“To play for the Springboks are my ultimate goal,” said young talented rugby player, Eadin Layzell.
Layzell, who resides in the South and is head boy at St Benedict’s in Bedfordview, has been offered a contract to play rugby in France from December 2020 when everything should be back to some sort of normalcy.
Even though rugby runs in his blood he is just as focus on concluding his matric year with the best results possible in order to fulfill his dream of playing rugby abroad.
Throughout his school years he showed a passion for the game of rugby and always made the best of each opportunity that came his way.
As head boy at St Benedict’s, it gives him a certain responsibility to make well planned decisions.
One of these decisions was when he received a contract in March this year to play rugby in France at the end of his matric year.
This follows his selection to tour with Rugby Travel Group, headed up by Len Olivier, Rassie Jansen van Vuuren and Nico Pretorius, as part of the South African Barbarians team to France in December of 2019.
He played a game against Agen, which is one of the Top 14 French clubs.
The team drew against Agen and he was selected by Agen club to return for selection testing.
He said that it was amazing for him to travel to Agen and to be interviewed by the club as a prospect to return in 2021.
Low and behold just before lockdown was initiated in South Africa, he received a contract in March confirming his departure to play in France at the end of his matric year at St Benedict’s.
Layzell, who was vice-captain for Rugby Travel SA Barbarians touring side, was awarded the man of the match against Vannes, one of France’s top five schools.
Rugby Travel SA Barbarians won 19-10.
The team played three matches on tour with two wins and a draw in the third game.
On his near future plans, he said he would really love to go to France in 2021 to play rugby.
“Plan A would involve learning French and complete a degree in engineering overseas. Plan B would be to study engineering at Tuks and also to participate in the Varsity Cup.”
His future dream will be to pull the Springboks jersey over his head to fulfil a lifelong aspiration.
In the meantime he can’t wait to get back to school and resume the years as head boy and to conclude his matric.