Insider: Salmaan Moerat

When Salmaan Moerat finally gets onto the Loftus Versfeld pitch to make his debut for the Springboks this weekend, he won’t just be carrying the hopes of a nation. He will be carrying a legacy of several generations of Cape rugby royalty and a hope of not only fulfilling that legacy, but taking it to another level.

Moerat is a name that elicits countless stories of rugby in the Paarl Community. It is a family name that is not only legendary in local rugby circles, but whose exploits are part of the rich rugby tapestry that is Springbok rugby today.

This weekend Moerat will become the 11th Springbok in his family, but only the first one to win his Springbok cap while still playing. And the first one in the modern, unified professional rugby era.

The soft-spoken giant - he measures 2m tall and weighs in at 116kg - Moerat carries the weight of a rugby family that are colossal in the community he grew up in. But more than that, he carries the hope of being the first Springbok to fulfill a destiny that has followed the family around through several generations.

Moerat talks to Brenden Nel

LEGACY OF FAMILY SUCCESS

It has been five decades since his Ikraam and Marwaan Moerat were part of a South African Rugby Football Federation (Proteas) side that toured the United Kingdom in 1971 to play six matches. They were the first and he is now the 12th member of the Moerat family to represent a national side.

But unlike the others - 10 were given their Springbok blazers post unification - he is the first of the professional era, the unification era and first to receive his while he is still playing.The legacy of such a prestigious family is one thing, but it isn’t a wonder that Moerat calls the moment “emotional”.

“It’s an unbelievable privilege and honour. I’ve been on tour before, so I’ve got the opportunity to know how they do things and the structures. But it is really a massive moment for me, for my family - a really emotional moment. Hopefully Saturday can happen sooner than later,” he told Supersport.com

“It means a lot to my family. My father, my uncles, they all played representative rugby and for me to be the first in the professional era, is a massive privilege and an honour. For me to carry that legacy is an honour and hopefully something that I can make them really proud of.”

The family are synonymous with the Paarl and Vineyards Rugby club and their achievements started in the 1940s when Naeem and Abbas Moerat, two cousins, were selected for the Western Province League side and later the national side.

POST-CAREER SPRINGBOKS

It began a legacy of uncles, cousins, sons and brothers that dominated rugby in the area for decades to come.Yusuf Moerat received his national colours in the 1950s while Achmat ‘Broertjie’ Abrahams was part of the 1964 Proteas team along with his cousin Ebrahim Moerat.

Closer to home, Nazeem Moerat, Salmaan’s father, represented the South African Rugby Union side and played for both Boland and Western Province in his career. Nazeem was capped in 1984 and 85, and along with family members Ghalieb and Hashiem Hendricks, they represented the SARU team at the time.

The unification of rugby and commitment to a non-racial structure was part of the reason so many family members were finally honoured with post-career Springbok blazers. But the likelihood is that the family would have preferred the honours to come while they were playing, rather than post-career.

A NATURAL LEADER

That makes the emotion behind Salmaan’s debut so much more in the community of Paarl, in his family and along so many previously fractured rugby lines. It is a story of what could have been for so many members of the family, and how he will fulfill a destiny that they were denied.

Already he has been SA Schools and SA under-20 captain and a leader throughout. Disciplined and determined, his Stormers coach John Dobson paints a picture of a player who could one day lead the Springboks into battle.

“Salmaan is a natural leader - he’s been a leader his entire life, as school level, SA under-20 and the likes. He has a real presence in all of those groups. He has real stature, everyone looks up to him,” Dobson says.

“And he walks the talk. He is a good leader, very professional, very disciplined - a classic four lock, even though he is learning to be a five, and he will get there. But he likes moving bodies and stopping bodies.

“I think he is quite powerful, he represents the entire Paarl rugby community - his family are legends of Paarl rugby in the old SARU and he is a hero of Paarl Boys’ High.

“The way he conducts himself, his maturity, the way he handles his religious beliefs, especially as it is a minority belief in the rugby environment and his discipiline around his faith is something to admire.

“He is a great kid to coach. Just so chuffed he decided to stay with us in South Africa.”

DOWN TO EARTH

His uncle Junaid Moerat, who served on Western Province’s executive committee, believes Salmaan has big boots to fill, but is sure that he will fill them with ease.

“He has some big shoes to fill. Coming from a rugby family there are a number of people who want to tell him how to play and where he can improve, to encourage him. Everyone is an expert in their own right,” Junaid explains.

“Everyone said it how proud they are of their achievement. He is the first Moerat in the modern professional era to reach these heights.”

Junaid tells a story of Salmaan at Boishaai (Paarl Boys High) that sums up the Springbok giant.

“His dad was one hell of a player, similar size. He has always been grounded, humble.

He is a genuine good guy. I recall one of the parents at Boishaai telling the story of observing Salmaan when he was a captain of the first team,” he explains.

“They were watching the team come onto the field and this big guy, the first team captain walked out in school uniform. It was on a Saturday morning, a first team game and these guys had a lot to do, everyone wants a piece of him.

“There were these grade one, two kids that were all around him, hanging on his legs. He noticed that the other players all walked off to where they needed to be. He stopped, and as the parent observed and started to engage with the little kids.

They were playing rugby behind the poles and spent 15-20 minutes taking the ball, passing and playing with the kids while his team-mates have gone on to prepare.

“You could see the look on the kids faces, how much they valued the time he spent with them. It was something he didn’t need to do, nobody would have faulted him for greeting them and walking on. But he took the time out as first team captain of the school to spend 20 minutes to throw a ball around. That is a testament to the type of person he is. People who observed his behaviour have seen that type of person he is.”

FAMILY SACRIFICE SERVES AS INSPIRATION

His family remain his inspiration, and play a massive role in his life.

“One of the biggest supporting role in his life is his parents. The sacrifices they have made, next to the field, being there at almost every game. His parents sacrificed a lot to support him. Being a rugby family, they must be so proud to see him in the Springbok team.

“It’s amazing just seeing where his dad comes from, being a Springbok himself, must be unbelievable.”

Moerat has spoken of his Nazeem’s influence on his career before. In an interview back in 2016, he credits his father as his inspiration.

"I don't think I needed much inspiration to start playing rugby because I grew up in a family that loves rugby. With my father, Nazim Moerat, playing rugby himself for SARU in the Apartheid era, I have always looked up to him and I guess that is where my love for rugby started,” he told rugby365 at the time.

"I remember the days when my father would spend hours with me at the field when I was a young boy, teaching me the game and my mother for her endless support. My parents have sacrificed so much for me to where I am today.”

While the pre-game nerves will eat at him, he is looking forward to getting his shot in the Green and Gold. But before that, he is looking forward to seeing his parents Nazeem and Gayaat and wife Haanim again. And sharing their joy as a family.

“I only spoke to my mom and dad and wife. They were very emotional. It will obviously be a massive emotional moment for them, they will be flying up later this week, so I can’t wait to see them and see their reaction and just how much it means to them,” he said smiling.

The legacy will take another step for the Moerat family on Saturday, but it will also be a story of personal triumph and hope for Salmaan himself. And whatever the result, a dream that will be realised that so many of his family couldn’t before him.