Diamond: Bok stars help me vet new recruits
IT DOESN’T happen too often, but every now and then the words, “in English please,” can be heard ringing out from the Carrington training ground of Sale Sharks.
It’s not meant in any xenophobic manner. It’s just that not many of the squad can understand the Afrikaans that almost a dozen of Steve Diamond’s players can speak.
Under Diamond, Sale – who face London Irish today in Brentford – have amassed so many South Africans that even they forget which country they’re in.
Apart from the Manchester weather, Faf de Klerk and co. are reminded by the fact that the word ‘braai' has been banned with clear instructions that they use the anglicised ‘barbecue’ instead.
“I’ve learned one Afrikaans word,” Diamond said. “But I can’t repeat it here!”
Last week lock JeanPierre du Preez joined the club from the Cheetahs, becoming the 11th South African at the club.
By virtue of EU trade agreements and the Kolpak ruling, South Africans are able to circumnavigate the RFU’s limit of two overseas players per squad. Brexit may change this, but with most things concerning the UK’s divorce from the continent’s economic union, much is still up in the air.
What is more clear are Diamond’s views on the South Africans themselves.
“They’re all quality players and exceptional humans,” he says. “We don’t have to wipe their backsides when they join. They take care of themselves. They sort out their own houses, their own cars, they settle in well. Players from other countries need the bottle in as soon as they land.”
And because Diamond leans on his players when looking for recruits they inevitably vouch for those they already know. Jono Ross was the first of the current batch of South Africans to join in 2017 and has since provided insight on his countrymen.
“I always ask my players what they think and they help me choose who to bring,” Diamond explains. “It’s easy to know who is a good player. It’s harder to know if they’re a good bloke and if they’d fit. Every South African with me has been vetted by the others.”