The Bone Collector is back

2020-02-06

They call him the Bone Collector, he has been tagged with some of the greatest rugby hits in recent times, the sort of weapon that wins the battle of the gain-line and one who sported amongst the highest tackle counts in the team.

But when 35 year old Willem Alberts sits down for a chat, it is more a gentle giant, committed husband and proud father of two gorgeous girls that talk about the struggles of settling in in France and finally getting familiar with the foreign language.

Alberts joined his former team the Lions in Johannesburg after turning out for Stade Francais on 79 occasions in the last four years. Before that he played for five seasons with the Sharks and between 2005 and 2009 turned out for the Lions.

Alberts, who was schooled at Monument in Krugersdorp, played 43 Tests for the Springboks between his debut against Wales at in Cardiff in 2010 and his last appearance on the international stage against Italy in Florence in 2016.

He joined the Parisian outfit after the 2015 Rugby World Cup.

“When I received the lucrative offer from Stade Francaise, I considered it seriously as I had good friends who played in France and were already speaking the language fluently. I visited a former team mate, Gerhard Mostert, after the end of year Bok tour in 2013 and found that he was settled in well with his family.

“I felt that we can do the same and have a good life there. Upon arriving in France in November 2015 with my wife Nicolene and daughter of two and half at the time, Lisa, it was a big culture shock and times were tough. Not knowing the language was a big challenge at first, especially arranging official things like medical aid, finance and insurance.”

But Alberts knew quite a few of his team mates like Morne Steyn (from the Springboks) and Meyer Bosman (from the Sharks) and the Albertse finally settled in nicely.

When Nicolene fell pregnant with the couples’ second child and became sick, they decided that she and Lisa would come back to South Africa.

“My involvement with the Springboks luckily brought me back to SA and I was able to be here for Amelies’ birth.”

The foursome had some wonderful times abroad and took the opportunity to travel far and wide. “The children were in more countries than the years of their age. I am just sad that they probably won’t remember most of it. Lisa is quite fluent in French as she attended school from the age of 4.”

The couple were in two minds if they should stay in France and apply for citizenship or return to South Africa. “The news out of our home country was not always positive and we were toying with the idea of possibly staying. But when talks with the Lions started and the possibility of coming back to our family and friends and the familiar surroundings, it was not a difficult choice to make. It is one of the best places in the world with some serious problems.”

Alberts was sure he would go overseas to retire from professional rugby and here he was considering an offer again four years down the line.

“Through very good management from the medical team at Stade Francais, consisting of Andre Volsteed and Stef du Toit, they managed to keep this old diesel engine going for a while longer. Since joining the Lions I know that they too have quality medical people to help me go many more miles in the red and white.

“Sometimes I feel older when I have to roll out of bed in the mornings, but I am very excited about this new adventure and I truly wish I was a little younger to continue for much longer. When I started my career I never thought I would be good enough to follow rugby as a career. Thanks to my first provincial coaches, Timmy Goodwin and Ian Macdonald, they made it all possible as they believed in me.”

According to Goodwin, still involved at the Lions as the Training and Education Manager, he told then President Jannie Ferreira they must invest in the big loose forward as he was destined to become a great.

“It is very special to end my career where everything started for me. It is a huge honour and privilege and I am very thankful for the opportunity.”

Annemie Bester