(By Adam D'Arcy, former Ulster Fullback - courtesy of In Touch, Magazine of IRUPA)
It was the first time I’d seen him lose it
Standing on the 9th tee box at Shandon Park Golf Club on a bitterly cold Belfast morning, he astutely and confidently approached his ball in the same cool, calm and collected way he would a place kick at Ravenhill.
I stood behind embarrassed, having just pathetically trickled my drive 50 yards down the fairway. I expected his to soar over mine, looking down at it with disrespect as it usually did.
I was shocked, and a little bit relieved at what followed.
His swing was smooth and measured, his head down, and as he connected, the follow through was strong. All of which should have produced the perfect golf shot.
We both looked up, expecting a fine stroke that would put him on course for an opening birdie.
But it wasn’t, far from it. It was horrible. It hooked through the skyline a boomerang (this wasn’t coming back though) as it woefully whistled across two fairways, eventually resting next to the buggy of a foursome on the 13th green.
A plethora of what I could only imagine were Afrikaans expletives were released like a gunshot from his mouth, as he baseball swung his club across his body in reaction to what could only be described as a ‘shank’.
I couldn’t believe it.
Here was a guy, who had been in more pressurised high intensity situations that many of us will be in our lifetime. He competed in World Cup and Tri Nations games where his country’s pride was on the line, and never once had lost his cool. He was now having a long John Daly ‘Wild Thing’ moment.
He was human after all.
This piece is not another article about his performances or his past achievements. This is about the character behind the man. The Ultimate professional, hardworking, down to earth family man that few get to see. The challenges that he faced when he arrived in Belfast, his life in Ulster now, and what the future holds for him.
I hadn’t spoken to Ruan since I left Ulster last June, but when I rang him to ask him a few questions for this piece, it was like I’d seen him yesterday. His general laid back nature and approachable character makes him so easy to talk to, and the reason he fitted so well into the squad when he first arrived in Belfast.
I remember him being quiet and reserved at first, more concerned with listening and taking everything in, but before too long he was making an impact both on and off the field. He quickly came out of his shell to portray a clever wit and a great sense of humour.
He admits to not knowing a whole lot about Belfast when he first arrived, remembering that it was a huge decision for him and his family to move to the Northern Hemisphere and enter into a completely different environment.
“At the time when I moved, I had only been married a couple of months, so it was a challenge convincing me wife to move to a country with a much colder climate that South Africa”.
However, when he arrived in Belfast, he immediately was drawn to the benefits of living in a much smaller city that his home town of Durban. From a lifestyle point of view, and more importantly for his family, everything that they needed was within arms distance.
“Belfast is a very easy place to get to know. Everything you need is within a ten minute drive. There are hospitals, shops, cafes, and training is close by. This was important for myself and my family.”
The weight of expectation from coaches, players and in particular supporters was immense. He arrived at Ulster with a CV that included Currie Cup, Tri Nations, and World Cup winner’s medal, and people expected him to perform as soon as he touched down.
This wouldn’t have been east given the culture that he’d entered into. But like most things, it didn’t affect him the way it might have others.
“Obviously I was nervous, I wanted to perform to the best of my ability, but once I played my first couple of games, and got to know the boys, it was an easy transition.”
As a fellow foreign tourist into the Ulster camp, I acknowledge how difficult it can be to move to a new country, with a new culture, and how important it is to have assistance from friends to help you settle in.
For me, I was lucky to have strength and conditioning coach Kevin Geary as well as the Court family among others. They guided me through the first few weeks of my time in Ulster, which are traditionally the most difficult, as you question whether you have made the right decision or not.
For Ruan, it was his fellow South African and ex Springbok teammates who provided this to him and his wife.
“I was lucky to have Johann, who had been in Belfast for a few months prior to when I arrived, as well as Pedrie Wannenburg to help me settle in. David Humphreys has also been a great hand to me and my family and the Ulster guys are a great bunch.”
The help and support he received away from the Friday Night Lights was key to him performing on it. He immediately was showing his talent with match winning drop goals in games against the Dragons and Scarlets, as well as playing a central role in Ulster’s first qualification to the Heineken Cup knockout stages in 12 years.
He has been able to maintain this exceedingly high standard, getting even better as the seasons roll out, doing it all while juggling the birth of his first child and his ongoing international career.
For me thought, the work that he does away from the cameras, away from the Friday night lights, in the gym and on the training field, is what makes him invaluable and highly respected to and by the Ulster team.
He is always in the gym doing extras, always out kicking in the wind and the rain on his days off, and always willing to give advice and help develop the younger generation of Irish rugby. It’s what will leave an invaluable legacy long after he departs Northern Ireland shores, and something that he sees as being an important role while he is still here.
“I always train hard, put in the work and try to set an example by the way that I play. If or when I eventually leave, I hope that players have learnt a few things and I’ve been able to advise and help them with their rugby.”
And for plans post rugby? Like most of us, he does have one eye on the future.
“I’m disappointed that I haven’t been able to finish my studies in South Africa. I certainly have a few business interests and will continue to look into them whilst still playing rugby.”
Nearing the end of our phone conversation, I had one last question written down in front of me to ask Ruan. I thought long and hard before I asked him, cause I knew the answer I was going to get. I proceeded reluctantly.
Do you have any regrets about making the move to Ulster?
“I have absolutely no regrets, we as rugby players are fortunate to have such a great job. I have been blessed to have been able to play for some 15 years, travel the world and play, as well as meeting great people along the way. I wouldn’t change anything.”
Just what I expected.
So there we were, both knee deep in the rough searching for Ruan’s golf ball that he’d shanked halfway across East Belfast. My confidence grew as he eventually found it, and lined up his second shot that couldn’t have been more difficult, trees obscuring his view of the green and the wind howling in from the west.
With a shortened swing, he punched the ball out, passing under the trees and coming to rest a couple of metres from the pin on the green. I shook my head, and he smiled.
After that he continued to mail every drive down the centre (just like he does at Ravenhill), on every remaining hole, convincingly beating me and sending me home where my clubs wouldn’t appear for at least another six months.
Yep, he’s not human after all.