SA's 'best club system' helps Bulls build depth
SPOTLIGHT: The Bulls have invested a lot in club rugby in the past year and they will hope to reap the rewards in the seasons to come.
With the European Champions Cup being added to an already busy schedule, the Bulls will be needing extra resources to fight on all fronts and their club system could play a vital role.
Director of Rugby Jake White and President Willem Strauss have been staunch supporters of club rugby and they have put practices in place to help build better relationships with clubs going forward.
One of those practices involved the Bulls’ contracted players being allocated to clubs in Pretoria.
Bulls hooker Sidney Tobias, who also represents the Naka Bulls at the club level, says the system is starting to bear fruit.
“To have a President [Strauss], a CEO [Edgar Rathbone] and Director of Rugby [White] that support club rugby like this is phenomenal,” said Tobias, who is the son of former Springbok Errol Tobias.
“We are probably the only union in South Africa where the club guys are coming through the system.
“It’s not happening on a once-off basis.
“It’s basically on a weekly basis that guys come straight from club rugby into our professional setup.
“We are extremely blessed that we probably got the best club rugby system in South Africa.
“We got the best club competition in South Africa.
“I think we got seven teams in the Carlton League, and five of them are completely competitive.
“We got a President that is an avid supporter of club rugby and obviously Jake [White] supports the guys.
“If you are good enough – whether you are old or young – you will play.
“There is no beating around the bush when you work with one of the best coaches we ever had in this country.”
Tobias is confident the system will provide the depth the Bulls need.
“Your club system will always be important within the South African structure,” he said.
“Take a look at the Varsity Cup as well and all the success that has come from that. I think we currently got two or three guys in the Currie Cup team from Tuks.
“The better your depth is, the better suited you will be to handle three or four competitions.
“At the end of the day, we are unbelievably blessed to be here in Pretoria and to be in a system or an environment where they look for the late developer.
“I think that is probably the key point.”
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A new lease on life
Tobias has had a unique journey in the game so far. After several years in the professional game, he ended up at club level before getting a new lease on life under White.
“What was probably good for me was that I was working full-time,” said the 33-year-old.
“I played at Northam Platinum and I worked underground three times a week. I think that just gives you a different perspective of life.
“You have to work from seven to four every day. I had to wake up in the mornings at 04.30 to go to the gym, get back home [from work] at 16.30 in the afternoons and I had to do fitness by myself.
“Even though I played club rugby, I never actually saw myself as a club player.
“I still thought I was good enough to play at this level.
“Luckily, coach Jake saw that and he gave me my opportunity again.
“As you all know, nothing with coach Jake comes easy.
“I think I have been blessed with time to get over my injury last year – someone told me I was like Lazarus from the Bible.
“It’s funny how things work out. I have a different perspective on getting a second chance and experiencing what life is about.
“Coach Jake always tells us ‘you are getting paid to do what you love’.
“It’s not actually work in the sense that there are people that have nine to ten-hour jobs every day. We realise we are blessed to do what we are doing at the moment.
“This environment at the Bulls is nothing short of world-class.”
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