bounced back quickly. He has been officially announced as the Pretoria Boys’ High new director of rugby.
The opportunity is bound to provide a new lease on rugby life for Rudi but the rugby player financing environment he’s entering at Pretoria Boys’ High might prove to be a bit of a shock to his system at first. For one Boys’ High do not subscribe to forking out a ton of money on sports bursaries, whereas a few of their Pretoria neighbours who complete for the same talent, happen to be big spenders.
Rudi has already met with Durban based Ricardo Laubscher (now at the Sharks), who spent 2½ years involved at Boys High rugby with both 1st team and U14A to discuss the our coaching structures and game philosophy. This should help his transition along quite nicely.
Pretoria Boys’ High official: “We are extremely excited about the appointment and we are looking forward to a new rugby era at Pretoria Boys.”
Boys’ High 1st XV rugby seemed to have hit rock bottom in 2016. The lowest point was quite possibly that one particular week during May when they went down 13-41 to St Alban’s and then 13-54 to St Benedict’s: almost unheard of defeats for the proud school with an attendance figure of ±1400 boys. Although the only way appears to be up, which should work in Rudi’s favour, there’s no denying that the coaching staff will be under considerable pressure to deliver vastly improved results in 2017.
One of the noticeable changes to the PBHS rugby fixture list is their decision to debut at the Kearsney Easter Rugby Festival in 2017:
“The Kearsney decision was one that was discussed at management level, it was felt we have been loyal to the Johannesburg Festivals over the past 5 years it was time for a change.
We have declined their (Kearsney’s) invite over the last couple of years so it is something different for the coaches and boys.
We have so much in common with Kearsney, as they have an Boys’ High Old boy as their Headmaster and Deputy.
They have sent the provisional fixtures out to us and there are no “soft” fixtures, we have 10 boys back with first team experience so we should be far more competitive next year.”
Good luck to Rudi and Boys High, against all schools apart from St Alban’s!
@Tang:
Ja – I take it with a pinch of salt. Perhaps PBHS sent a general appeal out to all old boys and that’s how he responded. And it seems like there were issues at his other school as well – maybe he just didn’t play nicely with others. No excuse for bullying though………
Good luck to PBHS – looking forward to the 2 fixtures (as always) from MC.
Good luck to Rudi – a tough competitor – and he’ll have a number of his old foes (WV, MC & Affies).
Hope to see the mighty Candy Stripes back again as we move forward. Will be interesting to see how the recruitment goes.
@Greenblooded:
I read the article. I would seriously question the veracity. There are a number of points which are blatantly inaccurate:
1) Boys High would not approach an old boy to donate a pre-determined amount of money.
2) The fund-raising drive was for upgrading the hall and building a new media center. In the article, it is incorrectly reported as a new sports stadium.
3) The author of the article makes it seem as though Musk had a torrid time at Boys High and was bullied incessantly. He uses quotes from Musk’s book to try and back up his assumption. The quotes from the book are totally out of context. I think the author of this article owes Boys High an apology.
The article is nothing more than sensationalism. The author has not backed up his claims with facts. I think the author has heard rumours and has pieced together information.
@GreenBlooded: That is a bit tight. The one thing he can never get rid of is his Saffa twang in his Canadian accent….
@Roger:
Eish – my lighty told me it was a bar US. You are right – it was ZAR. Tight arsed bastard. That’s probably a rounding error for him.
http://www.2oceansvibe.com/2015/07/21/this-is-why-elon-musk-gave-pretoria-high-school-r1-million-and-asked-them-to-never-contact-him-again/
@Roger: Well Elon’s doing quite well for himself. Here is a Glenwood OB also int he auto industry, maybe not doing as well but still well; https://www.instagram.com/p/BMZBAofhGk1/
#notjustaruggaschool
@GreenBlooded: I also heard a seriously wealthy Boys High old boy passed on and left the school a packet – problem was, he left it to “Pretoria Boys High School” and not the Trust. Now given Boys High is a Government school – guess into who’s greasy paws the ammo went
@GreenBlooded: hehehehehe – I’m surprised how that story has done the rounds. I heard it was a bar ZAR
For Boys High’s sake – I hope your story is the correct version 
@Grasshopper:
They did. He gave them a bar US and told them never to contact him again.
Why doesn’t PBHS just have a chat to Elon Musk for some sponsorship, I’m sure he has a few spare pennies to help them out…
Good luck Rudi and PBHS.
@Greenman:
Is Kevin v Rensburg toe Westville toe?
All the best to Rudi. We do export brilliance. Who is next?
@Tang: I believe he is off to Jeppe but have seen no formal communication on that . . . .. . .
@Tang: No he is going to Jeppe.
@Roger – Do you know if Spilhaus is staying at KES next year?
@beet – I think your article should read: “For one, Boys High don’t subscribe to forking out any money for bursaries.”
Hoping he makes a positive contribution to Boys High Rugby for many years to come.
@Brother Bear – He won’t be a master. His job will be director of Rugby.
@Andre Tredoux: Hi Andre. I hope all is going along nicely for you and family in Japan.
So sorry that SA had to lose a quality coach like yourself but hopefully it’s not permanent.
You might not have been there to share the joy of winning the Currie Cup but well done for the role you played that helped put Free State on the right path to success – you played a vital role in recruiting on a shoestring budget and then nurturing the much of the young talent as u19 juniors. Nico Lee who plays with such flair these days being a great example.
This is one step in the right direction for SA rugby. Get good coaches involved at institutions with heaps of potential talent and build their capacity. Investment for the school and Pta rugby, BUT also for rugby after school (well prepared players for various levels of participation). With the prevailing strong traditions at PBHS I am sure there will be no negative impact with him not being a “master”, or is he?
all the best to him and Boys High – hope to see them back near the top of the pile in the near future – and hopefully they stick to their knitting too.
Good luck
I had the pleasure of meeting Rudi the other night at a golf function held at Wild Coast. Real stand up guy and I wish him the best of luck.
Congrats Rudi Dames. Great coach and awesome bloke. Sometimes a new challenge is better then a holiday.
You’ll do very well.