An emotional Deon Fourie paid a moving tribute to long-serving Stormers team manager Chippie Solomon at his funeral service on Tuesday.
More than 1,000 mourners gathered in Kuils River, including Springbok coach Rassie Erasmus, 62 current Stormers players and a host of former players whose careers Solomon had shaped over more than two decades.
The service was held as a state-backed provincial funeral, with the national flag draped over the coffin, while players formed a guard of honour and a police escort led the street departure.
Solomon, a towering figure in Western Province and Stormers rugby, was laid to rest following his passing last week at the age of 64. He served as Stormers team manager for more than 22 years, impacting hundreds of players and coaches, including Erasmus and current director of rugby John Dobson.
Fourie, whose journey with the Stormers closely mirrored Solomon’s, struggled to hold back tears as he reflected on the man he described as a mentor, father figure and constant presence in players’ lives.
“Chippie was a man full of wisdom. You could listen to him for hours. He was articulate, intelligent and full of wisdom,” said Fourie.
“So many players and coaches, past and present, crossed your path, and how fortunate we all were to have met you.”
Solomon’s influence extended far beyond rugby, with Fourie highlighting the deep care he showed to everyone around him.
“You loved and cared deeply for every player and every coach,” he said. “You always wanted to make people’s lives better and went out of your way to help them.
“Everyone carries a memory of you – something they will never forget – and that speaks volumes about the man you were.”
Fourie shared personal stories that captured Solomon’s warmth and generosity, including how their bond began early in his career.
“In 2008, I got called up for my first Super Rugby tour in Australia and I had to share a double bed with Chippie for the whole week,” he said. “That’s where we bonded deeply, and you became like a second father to me.”
That relationship extended into family life, with Solomon playing a special role in Fourie’s journey off the field.
“When we came to visit from France with our firstborn, Jamie, you were one of the first people I wanted to introduce him to,” Fourie said.
“We brought him into your office. You held him like he was your own. He loved you deeply too. He immediately started crying when I told him you had passed away. His words: ‘Nee, Pappa, die kaartjie oom, ek mis hom al klaar’ [No, Dad, the ticket uncle, I miss him already].”
Solomon’s instinct to care for others was evident in everyday moments, including times of crisis.
“After we won the URC semi-final in the first year, my wife crashed the bakkie twice. You were the first one to stop and help her,” Fourie recalled. “You handled the call to the police, you drove us home and you stayed to make sure everything was OK.
“You were always there. A safety net for all of us – and now gone too soon.”
He also reflected on quieter memories that defined Solomon’s presence within the Stormers environment.
“I’ll miss our coffees and rusks in your office. We would talk about anything and everything – politics, sport, family, even the weather,” said Fourie. “Those moments were simple, but so special. I’ll carry them in my heart forever.”
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In a poignant closing, Fourie referenced one of Solomon’s favourite sayings, turning it into a lasting tribute.
“He used to say in meetings, ‘Voices in the dark’,” Fourie said. “Now you are that voice – not in a sad way, but in a guiding way.
“Your voice will echo through the union – in the change room, in the gym, at the door before we run out. That voice will never fade and it will never be forgotten.”
Fighting through emotion, Fourie ended with a deeply personal farewell.
“Thank you for loving your people so much. You are one of a kind,” he said. “My Chippendale … Christopher Solomon, I love you.”
The post Fourie bids farewell to ‘My Chippendale’ appeared first on SA Rugby magazine.
