Dynamiter Old Crocs

The Dynamiters are the veterans or “old crocs” of Hamilton Sea Point RFC – these players are 35 years and above. This name was “re-adopted” in 2006 when a vintage veterans tournament took place in Argentina. Vets is rugby for ages 35 and above!

The Dynamiter name originated with the Hammies Old Croc teams from the 80’s. Teams which boasted the likes of well-known Hamiltonians such as Marsh Shirtliff, Dave Kagan, Len Garde and others, who toured far and wide, much like their present-day counterparts.

The Hammies Old Crocs went into a bit of a hiatus in the early 2000’s, but Argentina presented an opportunity for 47 old codgers to tour once again under the Hammies Dynamiter brand!

Steve Ray, ably assisted by playing mates from the 80’s and 90’s, such as Colin dix Peek, the late “Judge” Little, Charlie Marais, Fred Green, Neil Penrose and Dean Ferreira, to name just a few, embarked on an unforgettable 10-day tour in September 2006 – a tour which set the tone for tours almost every year since then.

Local games were also played over the years, against long-time rivals Villagers, Durbell and False Bay, amongst others, but the taste for touring overseas became the main appetite and focus.

As successful on the field as off it, the Dynamiter Old Crocs mix a brand of quality vets rugby, with well-known social skills, and many friends have been made along the way.

Another Hammies legend Dean Berry soon joined the fray in terms of touring and found time to play/coach the Dynamiter Old Crocs very successfully in between his club duties as Director of Rugby!

Anton Moolman also toured a number of times in between coaching duties, and the group grew successfully!

Argentina was followed by Dubai in ’07 and ’08 where the Dynamiter Old Crocs made the semi-finals in a very competitive tournament, falling only to legend teams made up exclusively of “younger” ex-internationals and ex-pros.

The taste of beer was always strong. Fines meetings led by Spotty Watson and Martin Tucker were always legendary, but the taste for a trophy or two was always brewing!

2009 was a break from overseas, though the Dynamiter Old Crocs travelled to Jozi to take on Pirates Madalas in the same year that the Hammies First XV won the national title. A nice hard game saw the Dynamiter Old Crocs defeat their hosts.

Thereafter the Dynamiter Old Crocs toured as follows:

2010 – Kowloon Social Tens in Hong Kong

2011 – Melrose Sevens

2012 – Malaysia

2013 – Cambodia

2015 and 2016 – Bangkok

2017 – Prague

2018 – Vietnam

2019 – Vietnam

2020 – Poland

2021 – Garden Route

2022 – Poland