Maties rugby player Mckyle Volmoer’s journey comes to an end this year. He spoke to SMF News’ Onthatile Mahlangu about how rugby, family, and friends have impacted his love for the sport.
Rugby has always been a big part of Mckyle Volmoer’s life. He started playing rugby with eight-year-olds when he was only four.
“It all started at home, outside my grandfather’s lawn in Bella Vista, Ceres, where every child in the neighbourhood would come to play,” says the 23-year-old Maties scrumhalf.
He is the first child, followed by two younger brothers. They lived with their stepfather and grandparents.
Mckyle’s grandfather always scolded them for playing on the lawn. But that did not stop them.
“That is where the love for rugby started. I am not the biggest guy, so getting that exposure for playing with bigger kids from a younger age helped me a lot,” Mckyle says.
McKyle Volmoer during the first Varsity Cup game on 17 March 2025 at Stellenbosch University Danie Craven Stadium. PHOTO: Supplied/Mckyle Volmoer
The Maties journey
Mckyle started playing for Maties in 2022.
His journey with Maties was kickstarted when he took a chance and sent a message to Drikus Hancke, the head of Maties Rugby, and asked if he could train with the team.
Hanke agreed. A few months later, Mckyle was officially part of the Maties team.
“My most special moment in rugby was […] when we played the third game against Wits; it was the first time I touched the ball on the field, and I scored a try,” he recalls.
He had spent two games on the bench. Therefore the opportunity to play was special as his hard work had finally paid off.
To him, it was a sign that God heard his prayers.
“It has been an eye-opening journey that God still answers prayers, because at that time it seemed like something impossible for me,” he says. “My name was never out there.”
He also did not have any opportunities leading from playing rugby at school level.
“But when I came here, I competed with guys I saw on television,” he says.
Family matters
Mckyle’s family plays a central role in his life.
“My family always played a big role in my health, studies, and relationships I built when I was young. They would always guide me,” he says.
He lost his mother when he was 21 years old.
He is vocal about how his family struggles to deal with his mother’s loss.
“We still honour her name and the legacy she left behind. I am holding on to all the good memories of her, and remembering what type of person she was and the values she taught me,” he says.
One of the values his late mother taught him was having a relationship with God.
“I have been here for four years, and my parents have never paid one rand for any [student fees or accommodation]; that shows us the power of God,” he says. “Experiences like that have shown me just how powerful God truly is. Trying your best and knowing He is always there for you is really comforting.”
Brotherhood
Mckyle’s friends are like brothers to him. “I am still very close with my high school friends,” he says.
His friends are older and have supported him throughout his life journey. “It is good to be with friends who are older than me because they have more experience in life,” he says.
Life did not hand Mckyle the easiest cards, says Damian Prins, one of his four close friends. “That man deserves his own Netflix series,” says Damian.
“When he started his journey at Maties, he had a serious hamstring tear. [It was] his first real shot at rugby, and he was injured. But he did not complain,” Damian says. “He soldiered on through the pain and made the most of the opportunity.”
“After high school and during the peak of covid, he was not even part of a rugby team, but he stayed disciplined,” Damian says. “He kept training, showing up, and eventually got scouted by Boland U/21s.”
Damian says the best way to sum up Mckyle’s rugby journey is with a quote that says: “If the door does not open, come back and buy the whole building.”
INFOGRAPHIC: Onthatile Mahlangu
Mckcyle’s younger brother (18), Enrique Volmoer, is impressed by how his brother carries himself on the field despite what he might have felt before a game.
“I feel a sense of pride when I watch him play,” says Enrique, who is inspired by his older brother.
Enrique admires how resilient and patient Mckyle is. He remembers seeing Mckyle play his best on the field, even though he was injured just a few days before the game.
As they grew up, rugby shifted from being just a hobby to becoming a real passion for Mckyle.
“Rugby is such a big part of his life, it’s hard to think of it as just a sport,” says Enrique.