The DHL Stormers were reeling at the start of the buildup week to Saturday’s crucial Vodacom URC clash with Connacht at the DHL Stadium as players and management members continued to try and come to terms with the loss of their beloved long serving team manager Chippie Solomon.
It was a sombre mood all round that enveloped an online press conference where the director of rugby John Dobson paid tribute to a manager he described as irreplaceable and who he said “embodied this team” and “who gave everything”. Many of us journalists knew Solomon well too and worked with him for a long period of time.
The 64-year-old, who died in the early hours of Saturday morning from a heart attack, started out in his role way back in 2004 - and if you want to know how long ago that was, consider that Gert Smal was the Stormers coach then and Corne Krige the Stormers captain.
It is not an exaggeration to describe a sports team as a family, and soccer followers will know that there are many who believe that the tragic death of their Portuguese striker Diego Jota in an off-season car crash last July is what derailed this season’s attempt by Liverpool to defend their Premier League title.
Dobson admitted on Monday afternoon that some of the usual routine formalities of the week had been delayed - he said he hadn’t even considered his team selection yet for the Connacht game, which will kick off at DHL Stadium on Saturday at 13.45.
According to stalwart veteran Deon Fourie, who recalled that he shared a room with Solomon on his first tour with the Stormers 18 years ago and described him as “much more than just a team manager”, said there was a lot of emotion in the camp.
“We had an hour-long meeting this morning where we all paid our respects,” said Fourie.
“The guys told some stories about Chippie and everyone had a laugh. Most of the guys were crying. It was very emotional. He was this building (the HPC in Parow), he was around when they built it. He sat in this office from day one and I think his presence is still here.”
Understandably it is a time for the Stormers where everyone is wary of saying anything that might be seen to minimise an event that is much bigger than a game of rugby, and Dobson gave the impression he was preparing to say more later in the week.
However, one thing is clear - the Stormers would like Capetonians to turn out in their droves to the Connacht game to make it an occasion fitting to the important role Solomon played and who he was.
“I want to appeal to the people of Cape Town, come and help us honour Chippie,” he said.
“Let’s celebrate his life and enjoy a great Stormers performance.”
He didn’t quite say it in those exact words, but Dobson made it clear that the Stormers will be playing for Solomon on Saturday.
“We are not using it as a gimmick, but we have asked ‘What would Chippie want?’ It’s about how we prepare and how we play.”
Dobson said he’d been asked on Monday about the bus the team would be using when they visit Ulster later in the season and had to admit that with Solomon gone “I don’t have a clue”, but he said there were management members who had worked with Solomon in the past who’d be a great help.
He said player welfare manager Duncan Cruickshank will step into Solomon’s position this week.
“It’s not easy (for Duncan). He will feel like an imposter as he knows he’s not Chippie. Long term we will be okay, but right now it is about doing justice to a person who meant everything to this team.”
Double-header at DHL Stadium! Come for the @Vodacom #URC match and stay to watch the DHL Stormers XXIII. #STOvCON #XXIIIvBUL #inittogether pic.twitter.com/9lHttq24Zl
— DHL Stormers (@THESTORMERS) April 13, 2026