In December 1989, on the inaugural meeting of the South African Amateur Rugby League, held at the Old Edwardian Club in Johannesburg, Dave Southern was elected Chairman of the new body. It was a fitting assignment for Southern, who, with Anthony Barker, initiated the process of relaunching rugby league in South Africa. Born in Widnes, a rugby league stronghold located between Liverpool and Manchester, the task of reviving the 13-player code, was as natural as breathing. It all started in December 1988, when Southern met Barker from Wigan, in the Johannesburg Irish pub, called Fibber Maghees next to the Kyalami Racing circuit. Sharing the idea of starting rugby league locally Southern contacted, Harry Edgar from Open Rugby and Mr David Oxley, Rugby Football League Chairman, about assistance with launching the sport. The continued existence of apartheid and the lack of a rugby league World Development Officer to help complicated matters with no assistance forthcoming.
Unperturbed, Southern and Barker took it upon themselves to set the ball rolling. A member of the Old Edwardians (Old Eds) Rugby Football Club in Johannesburg at the time, Southern used all their available resources to give impetus to the process. To determine potential interest from players, coaches, and administrators, an advertisement was placed in the Saturday Star. This brought at least 40 interested individuals into the process. They further received support from Star reporter, Rodney Hartman, who as a follow-up, wrote an article outlining further plans and desires. He also assisted with advertising the next meeting, which was to become the inaugural meeting at Old Edwardians, where the SA Amateur Rugby League was constituted and leadership elected.
Started from a modest base, the SAARL operated from leased facilities with one paid official, Dave Southern, who was tasked with spreading the rugby league gospel in schools and the black townships. This was financed with the aid of income generated through a fundraising dinner. Limited financial support was also later received from the British Rugby League.
Southern served the organisation until June 1993. After leaving SARL, he, together with Barry Haslam, and others established Mini League – a developmental program aimed at growing rugby league’s local base. In 1999, after a 12 –year stay in South Africa, Dave Southern moved to Ireland, where he became the inaugural chairman of Rugby League Ireland after its establishment in 2000.
By Hendrik Snyders
Unperturbed, Southern and Barker took it upon themselves to set the ball rolling. A member of the Old Edwardians (Old Eds) Rugby Football Club in Johannesburg at the time, Southern used all their available resources to give impetus to the process. To determine potential interest from players, coaches, and administrators, an advertisement was placed in the Saturday Star. This brought at least 40 interested individuals into the process. They further received support from Star reporter, Rodney Hartman, who as a follow-up, wrote an article outlining further plans and desires. He also assisted with advertising the next meeting, which was to become the inaugural meeting at Old Edwardians, where the SA Amateur Rugby League was constituted and leadership elected.
Started from a modest base, the SAARL operated from leased facilities with one paid official, Dave Southern, who was tasked with spreading the rugby league gospel in schools and the black townships. This was financed with the aid of income generated through a fundraising dinner. Limited financial support was also later received from the British Rugby League.
Southern served the organisation until June 1993. After leaving SARL, he, together with Barry Haslam, and others established Mini League – a developmental program aimed at growing rugby league’s local base. In 1999, after a 12 –year stay in South Africa, Dave Southern moved to Ireland, where he became the inaugural chairman of Rugby League Ireland after its establishment in 2000.
By Hendrik Snyders