Beyond The Try Line
Albions
Our second trip took us to the Daljosefat Sports Grounds in Paarl—better known as Die Dal.
Our second trip took us to the Daljosefat Sports Grounds in Paarl—better known as Die Dal. With eight rugby fields, the place buzzes with life every afternoon, a constant churn of boots, whistles, and voices.
That day, the rain was rolling in, and the air felt charged—not just with the weather, but with a sense of anticipation. Once again, I was reminded of how deeply rugby is woven into the fabric of these communities. On one side of the field, a brother and sister played quietly while their father trained nearby.
It’s these small moments—the ones beyond the scoreboard—that reveal how rugby shapes us. Not just as players, but as families. As people.
Evergreens
Like any good story, this one started in the pub over a couple of beers. I met Andy at our local, and we quickly bonded over a shared love of creamy pints and rugby.
Like any good story, this one started in the pub over a couple of beers. I met Andy at our local, and we quickly bonded over a shared love of creamy pints and rugby. He told me about Scrum5ive and the work he’d been doing in the Paarl community—recycling rugby kit and getting it into the hands of teams who need it most. I’d been following his efforts for a while, so I offered to come along and take a few proper photos. His phone pics were terrible—he clearly needed the help.
But I had no idea what I was getting myself into.
These photos are from my first outing with Andy. Just outside Wellington, next to Groenberg, with Evergreens RFC. It was a hot Tuesday evening at the end of February, and the guys were deep into pre-season training.
Driving away that night, I found myself cursing Andy—not because of the heat or the dust, but because I knew this wasn’t going to be just a few photos for his socials. There was more to it. So much more.
There were stories here. Pride. Resilience. Community.
And I knew I had to keep coming back.