Former FNB UCT Ikeys head coach, Tom Dawson-Squibb, launches book about his journey

Having achieved so much as a university rugby coach, former FNB UCT Ikeys head coach Tom Dawson-Squibb shared his coaching journey by writing a book.

The book called, "Humanball: A Leadership Journey in South African Rugby by Tom Dawson-Squibb and Nic Rosslee" was launched last month at Western Province Cricket Club.

Dawson-Squibb took us through how writing the book conversation began.

"I've known Nic for some time and I knew he was a blogger. When thinking about the book I started to chat with a few people. One was my mom who's written a few books and then I spoke to Nic about the concept," revealed Dawson-Squibb.

"As the competition started to wrap up and I knew that it would be my last year, it just felt like such an amazing story to be part of. And although we didn't win in the end, and as much as I would have loved to, it just felt like a story that needed to be shared," said Dawson-Squibb.

"I kind of had this belief that through sharing our own stories, we sort of empower people to share theirs and that's where growth comes in."

Having coached Ikeys Tigers for five years, making three finals and one semi-final, Dawson-Squibb added that coaching UCT was a story worth being told.

"My real feeling was that it was just such a cool story, and I think the thing that most inspired me was that it was so personally transforming for me, coaches, and players, and it would be such an impactful thing in everyone's life being part of that environment, that it felt wrong to not document," he said.

Dawson-Squibb revealed the motivation and inspiration behind the book saying:

"I think everything in the book is pertaining to that story. Of course, I've brought in other stories and thinking from work that I've done and philosophies on coaching and leading people, but everything was inspired by the Ikeys," added Dawson-Squibb.

"Our vision right from the start was to tell that story, and it became a bigger project as we wrote it because we realized that there was so much that went into the story from people's viewpoints, from my own viewpoints, that it became something bigger.

"Ikeys was everything. It's the inspiration behind the book. It's telling the story of the people who were part of this journey and there's nothing more inspirational than that." 

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By: Ayanda Frances Felem