My Life in Rugby: Andre Snyman – former South Africa and Leeds centre
During that time South Africa won the Tri-Nations and we went on an unbeaten 17-match run – a record that still stands to this day. It was great to be a part of such a high calibre team that benefitted from real continuity of selection under coach Nick Mallett – something that was lacking in the ’97 Lions series when I was one of only four ever-presents in the Springbok jersey. Scoring against England at Twickenham in the middle of that run of wins was definitely one of the highlights of my career. It was a real individual effort that even took me by surprise let alone the English defence!
The moment I learned of my Springboks call-up in 1996 is still vivid in my memory, despite the fact I was badly hung over at the time after a cards night with my Blue Bulls‘ team-mates. Our team manager rang me up the next morning to tell me to get on the plane to Durban to join the squad ahead of the All Blacks Test, I thought it was a wind-up at first. I was flabbergasted to be playing alongside World Cup winners like Joel Stransky but at least I had Danie van Schalkwyk alongside me, who I knew from provincial rugby, to keep me focused.
Having missed the 1999 World Cup with an ankle injury, I made it my mission to get selected for the next tournament. However Rudolph Straeuli and I did not see eye-to-eye and he was determined to bring through younger players like De Wet Barry. Missing out made me look overseas and I signed for Leeds part way through the 2003/04 season. I thoroughly enjoyed my time at Headingley and it was great to play my part in the most successful period in the club’s history. I suppose I’ll best be remembered for my intercept try in the Powergen Cup final win against Bath. If Bath had put the ball through the hands then they’d probably have scored but Chris Malone decided to go for the big Hail Mary pass and I managed to time my run to catch it and run in from 75m. It was great to score at Twickenham again in such a big occasion.
I only left Leeds because Jake White wanted me to be part of his plans at the ’07 World Cup. I played two Tests in the summer of 2006 but they were to be my last appearances because the sports minister, live on TV, questioned the decision to call up a retired white player over black players. It was a disappointing way to bow out because it was the colour of my skin that was the deciding factor – not my ability. I tried to go back to Leeds but my spot was filled, and that led to me joining Perpignan on a two-year deal. I stayed for only three months after running into visa problems.
I did get another opportunity to rejoin Leeds, on Boxing Day 2006. I played for five months under Stuart Lancaster and we won promotion to the Premiership but I declined the offer of a new contract. I didn’t think the plan of using purely home-grown players would see them survive at a higher level, and sadly I was proved right.
I would have loved to have come back to Headingley again in April to mark the 10th anniversary of the Powergen Cup win but it coincides with my club’s most important league matches. I’ve been coaching Glendale Raptors in Denver, Colorado, for nearly four years now and my family and I are really enjoying American life.
