Discarded Springbok training squad member Isma-eel Dollie’s dash to Australia did not end in a glamorous Super 14 contract with the Brumbies, as he had hoped, but the flyhalf has been offered an opportunity to “prove himself” in Canberra.
Rugby 365’s Jan De Koning reports that Dollie has been offered a Tier Three Brumbies Academy opportunity for 2009.
Nick Smith, the Media and Communications Coordinator at the Brumbies, confirmed that Dollie was offered a chance to train with the Australian franchise on its lowest rung.
“He met with Brumbies Academy coach Darren Coleman on Wednesday and joined in for his first Academy training session that evening,” Smith told rugby365.com on Friday.
The Tier Three Academy deal means there is no wages, no payments for expenses and no contract binding the franchise to Dollie.
The 23-year-old, who went to Brisbane after failing to get a Super 14 contract in South Africa, must also secure a work visa when his current business visa expires in late February, and then he’ll need to find a job to meet his living costs.
It is far from the glamorous Super 14 contract he had sought, as he will be playing club rugby – for the University-Norths – in Canberra next year.
Dollie, a surprise inclusion in Springbok coach Peter de Villiers’ expanded training squad early this year, approached the Brumbies after failing to get a contract in South Africa.
Out of contract after his WP contract ended in October, he has been unable to break into Super Rugby – despite being highly rated by the Bok coach, for whom he played at age-group level in 2006.
He spent most of the last few years playing Vodacom Cup (second tier provincial rugby) and club rugby, while he was also a member of the Boland Cavaliers Currie Cup squad – without getting too much game time.
Dollie, who had sent his CV to “many teams” in France, England, Australia and New Zealand, has now opted for a low key club game in Canberra as he tries to resurrect a career that once showed tremendous promise.
Coleman said the franchise admired the determination of Dollie.
”It was spelled out to him not only where he’d be starting, but what was in front of him in terms of other players and their age and obviously even the newspaper talk of [Matt] Giteau maybe being around in the future,” Coleman told the Canberra times.
”That didn’t dampen his enthusiasm. He’s here to work and he wants an opportunity and you can’t begrudge him that.”
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I really would love to have more info on why Dollie has done this.
I can fully understand, and don’t begrudge any player leaving SA for more money.
Dollie is going to Aus to play for a University side and not getting paid a cent for it.
Surely there must be a better deal somewhere in SA?
It is about opportunity KSA, Dollie feels he has no opportunity to play Super 14 if he stays in SA, even with a contract from one of the smaller unions. As an “amateur” with the Brumbies, at least that door to the Super 14 is still open.
@Dancing Bear (Comment 2) :
With the almost non-existance of a Domestic comp in Aus I think he would be better of searching elsewhere though rather than playing for the Varsity club side.
In the current era where loyalty is being finance driven I cannot understand his decision.
The Brumbies have their 2 flyhalves already (both younger than Dollie (?) ) and with Giteau probably joining them next season……. There is very little chance that he will progress at the Brumbies
Full Name Isma-eel Dollie
Height 174cm
Weight 82kg
Date of Birth 6 March 1985
Full Name Matt Toomua
Height 1.82m
Weight 89kg
Date of Birth 2 Jan 1990
Full Name Christian Lealiifano
Height 1.80m
Weight 92kg
Date of Birth 24 Sep 1987
@KSA Shark © (Comment 4) : So what are you saying???? Age and size are not on his side??? 😯 👿 😛
In all seriousness KSA, all I am saying is that Dollie feels he has zero chance of playing Super 14 rugby in SA. While the chance may be very slim with the Brumbies, it is still slightly greater than zero.
@Dancing Bear (Comment 5) :
Yip. 🙂
Even Giteau is bigger than him, albeit barely. 😛
Full Name Matt Giteau
Height: 178cm
Weight: 84kg
Date of Birth : 29/9/1982
@Dancing Bear (Comment 6) :
I agree with that and can see his intentions behind the move, but as my ftaher used to say. “Hulle het hom ‘n gat in die kop gepraat”
He is going to be a great acquisition (although he has gone for free 😉 ) for the club side though and i think that is where they have pulled the wool over his eyes. He is helping them out of a tight spot in the Club league and that is all they are going to use him for.
@KSA Shark © (Comment 8) : I’m sure you’re right about that KSA. Although I see no way Dollie will ever be a Super 14 player, in some ways I do respect his willingness to give up on a professional career at a lower level in SA to play for free hoping for that minimal chance he might make it.
Eish, i am with KSA on this one. Idont understand his decision. He will have to play much better thab he has in the past in order to just be considered for a S14 contract + even if he does achieve that, he will be up against two youngsters who have come thru the academy as well as one of the best flyhalves in the world in matt giteau. Tough ask!
I swear sometimes I wonder if you guys even bother to read my posts. Both of you say you don’t understand his decision, I simply tried to give some possible reasons for this strange decision. Other than that, I said nothing different than either of you. I agree his chance are slim to none, but slim to none is still better than none in SA. For some people it is actually about playing rugby at the highest level and less about the money. I know that is hard to believe nowadays.
Why not just show respect for a guy that made a rugby playing decision rather than a financial one? Even if we all agree the decision was probably not a good one. I wish more players felt it was about playing at the highest level and less about the almighty dollar/euro/rand/pound.
@Dancing Bear (Comment 12) : I just think he’s delusional. He should rather come and play second or third division club rugby in the UK. I know for a fact that Sevenoaks Rugby Club are going to need a flyhalf for next season because Wessel Booysen is returning to Rovers
@robdylan (Comment 13) : I need to stop beating my head against this wall. I agree with all of you that he can make more money elsewhere.
@Dancing Bear (Comment 11) :
🙂
Oh and one more thing….screw all you guys for putting me in the position of having to defend Dollie! 😛
But in all honesty, you all are a cynical bunch. 😛
@Dancing Bear (Comment 17) :
Not so much cynical as failing to see why someone would want to play for free on the great chance of being shafted yet again. 😉
@KSA Shark © (Comment 18) : and shafted he will be – oh yes
In the words of General “Cartman” Lee: I hate you guys, I hate you so very very much.
😛
@Dancing Bear (Comment 20) : 🙂
Screw you guys! I’m going home!
Actually, it’s a little bit like FJ!ELN!
@robdylan (Comment 21) : Or in Morne’s case FJ! Ek Braai!
Doesn’t make any sense to me all this. Surely Maties will pick him as flyhalf. 😉 But I wish the man all the best.
@McLovin (Comment 23) : You’re just like the rest of them….
Time for some Xmas shopping with the wife. 🙄 😥
Pray for me……
@McLovin (Comment 23) :
THAT is just it though. I remember talk earlier in the year from one of the WP guys that Dollie couldn’t even get a starting spot at his club side.
@McLovin (Comment 25) : My condolences! 😉
@KSA Shark © (Comment 26) :it was i
Considering that it has been stated a few times that Dollie was “baie familievas” and only wanted to play his rugby around Cape Town, I find this quiete extreme. Maybe the family or Dollie himself are actually looking for a new country to live in and see this as the easiest way of achieving this.
@PJLD (Comment 28) :
Thanks.
What is the club? SK Walmers?
The young man has taken the right decision to look further afield. He’s just chosen the wrong club in the wrong country.
@KSA Shark © (Comment 30) :yebo.
@VinChainSaw (Comment 31) :
Where would the right club, be and in which country considering the stated aim of playing Super14?
Salmanoid, chances are good if’ll never make it to the s14, even at the brumbies. Reckon if first shoul’ve tried the lions and if that didn’t work then an english or french club where you get paid up until the fifth league or something.
If im not mistaken loffie offered him a chance to move to the lions but he declined. Very big mistake imo, that was at a stage when the lions depended on the great tiaan snyman.
@wpw (Comment 35) :
You have to give Loffie his dues here. He stuck with Rose for ages and he is finally reaping the benefits. on the flipside you have to give Dollie a klap here.
If Eloff stuck with Rose for so long……… what could Dollie have managed? AND we would all then finally know if he is as good as expected.