When Sidney Tobias decided to finally come home to the union where he earned his first provincial colours 24 years ago, the Sanlam Boland Cavaliers hooker knew it was not going to be an easy decision.
Especially with his family residing in the Northern Cape town of Kimberley for work reasons, they had decided to plant their roots.
Tobias, whose father, Errol, represented the Springboks in six Test matches at flyhalf and centre between 1981 and 1984, however, made a promise to his daughter before joining the Cavas from the American Major League Rugby club, Rugby ATL, at the beginning of 2024.
“That [promise] was to give my all in every game I play for Boland as part of the sacrifice of not being with them on a daily basis,” the 36-year-old front rower says.
“My wife has a very good job there in the Department of Education, but it is still not easy being away from them, although I always try to fly out to Kimberley every third week to reconnect. And because I am not seen in terms of age as the youngest in terms of what age a player can still play on a professional level, one has to make provisions for the future, you know.”
Tobias reveals that it was after a call from good mate and former Springbok Gio Aplon as well as Boland Rugby (Pty) Ltd CEO Quintin van Rooyen, that convinced him to make the move to Wellington after the hooker’s time at Rugby ATL in the US had come to an end and he was about five months into a new playing deal with a French third division club.
“I was there for about five months when I received the call from Gio and Quintin, who told me to consider a move back home, as big things are happening in the Boland.
“At that stage, the news broke that coach Hawies Fourie had decided to leave the Cheetahs and was set to join Boland. With flyhalf Ashlon Davids also signing on to represent the Cavas, I immediately knew that the union was serious about taking their game to a higher level.
“And for me, this move feels like a full circle moment after I last donned the famous black and gold hoops as an 11-year-old kid for the Boland u/12 team,” Tobias recalls. “My dad also represented Boland more than four decades ago and made my arrival at the Cavas two years ago an even bigger full circle moment for me, as it is an honour to now say that I have played on the highest level for a team that my dad had also represented,” says Tobias.
The Caledon-born hooker can be considered a journeyman of sorts in terms of the different cities he has called home as a player over the years.
After completing high school at Paul Roos Gymnasium and representing Western Province at his age grade level, he signed for the Cape side and played in the famous blue and white hoops until 2012. This also included two loan spells—first with Sale Sharks in 2010 and then with the South Western District Eagles during 2012.
Tobias then had his first stint as a Bulls player from 2013 to 2014 and then represented the Griquas from 2015 to 2016 before signing with the then Italian Pro12 (United Rugby Championship) side Zebre.
“But after the birth of our daughter, I decided to end my professional career as I felt I needed to get a more stable job to provide for my family.
“I then got the opportunity to work and play for the Northam Rhinos team in the Limpopo Province for three and a half years.”
Little did Tobias know that Bulls Director of Rugby Jake White had been tracking his progress at club level with Rhinos. In 2021, he found himself back in the professional fold, helping the Pretoria outfit win the 2021 Currie Cup Premier Division title.
Then came the move to the USA with Rugby ATL, where Tobias credits the lessons he received from New Zealand-born coach and former Crusaders player Stephen Brett, taking his game to another level before Tobias’ arrival in Wellington, South Africa.
However, the Cavas team’s Mister Accountability (Meneer Aanspreeklikheid) – a nickname given to Tobias by good friend Lucian Cupido for his unwavering work ethic – knows that talking of his sacrifices and those of his teammates would not mean a thing if they do not deliver on the Union’s ideology of qualifying and regularly playing in the Currie Cup Premier Division.
“Yes, Lucian likes to poke a bit of fun at me, but that is Lucian for you. He is someone with strong Christian values, like me, and he is one who always tries to uplift me spiritually.
“My slogan for this year has been to hold myself accountable, and that is how I try to play in every game when Coach Hawies selects me. I just want to give my best for this Union because I, and the rest of the team, know that we are playing for something bigger than ourselves.
“This is a union that belongs in the Currie Cup Premier Division. It is not just something that we say, but that is truly where Boland belongs when you consider the amount of rugby talent this Union develops for the National and other provincial teams.
“And I have to tell you, since my time here, it has been one of the periods in my career that I have worked extremely hard, and the change that coach Hawies and his management team have brought can be seen. With our conditioning coach, Iver Aanhuizen, putting us through our paces during pre-season and making sure we are in the correct condition to play the game.
“Credit must also go to the other assistants like Alshaun Bock (defence), Mornay Kurtz (forwards) and Jacquin Jansen (attack), team managers Moses [Fortuin] and Grant [Jantjies], as well as our stadium staff Oom Maans and Abraham. They deserve their flowers for the hard work they have been putting in.”
On the subject of hard work, one would have thought that Tobias would have taken most of the Easter weekend to reconnect with his family in Kimberley. But not Mister Accountability, who was hard at work in Kimberley, making sure he is ready for when the Cavas take on the Leopards this coming weekend in their seventh SA Cup game of the season at the Boland Rugby Stadium in Wellington.
According to a prepared Tobias, he and his Cavas mates have five games (the semi-final and Grand Final included) left before they start preparing for the Currie Cup season.
A win against the Leopards will help Boland, currently in fourth position on the log, move closer to qualifying for the knockout rounds and booking their spot in the Currie Cup Premier Division.
And of how he and the team are determined to reach their goals, Tobias says: “We had a fantastic pre-season, and we covered everything. I feel we are well prepared. I think the biggest shortcoming at the moment is just that we need to go out with that extra bit of belief.
“For example, in our loss to the Griffons, we were up by 35-17 and up by 31-21 against Griquas, and then we let the victory slip out of our grasp. As a team, we know nothing is physically wrong with us, maybe just that extra bit of belief.”
Tobias also feels he has a major role in Boland’s goals, particularly as a leader within the squad. He continuously strives to mentor youngsters within the playing group, such as Jurick Lewis, Lunathi Nxele, Xavier Mitchell, Keenen Opperman, Duren Hoffman, and Gift Dlamini.
Something he had learned during his second stint at the Bulls from ex-Springboks Bismarck du Plessis, before he retired from the game, and Tobias is now paying forward before he finally decides to ride off into the sunset as a pro player as well.
But until then, Tobias relies heavily on support from family members and friends close to home, and he does not see his wife and daughter that often.
“My good friend and sports agent Shafiek Mouton is one I have to give credit to for the motivational role and managerial advise he has given me and of course I can’t forget my dad who has always been my biggest role model and advisor since I started to follow in his footsteps,” says Tobias.