UCT Rugby Club celebrated the life of South African rugby legend and former University of Cape Town (UCT) Rugby Football Club president and coach, Doc Cecil Moss, at the Doc Moss Memorial Day on the Green Mile on Saturday, 19 January 2019.
Remember Dallen Stanford, one of the smallest centres to ever roam the Green Mile – but who put in bone jaring hits! Some of those happened to be on the field as well!
Details
First Name: Dallen
Last Name: Stanford
Nickname: The Staaani
Rugby Career
Years Played at Varsity: 1999-2004
Primary Position: Center (13)
Varsity Teams Represented (Years): (e.g. 2nd XV:1994; 1st XV: 1995-1998)
u21 A1: 1999
u21 A1 Captain: 2000
1st XV: 2000-2002
UCT UK Tour against Oxford & Cambridge Universities: 2003
MC Marais Legends: 2004
What Is Your Favourite Varsity Rugby Memory?
As an Ikey, What Were You Best Known For? (e.g. Drinking, Hand-offs, etc.)
Massive tackles (after 1am) which included taking down Springbok coach Nic Mallet at a UCT function; captaining the Cape to Rio Cane Train; ending the UCT Sports Awards Dinner in 2001 thanks to a fire hydrant; taking the 2nd bum funnel from Wella and Dr Hartford (after Danny Palm).
Who Was Your Closest Teammate? Why?
Grant Kolesky introduced me to living like a Natal Shark, which included losing my front teeth in Durban. We had the best of times on and off the field with the whole squad throughout the years, I only single Kolseky out because he paid me R400 to tackle Nic Mallet.
Who Was The Best Player You Played Against As An Ikey?
Schalk Burger – Maties (Back when he had hair)
Who Was The Best Player You Played With As An Ikey?
Brent Russell (The Pocket Rocket)
What Do You Think Is The Best Thing About UCT Rugby?
The friends and characters that you meet through your involvement at UCT Rugby, and the way the game is played with that special Varsity spirit!
Did You Play Any Rugby After Leaving UCT RFC?
After emigrating to the USA in 2004, played for Occidental Olde Boys and Belmont Shore in Southern California, and also represented Tiger Rugby (Nelson Mandela Bay 7s, Cancun 7s), Atlantis (Benidorm 7s, Rome 7s), Pacific Coast Grizzlies (Singapore 7s, Hong Kong 10s), Santa Monica (Bangkok 7s) and Texas Tigers (Berlin 10s). Domestic highlights included winning a National 15s Championship in 2007 and National 7s Championship in 2009. Also had the opportunity to represent the USA at the 2013 Maccabiah Games in Israel (Gold in 7s, Bronze in 15s) and 2015 Pan American Games in Chile (Gold in 7s, Silver in 15s).
Extremely fortunate to have played USA 7s from 2006-2009 on the HSBC Sevens World Series, taking part in 13 tournaments and the 2009 Rugby World Cup Sevens in Dubai. It was a massive honour playing against Blitzbok and UCT legends Gcobani Bobo, Mpho Mbiyozo, Kyle Brown and Paul Delport! Plus the sneaky Mat Turner for England.
These days I play touch rugby 2 to 3 times a week with the Beachboks in Santa Monica.
Life After Rugby
Where Are You Now?
Los Angeles, California.
Spent 4 years in Austin (Texas) as my wife received a scholarship to complete her Masters Degree at the University of Texas at Austin.
What Are You Doing Now?
Fulfilling a dream as commentator on the HSBC Sevens World Series, and for World Rugby, USA Rugby, Major League Rugby, CBS Sports Network and ESPN. To date been involved in 32 Internationals and 12 World Sevens Series events, including the 2018 RWC 7s in San Francisco.
Despite the result, it was a thrill to call the Springboks v Wales encounter in Washington, D.C. earlier this year.
Announced fellow Rondebosch and Ikey Tiger, Marcel Brache, on several occasions for the USA Eagles: Here he is scorching Russia!
Other work passions include using rugby as a vehicle for social change through Play Rugby USA and creating more opportunities for coach development and community involvement through Friends of the British Council and Premiership Rugby.
While I’m not involved in rugby I post rugby videos on TheRugbyCorner.com and print commentary inspired shirts online!
Are You Still In Touch With Any Ikeys From Your Era?
Played alongside Matt Hawkins for USA 7s and Belmont Shore for many years!
Occasionally see sleek sensations Boots ‘Teddy’ Crossley (Austin), James ‘the Great Gatsby’ Endersby (India), Jed ‘Nadoes’ Elley (Michigan) and on holiday in Cape Town the kwagga burgers Grant ‘Slug’ McEvoy, Gcobani ‘Bobescast’ Bobo, Gareth ‘Ball-in-Hand’ Wright, Dave ‘Lurker’ Cumming, Nic ‘Frank the Tank’ Misplon and other boycheees.
Do You Still Follow UCT Rugby?
Absolutely! Once an Ikey always a Tiger.
It’s brilliant to see UCT return to the fame of the early 1990s with packed stadiums at the Green Mile, supporters going mental, and of course the club producing unbelievable results on a consistent basis! I must congratulate the Ikey leadership for shaping the club’s future.
I will be attending the 2018 Cape Town 7s and would love a UCT Rugby Reunion there – and perhaps Kolesky will send Nic Mallet an invite…
If any Ikeys ever travel through the USA or attend some of the Sevens World Series stops, please connect with me:
Instagram @TheRugbyCorner
Twitter @TheRugbyCorner
Facebook Dallen Stanford
‘Strive not to be a success, but rather of value’ – Albert Einstein
Rugby reveals you. It also builds you up, and empowers you to become successful in multiple facets of life. Whether you are an outstanding schoolboy rugby player, an enthusiastic thirsty thirds prospect, or simply a passionate rugby follower; I have no doubt in my mind that UCT Rugby Club is the best University in the country, the continent, and possibly even the world, to help you forge a successful future.
That being said, becoming an Ikey Tiger is not an easy process. Make no mistake, UCT Rugby Club is not just a platform to catapult yourself into the lucrative world of professional rugby. In fact, if you want to become an immediate rugby mercenary, rather go to another university.
Instead, UCT Rugby Club is a tough and demanding finishing school for those who want to combine achievement both on and off the field. It focuses on equipping those who put in the effort and passion to go out into the world and face any challenge with grit, determination, integrity. We produce rugby men and women who are useful and well-rounded in business and in play.
So successful has been the outcome of the Ikey philosophy and implementation over the years that even in the professional era of rugby, the success of numerous Ikeys in the professional game has been the result of a combination of academic application and the maximization of talent and determination, on and off the rugby field.
Even for die-hard, lifelong Ikeys like myself, it is eye-opening to reflect on the achievements of numerous Ikeys of the new millennium and the 90s. There are so many who have gone overseas or remained in South Africa who exemplify what being an Ikey is and how an Ikey can compete and excel anywhere in the world, on and off the rugby field. In fact, since the start of the new millennium, we have fielded over 30 international players, including:
Dion O’Cuinnegain (Ireland)
Bodo Sieber (Germany)
Philip Baier (Germany)
Simon Lukell (Sweden)
Brent Russell (Springbok)
Anthony Roberts (Zimbabwe)
Dan Vickerman (Australia)
Hanyani Shimange (Springbok)
Matt Stevens (England)
Mattias Bjorkenback (Sweden)
Dallen Stanford (USA/Sevens)
Matthew Turner (England/Sevens)
Kyle Brown (Springbok/Sevens)
JJ Gagiano (USA)
Eben Etzebeth (Springbok)
Marcel Brache (USA)
Damian de Allende (Springbok)
Siya Kolisi (Springbok)
Dylan Sage (Springbok/Sevens)
Don Armand (England)
Huw Jones (Scotland)
Dillyn Leyds (Springbok)
Sikhumbuzo Notshe (Springbok)
Nyasha Tarusenga (Zimbabwe)
Dayne Jans (Hong Kong)
Grant Kemp (Hong Kong)
Dylan Rogers (Hong Kong)
Liam Slatem (Hong Kong)
Matthew Rosslee (Hong Kong)
As I said at the beginning, rugby reveals you; and why I urge you to become an Ikey is very simple. UCT Rugby Club reveals the very best of you, as a player, as a teammate and as a human being graduating into the professional world.
Here’s a sneak preview of what awaits you should you choose to become an Ikey Tiger:
Embed Video: https://youtu.be/rYUZSjj65Eg
Gavin Fernie
UCTRFC 1963-1965
‘Man is at his best when he is doing his best at what he likes doing best. – Aristotle
In Maori culture, mana is many things. It is an honour. To have mana is to have authority, presence, prestige and a deep respect for the power of having mana.
Piet Olivier had mana in spades. On the rugby field he was the ultimate competitor, possessed of power, speed and great skill. He gave his team everything he could, game after game; and as John Le Roux reminded me this morning “Piet tackled the Matie ace, Jannie Engelbrecht so hard that it took Engelbrecht long minutes to recover his equilibrium in a classic clash between UCT and the Maties at Coetzenburg”. On the rugby field Piet took no prisoners. Off the field his charisma and presence were worn with sheer class and dignity.
Piet bridged three eras of UCT rugby. He was a crucial cog in the great Ikey backline of the early 60s, a mentor and rock in the inexperienced team of 1964, and then played with the outstanding teams of the later 60s.
Off the field Piet was great fun, possessed of a droll, dry sense of humour. A devoted family man and a highly successful businessman. Piet and Helene enjoyed entertaining Ikey rugby friends at their beautiful Paarl home. It was always a privilege and pleasure to be with the Olivier family. Many a moment of UCT rugby folk lore was polished at these gatherings.
If one was asked to describe the quintessential Ikey, Piet Olivier would be the man to be an example for generations of Ikeys.
We extend our condolences and affection to his family. We will celebrate Piet’s life in suitable Ikey fashion and treasure his decency, integrity and commitment to being an Ikey Tiger.
Gavin Fernie
UCTRFC 1963-1965
Tributes to Piet Olivier
I was very sorry to hear about Piet. Although I haven’t seen him since our rugby playing days I have very vivid and fond memories of him. I was always glad to know he was on my team. We were all so proud of him when he was selected to play for Western Province while he was part of the UCT team.
He was always modest, decent and fun, the perfect team mate and friend in every way. I am sorry I never got to see him on one of my trips to Cape Town. I send sympathies from New York to his friends, team mates and family.
Vincent Mai
For any of us who played with him, his presence, particularly against the Maties and the other bullying club sides, was immense. For me as a youngster, having Piet in the changing room and on the field was always very inspiring. What a great Ikey!
John Le Roux
The last time I saw him was when I sat with him at basil’s birthday party at false bay RFC, and he had just made the lunch. He was in good form and was typically good humoured. Although I didn’t see much of him he was always a mensch both on and off the pitch . He will be missed by his many friends from UCT rugby and beyond
Carl
This is very sad. I really got to know Piet when I was the “baby” of the Senior Tour to SWA and continued to link up with him every visit to the Cape. When he came to my rugby lunches, he always arrived 45 minutes early so we could chat, just the two of us. When he could no longer attend, Gavin and I went to Paarl for lunch with him.
He was a wonderful rugby player, but more importantly a great human being. I will miss him.
Neville Isdell
Ikeys continue to be influential in rugby around the World. Looking at the updates one of the significant statistics to stand out is the number of Ikeys in leadership roles. Siya Kolisi for the Springboks, Dillyn LLeyds (WP), Nama Xaba (WP under 21), Michael Willemse (Kings) and Don Armand (Exeter, UK).
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