ONE of rugby league’s greatest accidental heroes and pioneers of international expansion. From purchasing a jersey online for his father to becoming captain of 24 combined nations, Jye Sommers has lived a fantastical tale and allowed the sport to take a valuable foothold. “It’s been a fantastic ride and I’ve loved every part of it,” said Sommers, of Peruvian descent. For Wollongong’s Sommers, becoming co-captain of a Latin American rugby league team has been a strange adventure. It’s been one of surprises, of a newfound passion, and more than anything, a journey of self-discovery. With such an Anglicised name, Sommers has undoubtedly been in the crosshairs of the usual sceptics and international rugby league naysayers. Certainly, he’s not as readily classified as teammates with surnames like Gonzalez, Garcia or Lopez. And you know what? Up until recently Sommers would have stood among the critics, wondering who this Aussie fella was, pretending to somehow care about Latin America. Jye grew up thinking his olive skin came solely from a part-Aboriginal background. He even played in an indigenous carnival under that belief, citing a maternal bloodline that stretches back seven generations in Australia. “Then it emerged that my father’s side is from Peru. It was a bit of a family secret,” says the forthright Sommers. “My grandfather, Ralph Ortega, took off when Nan told him she was pregnant. There was some embarrassment about that. “Dad thought he was never wanted. He was with my Mum for more than 20 years before he even told her. “It all took a while to surface, but I am – and will always be – very proud of my father.” As such, Jye’s involvement with the GYG Latin Heat rugby league side has been a story not only about himself, but also about his wider family. It’s been one of finding peace, acceptance and ultimately, of rejoicing in a proud culture. Indeed, Jye’s parents are usually among the loudest supporters on the sideline at any Heat fixture. “These days my father thrives on his South American background and I know he regrets not following it up sooner,” reveals Jye. “It’s a bit of a tough story, because when Dad finally decided after all those years to go looking for his own father, he found he had died in Queensland not many years beforehand.” What the family was able to ascertain was that Ralph Ortega had been raised close to the Peruvian capital of Lima, in the portside district of Callao, a derivative of the word for ‘pebbles’, which line the eastern Pacific shore. Callao has stark contrasts of inherited colonial wealth and poverty-ridden adobes. Earthquakes and tsunamis torment the peninsula, with 510 killed as recently as 2007 and more than 17,000 people displaced. All this history would have been lost on Jye just a few years ago. “The Latin Heat team is the first real way I’ve found an avenue to associate with other Latinos,” says Sommers. “To be honest, I’ve loved it. To be one of the first Peruvians involved in the team and to have represented the side as captain is a great source of pride. “I’ll walk away feeling so glad to be involved. “This team has achieved more than just spreading rugby league.” A father to four boys of his own, Sommers was originally added to the GYG Latin Heat squad after emailing team officials to see if he could buy a Heat jersey. When he inadvertently let slip that he had played and coached with several successful Corrimal Cougars teams, it was felt his experience and steadying hand could assist many of the novices in the Heat side. But in a series of performances to date, Sommers has shown far more value than that, covering numerous positions and showing an astute knack of exposing weaknesses in defences Indeed, despite competing against players half his age, the veteran was one of the star performers of the recent GYG Latino Sevens, captaining Peru. Formed to give the 600 million people of South and Central America representation in international rugby league, the GYG Latin Heat caters to those with heritage in the following nations: Argentina, Belize, Bolivia, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Cuba, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, El Salvador, Guatemala, Guyana, Haiti, Honduras, Mexico, Nicaragua, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, Puerto Rico, Suriname, Uruguay and Venezuela. Sommers has indicated that while this will be his last game for the Latin Heat in the 13-a-side game, he will still look to be involved in short tournaments and future promotional opportunities. The efforts of Latin Heat Rugby League are supported by Guzman y Gomez Mexican Taquerias, S.H.I.E.L.D Security, Tattoo Tears, OneBigSwitch.com.au, Jani-King Cleaning, SeriousAboutRL.com, Rugby League Team Manager 2015 computer game, Lichtnauer and Associates Accountants, Cabramatta Ink and Majestic Property Maintenance, and Darkside Studio Photography.

• published: 16 Apr 2016
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