Former Junior South African rugby player Isma-eel Dollie has been appointed as the director of rugby at Union-Milnerton (Uni-Mil) Rugby Club after 13 years in the team’s coaching set-up.
Under Dollie’s leadership as the head coach, the club has gained promotion from being in the Western Province Club Rugby Premier League B in 2012 to finishing third in the Super League A in 2024.
“In our first game in 2012 we got a massive thumping and I asked myself ‘what am I doing here?’ Fast forward to 13 years later, we enjoy playing in the Super League A, competing in the top six, regularly, over the past five years,” said the coach from Bo-Kaap.
Uni-Mil has won the Premier League B, Super League B and the President’s Cup over the years.
“What is more important for me besides the leagues and the cups we’ve won, was that this club was predominantly a white club. How the social change took place, the management needs to take a lot of credit for providing a platform and club where respect, brotherhood and family are the building blocks and cornerstones on what we stand for. It has been a home for anyone, and everyone is welcome from all walks of life,” he said.
When playing in the Gold Cup, clubs get measured on their transformation and performance standards. Dollie said Uni-Mil’s first team sits at 70% players of colour.
“It’s been an exciting 13 years sitting in that hot seat. The pressures that come with it, the enjoyments and the clubs you meet – the Silvertrees, the Lagunya’s, Collegians, Hamlets, and I think that is what club rugby is about, it is about bringing people together and providing change,” said Dollie.
Defensive line coach Gareth Jordan, who has been with the club for nine years, will be taking over as the head coach next season, alongside former Springbok centre, Adrian Jacobs as the assistant coach.
The former SACS (South African College Schools) student, Dollie said the new role is to guide the rest of the coaches as well as the juniors to do well, while introducing a women’s rugby team at Uni-Mil.
Dollie said the role gives him more time with family.
