Dream come true for Glenwood rugby ace

GLENWOOD rugby ace thought he was being pranked when he got a full scholarship to study in the United States of America. Ethan Biljoen, 18, got enrolled in the Strive Athletes Abroad programme that takes promising rugby players to the USA to further their sporting and academic careers.

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“At first I thought it was a scam, I spoke to my mother and we looked them up and found they were legit,” said Biljoen.  The hesitancy from Biljoen was due to the fact that the USA is not widely known for its rugby programmes, it has a similar sport called football. In a study done by Sports Show, Rugby does not make the top 10 most popular sports in the USA according to television ratings. Despite that, Biljoen is still excited at the prospect of furthering his career abroad.

“I have always wanted to travel, play and stay overseas, so this is a chance to fulfil my dreams,” he said. “Also studying and getting an international degree is something I am looking forward to.”

Biljoen is from Secunda in Mpumalanga. He was scouted as a promising under-12 player in the provincial team by Shawn van Rensburg, Director of Rugby at Glenwood High School. From there, Biljoen moved to Durban and enrolled as a boarder in Glenwood HS from Grade 8.

“I am used to not being with my family, living alone and being independent so going to stay in the USA won’t be much of a difference for me,” he said. Biljoen has established himself as a versatile forward in the Glenwood 1st team and has even earned himself a spot in the Sharks U18 Seven side. Biljoen said his immediate goal is to study for a business degree and afterwards sign for a team in the Major Rugby League, North America’s professional rugby league.

With Springbok coaches wary of picking players from overseas clubs, Biljoen said he is not completely giving up his chances in playing for the national squad. “For me it doesn’t faze me (not playing for the Springboks). This is more about playing and living overseas which is something I have always planned on doing,” he said.

With the Coronavirus pandemic having disrupted academic calendars all over the world, nothing has been finalised for Biljoen who is still completing his matric.

In a statement, Strive Athletics Abroad said, “Ethan is an imposing figure on the field and his ability to play in the back row is a compliment to his mobility around the pack.With great footwork and aggression in the contact area, Ethan is a menacing ball carrier. We look forward to helping him further his rugby and academic careers here in the US.”

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