Dan Vickerman funeral: Wallaby legend given emotional farewell by friends, family and rugby greats

AT an service to farewell Dan Vickerman, the former Wallaby was remembered as a driven athlete, besotted husband and father, loyal friend and “a colossal man”.

Dan Vickerman's five No. 5 jerseys at an emotional service on the Number 1 Oval at Sydney University to remember the much loved former Wallaby.

MIDWAY through a memorial service for Dan Vickerman on Sydney University’s rugby oval, a strong gust of wind blew in and knocked over photos of the former Wallaby.

The pictures, one of Vickerman at the 2011 World Cup and another flying high for the Students, fell onto the turf with the tinkle of broken glass.

“That’ll be him,” Vickerman’s good mate Chris Malone quipped at the lectern.

It was easy to imagine. Vickerman, the high-profile but humble athlete who never sought the spotlight, giving it one last shot to play down all the fuss.

Sydney Uni Rugby players sang their team song to honour their former team-mate.

But even hard-as-nails “Vicks” was never going to win that one, on this day.

A thousand-strong crowd gathered for an emotional service to farewell Vickerman, who died last week at the age of 37.

After a private funeral in the morning, Vickerman’s wife Sarah, sons Joseph and Xavier, extended family, friends, rugby luminaries and many dozens of former teammates were on hand.

Brendan Cannon, Phil Waugh, Stirling Mortlock, Nathan Sharpe, Owen Finegan, Berrick Barnes, Rocky Elsom and Adam Freier were among the crowd, and Brumbies captain Sam Carter and coach Stephen Larkham flew into Sydney. NSW players were unable to attend because they’re in South Africa.

Wallabies coach Michael Cheika and ARU boss Bill Pulver were also present.

Vickerman was remembered as driven athlete, besotted husband and father, loyal friend and “a colossal man”.

Mementos from a glorious life in rugby were on display on the oval.

“You were a shining beacon of the real deal,” said Malone.

“Humble, kind, hardworking, true. We will miss you my friend.”

Vickerman’s days in rugby were chartered through the five no. 5s laid out on stage: Sydney Uni, the Brumbies, NSW, Australia and Cambridge. But Vickerman was remembered as much more than a globally respected, 63-Test Wallaby.

“The private person most people didn’t see, that was just Dan,” said family friend David Marr. “A loving husband, an adoring dad, an only son and a great mate.”

Having grown up in South Africa — all the way to 204cm — rugby was always going provide the framework for Vickerman’s life.

Childhood mate Richard Bell recalled while watching a provincial game, Vickerman declared he would one day play for the Springboks.

“He didn’t play for the Springboks but he settled for the next best thing: the Wallabies,” Bell said. “Sorry, that bit was put by our South African mates.”

Vickerman’s young sons Joseph and Xavier heard heartfelt eulogies to their father.

An adventurous soul, Vickerman landed in Australia aged 20 and set about building a new life. He settled at Sydney Uni, where Malone was tasked with showing him the ropes. Sydney Uni’s rugby pitch and bars within a 2km circle were home turf.

“Daniel spilt a lot of blood right here, beneath our feet,” Malone said, before clarifying not all of it was Vickerman’s.

“He spilt a fair few double bourbon and cokes up there in the grandstand bar too.”

Vickerman quickly became a superstar: signed by the Brumbies at 21, debuting for Australia at 22. He met Sarah at Uni and was married at 24.

The unflinching competitor was known to all, foe or friend.

The crowd heard about the day at Uni training Vickerman was getting annoyed by people slapping him on the back. He warned the next person who did it would pay.

Phil Waugh restrained himself for a full minute before slapping Vickerman at the next scrum.

“The big Jaapie exploded. He stood up and Jeremy Tilse wore two clean shots on the beak before he knew what was happening,” Malone said.

Sarah, Vickerman’s widow, leaves after an emotional Public Memorial.

“He never could take a pat on the back.”

Away from rugby, Vickerman’s hard-man persona melted away. His “ridiculous” dry humour often saw him laughing at his jokes while others laughed at him.

“While he was so hard on the outside, he was soft as butter on the inside,” said Marr.

“Dan was always incredibly grounded, not caught up in the hype of being a Wallaby and always preferring the spotlight to be placed on somebody else.”

Hard Dan helped out sometimes, though. Marr held a party for his son last year and late-on became worried about gatecrashers, so he called Vickerman.

“He came straight over and sat on the front balcony,” he said. “It’s fair to say we had no issues.”

Throughout the service eyes drifted sadly toward Vickerman’s boys, aged 3 and 7, sitting up front in NSW jerseys.

In time, each of the speakers hoped, the boys will understand that the packed grandstand behind them was their Dad’s legacy. A thousand lives made better by knowing their father.

“You can be very proud knowing your father was a wonderful man,” Marr said.

“He loved nothing more in this world than the two of you and your lovely mum.”