An article by Playa ahead of this weekends big Dale vs Queens derby – one of the oldest and best in South Africa.
Unbeknown to most, Dale College admitted its first black learner way back in 1901. It would be another 90 years before the next group of what were then known as ‘Guinea Pigs’ would be admitted as Dalians.
Dale played their first all-school game in 1891 against their biggest foe to date, Queens College. Out of the school’s 4 main rivals (others being Selborne College, St Andrews College and Grey High School), and until recently Queens have been the only rival that has won more games than Dale on head to head (Grey PE went ahead of Dale in 2005). Dale were last ahead of Queens in 1975.
In 1991, Dale opened its doors to black learners. In 1994, Brendon Whittles was the first player of colour to represent the College 1stXV.That year Dale played 21 matches and only lost to Selborne (twice) and Grey College Bloemfontein. In 1995, Gcobani Bobo, Oginga Siwundla and Samora Siwundla were the next group of players to wear a jersey with the golden heron on their hearts. That team only lost to Boland Landbou and Paarl Gym out of 22 games. The following year, there were 6 players of colour, a team that included Thobela Mdaka. This team, and the two that followed in 1997 and 1998 were far below par when compared to their predecessors in the 1990’s, a golden era for Dale rugby, with 2 unbeaten teams (1990 and 1993)… and so the bad vibes began… that Dale rugby is going down, and this is because the school had become ‘too Black’. But then in 1999, with a team with 8 Black players, Dale only lost 1 game out of 20 to Pretoria Boys’ High (13-14), and were ranked 4th in the country. By the time democratic South Africa turned 5 years old, Dale College (and its greatest rival, Queen’s), had transformed to being schools with predominately black learners…still very competitive with their lesser transformed ancient peers countrywide. In 2012, Dale fielded their first ever ‘all black’ side, and were ranked 8th in the country.
What has worked for Dale? Dale Junior has for decades been one of the top performing boys’ junior schools in the country. It has always been natural progression to graduate from junior school to the college. For the longest time, that transition has been a no-brainer. As a result, Dale has never had to go outside to look for talent, but instead had the good problem of talent in abundance, especially at under 14 and under 15 level. Dale has produced numerous unbeaten under 13A/14A/15A teams, some of which achieved this feat in consecutive years as a group.
With the frantic change in demographics, old boys shied away, both financially and in terms of sending their sons to the school. With unions and schools trying to fulfil quota obligations, bursaries which became more and more difficult to match mushroomed. The top coaches were also receiving offers elsewhere, making Dale a loser in both sportsmen and think-tanks. Though Dale has been able to reasonably compete, one wonders how much better they would have been able to do if the school could hold on to its talent.
The continuity of any boys’ school lies in the strength of their old boy unions. Old Dalians pulled back on Dale in their transformation years in the 90’s. Their school was no longer what they knew it to be. This would be the case for the next 20 odd years. 11 of the current Dale Junior under 13A team will not be going to the college next year. 13 boys who had played under 14/15/16 and 1st XV in 2012 did not return to the school in 2013. Dale has now become a feeder school to those schools that are willing to pay the money. This can only be countered by more financial involvement from old boys, as we have seen from the schools that are doing the ‘buying’. At this rate, Dale rugby will perish along with the other known traditional boys’ schools of the past.
The question then lies…how should Dale identify itself? Some say as a development team, some say as a sporting academy for the previously disadvantaged, the permutations are endless. Dale is a South African Boys School.
Dale was ahead of the pack where transformation is concerned, and this naturally scared away those who were used to the status quo of the time. The one advantage though, is that those who were scared away, have now accepted the change, and are now willing to make the investment. It will take some time before Dale is able to retain all their talent, and attract new talent at the same time, but at least the stage of acceptance has been reached.
Queens College fielded their first player of colour in 1993, a year before Dale. Both schools have received flack from old boys for rapid transformation. Both schools pride themselves in being the most transformed 150+ year old boy schools in the country, who still hold on to their traditions. Both have sets of old boys who have now accepted the change. As has been for the last 122 years, these two great examples of what transformation is will meet this Saturday. South Africa can learn a lot from these institutions where transformation is concerned. It will be a great game of rugby, but it would have been better if both teams had been able to hold on to their best breeds.
Playa – is an Old Dalian and Dale rugby fanatic.
@Tarpeys: I agree to a point, but I would prefer athletics back in the third term like it used to be with big quadrangulars, pentagulars etc. It’s a no contact sport where 1st rugby players can still keep fit and injury free. I loved my years doing shot put, javelin, discus etc. Soccer or football is not bad but it’s not for everybody….
Playa: This is one of the best articles I have read here and you are spot on with everything and ye I hope Dale/Queens don’t disappear as one who has not been to one of these two school will not know what we speaking about.
I still go to every game possible to watch Queens and Dale play against other schools and always have a sense of pride when I see the Kudu or Tick bird run on and I will tell you this I don’t care if they black/white/pink or aliens from another planet I will always shout for them.
Great article! Herewith my few cents worth…it does not matter what the colour of the school pupils are, nor the colour of their teachers what matters most is the financial wellbeing of the school. Schools that are situated in poorer areas battle as they attract pupils from poorer families who cannot afford school fees – schools that are situated in more affluent areas survive as the parents are able to pay their fees. Schools that succeed and shine have both paying parents AND very active old boys unions – school fees just cover operational costs – salaries, maintenance etc.- old boys unions provide the cash to offer bursaries and so attract the top scholars. It takes years for a town to decline financially – like KWT – and unfortunately Dale will therefore decline too – buildings don’t get painted, fields don’t get maintained properly, desks are not replaced etc. etc. If then only half the pupils pay school-fees the school will battle, governing body posts will be lost so classes of 40 to 50 kids will become a reality so standards drop and the death spiral starts gaining momentum – it is very sad but unfortunately true- I hope the Dale old boys can pull together and pump in the millions that Dale will need to survive…I know that Grey High school in PE has an extremely well run old boys union that pumps in millions into the school that ensures it remains a school of excellence. It would be a sad day indeed if schools like Queens & Dale had to fail!
@Tarpeys: Along the lines of what you say about soccer and maybe not applicable to school rugby but this is how I have felt about rugby league for a long time. Why can’t it be shown on SA tv. I’m not sure it will be everyone’s cup of tea but I’m sure it can attract a larger viewing audience than NFL or Aussie Rules. With so many tactics from the league game being used in union I believe that many of us would benefit from being able to watch league. Yet I believe there is this outdated fear of the threat of rugby league that still exists in S.A.
@BOG: Agree. Averages are like statistics. They can say what you like. Imagine my reaction if my son had to tell me that he is literate, so that’s good enough. We want to be aspirational, not average.
@ Playa – Great article and very well written with clear views expressed in an insightful manner.
@ Rhino, I think “rugby” schools should stop fearing the imminent emurgence of soccer as a major sport. I think school should embrace the sport and make it part of their sports program. Michaelhouse rugby has been consistent in last 5 years or so with brilliant teams 07, 08, ’09 and ’12. In that time, soccer has taken off big time with a record 31+- soccer teams fielded again Westville in 2010. This trend has been maintained with an average of 7-8 open age-group soccer teams fielded every weekend this year. I think the same is more or less happening at other KZN schools that are doing well Rugby wise mainly Westville and Kearsney where soccer has its time during the year. The schools are making coaches and facilities available and it adds an easy feeling after the hard aggressive nature of rugby seasons and the rugby players love the simplicity of the game. It’s not uncommon to see a 6th team soccer side filled with 1st XV rugby players having fun on a Saturday, an appreciated change from the routine and pressure of rugga.
I think that schools that are serious about cultivating a certain culture have a great opportunity to instill that culture if their boys are involved in sport, period. To stop the view of soccer being an ill-disciplined sport, schools need to stop outsourcing coaching of the sport to outside coaches and encourage their schoolmasters to do the job even though they might not be experts at the game but they are experts at what the school is about and the culture that should prevail at the school.
I think schools like Michaelhouse, Westville and Kearsney have used soccer to get more boys wearing the school badge on a Saturday and continuing the process of them understanding the values of the school outside the classroom environment. I don’t think the rugby programs have suffered one bit. Look at the respective records of the school in the last two season. MHS No1 last year with Westville and Kearsney being the standout sides this year.
Football and rugby can co exist and make schools stronger.
Oh and literacy is good and a measuring tool of some sort , but your average child in SA is looking for a bit more than just being literate.
@Gungets Tuft: I agree with you- Zimbabwe has maintained a reasonable level against all adds, but the events of the last 15+ years and conditions in the country, will begin to show. Swaziland too, has an acceptable level (and proud) level of education. But we all know that in the rural schools of SA, and here I am including former “white” schools, are not in a good condition, and indications are, that its getting worse. So what options are left to the farming communities around the country if they cannot afford private education? Cultivate dagga to pay for their childrens education?
@BOG: Yet Zimbabwe is still rated as the African country with the highest literacy levels, and this is backed up by my personal experience. It might be skewed by the demographic that I meet, but check the rankings?
I know pure adult literacy is a pretty low yardstick, but things are not aways as we assume.
https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/fields/2103.html
@Rhino: I agree with you, however unpopular the idea may be. In a few years from now, you will find a few “institutions of excellence” around the country where the able- academically and athletically- will be concentrated. For those who cannot afford private schooling as an alternative, they will just be taken along with the flow to mediocrity,sad but true. I said elsewhere that GCB had 450 applications for admission to Gr8 next year, while they could only accommodate 230. At this stage, the ones who were declined, still have options, but what about a few years down the line. Using Zimbabwe as an example, REAL schooling is concentrated in no more than 5 schools
@Rhino: Soccer will be the no.1 sport in SA as it is broadcast to a much wider audience. There’s no rugby on any of the national broadcaster channels, 6 games a year maximum and all delayed broadcasts.
Do you guys think that bit by bit country wide school rugby could demise? Giving the general trend of SA nowadays? Im asking not to stir or upset anyone as i would devastated by such a thing and probably wouldnt be in our generation per say but when i read, listen and learn of some demise of schools due to demograhpics etc and all you do start to wonder huh ? and i mean this country wide and to all schools including my beloved Westville………….. i mean could footy(soccer) take over eventually?
@beet: Agreed, I also love the Dale style of rugby, run it, run it and run it some more. A small stocky pack giving the lightening backs just enough ball to run rings around the opposition. Glenwood found that out last year at Kearsney in the 2nd half. Queens are similar, refreshing compared to the usual bash bash bash!
@Playa: I just wanted to say again what a great article this is Playa.
I think what I really love about it is this feeling of hope that comes across. Dale has an opportunity to be the pioneers of a new episode of SA’s school history.
@Playa: Great read – but one struggles to see how rural schools/communities can maintain their proud standards and history in the face of the whole sale migration of people to the cities and the demise of much of the fabric of our farming heritage. By that I mean either the sale of farms to Governement or the amalgamation of farms into bigger units, many owned by agricultural corporates. It’s just the way it is, the local attorney loses work to the city lawyer who represents the corporate, and so the cycle turns. I think it is fantastic that Dale, Queens and company have been able to pass on their proud tradition and history to such passionate standard bearers, as opposed to trying to maintain a white enclave that certainly cannot withstand the tides of change. Great job.
@Gungets Tuft: Coming from Butterworth and Dutywa, I can understand why you were impressed with KWT. Yep that G White weighed that after it was cut into 8 portions- they did not have a large scale available, so you can imagine the loss in weight, yet it was still over 1000lbs (and before they became conservation conscious) The jaws he had mounted on a shield and an adult could quite comfortably pass through them. He used a 2 kg Damba/Galjoen as bait which was skimming the surface and watching it with his binoculars and saw the fellow first circle and then come in, jaws wide open for the take. He knew that he was in for some sports but he used a harness, short shark rod and dacron line. Its end of season Beet, so I hope you overlook this fishy story. If not, Ill follow it up with an overview of the world economy
@BOG: Eeisch, 1000kg White, well at least I felt safe surfing and paddling back then, but I am a skinny 98lb weakling so I reckon he would be looking for a fat oke, then use me as a toothpick. Ja, Kirsten’s house was on the north side of the river. We used to hire park homes from the locals, perhaps your relatives?
KWT, I passed through in Feb, it looked fine to me, but I had just braved Mthatha, Mt Frere, Idutywa and Butterworth. If they were horses someone would shoot them, so KWT was an easy sell. I always use paint as a measure of an African town. Really neglected towns are lacking paint. KWT looked ok. But, so did Ermelo when I went throught there in July last year, so what do I know.
@Woltrui: Wolle, na my beskeie mening het PHS se “agteruitgaan” op rugby-gebied meer te doen met afrigting as enige iets anders. Hulle is steeds ‘n redelik groot skool (1200+ leerlinge, skat ek) en minder geaffekteer deur demografiese verandering as enige ander openbare skool in Limpopo.
In 2011 het Limpopo die laerskole Cravenweek gewen en die meerderheid van daai span is PHS toe. Daai o/14 spannetjie se afrigter het my belowe hulle gaan Ben Vorster met 50 punte wen, waaroor ek my bedenkinge gehad het. Toe wen hulle 17-10 teen ‘n spannetjie no names, en ek kon sien hulle is nie goed afgerig nie. Intussen verneem ek 4 van hulle span is nou in Pretoria, wat nie vir my snaaks is nie.
Interessant genoeg het die heel eerste CW span van NTvl in 1964 meer spelers van Limpopo ingehad as van Pretoria, as ek reg onthou. Maar tye het verander en kinders migreer agter goeie afrigting aan. Ek dink dit is die meeste skole in Limpopo se grootste probleem. Die een skool wat belê het in goeie afrigting word vootdurend daarvan beskuldig dat hulle “koop”, maar daardie is na my mening die maklike uitweg vir self die minimum doen.
Ek ken nie die Ermelo sitiuasie goed genoeg nie, maar dit mag te doen hê met ‘n situasie wat op hulle afgedwing is om ‘n jaar of wat gelede ‘n parallelmedium skool te word. Tradisioneel het hulle kinders van ver af ingekry – die noorde van Natal en selfs Namibië, as ek dit reg het. Daardie situasie mag verander het, maar dis vir my opvallend dat Piet Retief oor die afgelope jaar of twee heelwat sterker geword het en nou ‘n semi-finalis in die Beeld grootskole afdeling is (hulle het PHS uitgeskakel). Nogtans was Ermelo die Pumas se grootskole wenner die jaar en ook Saterdag ‘n semi-finalis.
@Gungets Tuft: Im not calling you a lier, but I think that the condition of KWT fluctuates.Recently, I traveled through Aliwal, QT and KWT and all were in a complete shambles and that included the inner city of EL( “Transkei” conditions) Yet, a few years ago, KWT actually pleasantly surprised me. So, you dont know what to expect. My eldest sister retired in Yellow Sands- so I know the place. Peter Kirsten had a house there too. And of course, many years ago, when the Glen Garriff hotel still existed, we had some “memorable” experiences there too. A friend of mine caught a Great White of over a thousand pounds by kite off Kwelega Point and he brought it in among the surfers – around 4 hours- and they only saw it when it was in the shallow surf . They could not believe what they saw and where it came from.
@Grasshopper: Absolutely!Whereas at some point, a rural kid’s biggest dream was to make it to Dale/Queens/Selborne to get an opportunity in life, now they just want to get into those schools so that they can be seen by the schools from the big cities in order to get bursaries there.The danger with that is that there will be age-cheats as well.
But more on the point is that a lot of us wished for the Kings to stay in super rugby because that translated to us being able to hold on to our own players at school level as they would have the hope of playing top flight rugby after school, without feeling the need to move to a school in a bigger union.
@Grasshopper:
The fear of the unknown.The KWT taxi rank is safer than Kenilworth.And that is not an exageration.I feel safer walking in the QTN cbd than Long Street in the wee hours of the night.I wont even start about the streets of JHB.
Crime is everywhere, and believe me when I tell you, where Grahamstown,King, QTN and EL are concerned, your son would have to be an absolute rebel to find themselves so far from the school campus where they would be at risk of a violent attack.The one thing about these small towns is that the schools in them grew up with the towns.The school property has earned respect that has been passed down through generations,even from those who never attended.It is a rare thing to find hostels being broken into or to find any acts of violence in the vicinity of the schools.Your son would have to be a regular customer at the township shebeens to be exposed to such risk.
The small town public schools never targeted the hot shot JHB millionaires.They actually preferred the duck-tails from the Rand
They provided better intimidation on the rugby field, and fitted right in with the equally rough farmers.
Not sure what you mean by ending up like Butterworth.But I’ll agree with you, the small SA towns were built around these schools, the death of the schools will lead to the deterioration of the towns. Woltrui’s example of Ermelo and Pietersburg is testament.
It is a real pity that black families are not supporting the surrounding schools, I bet Sergeal Pietersen who is a wonderful player is probably not from PE but a rural Border/EP town. I think Glenwood and DHS recruited boys from Itembelihle and Ntsonkotha schools, however this is where both the age cheats came from so maybe they don’t trust the identity docs from boys at these schools anymore. KZN has a big issue with previously disadvantaged quota’s because Zulu’s usually prefer soccer or basketball. If they do play they are usually props and wings. The Border has a rugby tradition in the rural area’s so by helping a few boys on bursary they cover both the great rugby depth and quota requirements. It’s a no brainer for a kid from a rural school…..big opportunities in the city and my parents don’t have to pay….wow!
@Ludz: Boet, it’s not misconception at all, I have heard of a few incidents at boarding establishments around the country, including Glenwood’s one where there have been attempted break-ins etc. I have actually been to Dale, Queens and Selborne, all great schools with great facilities. However, hot shot JHB millionaires prefer to send their kids to Michaelhouse and Hilton as it’s only a two hour helicopter flight from JHB to watch their sons. I just fear these great old South African towns are going to end up like Butterworth etc…we felt very uneasy driving through there…
@Playa: Much respect for such a wonderful article, the College definitely needs you on the College Council.
Dale continues to produce many wonderful rugby players and I am sure they will for years to come, just sad that many provinces pick on Dale to boost their “quota” players. Unfortunately with the pro-age this is only going to happen more and more, the logistics of sending kids to boarding schools in Ght, Qtown and KWT is not so easy anymore. Lack of trains etc, that is why kids are ending up at schools in bigger cities.
Long may Dale prosper and let’s all hope this is a slight hiccup. It is time for Old Dalians to stand up and start sending their kids back to Dale.
Excellent article Playa, it’s a sad reality hey, it’s misconceptions like the ones Grasshopper is on about that is further crippling our schools. Why wouldn’t our boarding establishments be safe?
@Woltrui: 150th. They are a Meneer school in age terms.
My kid played hockey at the founders festival at Dale College about 3 years ago. Think it was Dale’s 125?? year festivities. I was impressed with the school and the facilities (beautiful hockey astro). Also a beautiful region of our country. Pity the rugby talent is getting cleaned out by other provinces. Maybe the Kings Rugby franchise should step in??
Same problem, with different reasons, is happening in the Noordvaal area. Traditional strong rugby schools as Ermelo- and Pietersburg Hoerskool is busy disappearing from the rugby map.
@BOG: Spent quite a few holidays at Yellow Sands, Kwelera River mouth. Lovely spot, just across the river from Gonubie.
It’s daft, so much going for the region, but it just doesn’t take.
@Playa: Well done boet,takes some balls to say what you have,need more clear thinking okes like you in charge.
@Gungets Tuft:
Look, KWT has improved in the last 3-4 years.The council has really picked up their game since the early 2000s.Its one problem is that it is a small town servicing a large contingent of surrounding rural areas.This is of course good news for QC86 and the Greek boys that run Nicks Foods Spar as their shops will never be empty, but it is a nighmare for infrastructure, e.g. pot holes are at their all time high because of the amount of traffic that runs through the town daily, there is excess demand for water and electricity, which has led to residents paying out of their backsides, but suffering shortages at the same time.Sure, that happens almost everywhere in the country.But yeah, the town is cleaner now, and better maintained.
Queenstown…well, yes it’s a mess.And it’s all to do with politics.The ruling party (read Gwede Mantashe) imported council members (including the mayor) from the Transkei.And obviously, as people with no genuine interest in the town, they’re grooving in a gravy train there.
@Playa: I have only driven through, stopped for a bit of fuel, but I must say I liked what I saw of KWT. It was well maintained, clean and neat from what I saw. It looked like any small town where the inhabitants look like they are proud of their town. Queenstown – not so much. Didn’t have the sould of KWT.
Just a casual observer – perhaps next time I need to stay over and explore a little. I have a big towing job starting in PE in a few months, if I do some overnighters then I need to do the weekend thing and check it out better.
And Grahamstown – eeisch. Badly run indeed -> http://www.grocotts.co.za/content/online-rhodes-plans-water-protest-march-13-08-2013
I have suggested that the 7000 Rats go to the City Hall for their daily dump, use the mayor’s private scented dunny. Perhaps the Kingswood and St Andrews okes could do the same, perhaps that would cause some action …
@BOG: @QC86: Sad reality indeed.Even more tragic is that these are the very same people who will contradict themselves by complaining that the provincial sides and the Boks are not black enough.And I ask the question of how can they want that for a national side when they associate black with a decline in standards, because that translates to wanting weak provincial and national sides.Either that or they are just shouting “transformation” for the sake of being politically correct.
pretty sad when a race has no faith in it’s own.
@Playa: You right with your last remark. The decline of standards at Dale, was actually used by (some) Black folk a few years ago in a discussion with me, as an example and one of the reasons why they took part in the “dethroning” of Thabo Mbeki in Polokwane. And they were from the KWT area.
@BOG: Hahahaha!Yeah mate.Props and locks only though
Kind of tough, the white boys we have are swimmers, and hockey and waterpolo players.I’ve been scouting some of the farming stock from the north eastern cape being rejected by GCB.
@Grasshopper: Misconception number 1. Queenstown, KWT and EL are not in the middle of nowhere, they just happen to be situated in badly run towns.To give an example close to home, PMB where Maritzburg College is, is a badly run town.But that has no bearing on the quality of education the school can offer.Grahamstown, which is as rural as QTN and KWT has the likes of Kingswood and St Andrews, (add Graeme, VG and DSG as well).Grey PE down the coast and sister school Collegiate.Some fine schools in a poor province.The EC being one of the poorest provinces in the country has an effect on parents settling there, but the schools historically grew as boading establishments.
Safety – I think boarding establishments are as guarded as any other. Maybe you might want to expand on what you mean by “safety”.
On the last point…I always make this example. Lubabalo Mthembu and Scarra Ntubeni were in the same teams at Dale.They were both presented with the opportunity to go to KES.Scarra took it and Terra stayed at Dale.Today, they are both playing Super Rugby.My view is that with the amount of publicity SBR gets nowadays, location has become null in as far as provincial prospects are concerned. Dale had representatives in 3 of the 5 SA franchises this year.
Let’s call a spade a spade.The exodus is not a result of anythin but the change in colour.It is an unfortunate reality in SA that a change towards black is associated with falling standards.This is a thought shared not only by white people, but by blacks as well.I know of many black parents, who live in KWT but would rather send their boys to Selborne/Hudson Park or other EL schools.So this is not a white mindset,but a South African condition.I feel that Queens and Dale have the opportunity to prove that notion wrong…or they could prove it right.
@BOG: Yep, been to both Hogsback and Gonubie. I used to surf at Gonubie. Love Kenton and Grahamstown too. Lovely places to retire but to live and work, nope unless you are lucky like me and able to work from home on a pc.
@Grasshopper: As my late mother, a born and bred citizen from that area and of German stock, would say to your comments about the area – “I beg your pardon?” Many, many people from that area, would not move away from there for all the money in the world. And I truly believe that it has the most attractive coastline of the whole of SA. Have you been to a town called Hogsback? Next time, en route to Durban, consider sleeping over in Gonubie- its just about 5 kms off the main road. You might just want to buy a house there. Dont judge the EC by what you see from the N2, travelling through. Playa, you could have another first- by introducing quotas for whites. Im just not sure if there are enough left in the school to fill the quotas
Great article Playa, puts it into some perspective. Unfortunately for Dale, Queens and Selborne location is also a factor, being stuck in the middle of nowhere in one of the poorest provinces in SA does not help at all. The other question is of safety, are the kids in the BE safe? I think if anyone had the option of staying in Queenstown/King Williams Town or JHB, Durban or Cape Town the big cities would always win. Maybe it also has to do with their provincial prospects, being in a bigger union gives more exposure. That is why it was very very sad to see the Kings relegated, it was the one saving grace of the area…