Oosthuizen shows his class
Brakpan Rugby Club’s star forward from the 2016 campaign and one of South Africa’s top club players, Ian Oosthuizen, is making a massive impact on the rugby fields of Scotland.
Oosthuizen, the 2016 South African Rugby Union Gold Cup Forward Player of the Tournament, and Tythan Adam (Backline Player of the Tournament from College Rovers in Durban) have both impressed at the Scottish club since arriving in the United Kingdom in November on a six-month international rugby exchange and are currently lighting up the BT National 1 League with the historic Selkirk club.
The exchange is part of an ongoing collaboration between the South African Rugby Union, the British High Commission and Selkirk, which is aimed at giving the country’s best amateur players a once-in-a-lifetime chance to experience living and playing rugby in another country.
“The Gold Cup is all about providing club players with amazing opportunities and this exchange programme has shown once again that our best amateurs have a great contribution to make,” said SA Rugby CEO, Jurie Roux.
“Ian and Tythan are not only getting the chance to experience rugby life in Scotland – which included attending Saturday’s (February 4) Six Nations victory at Murrayfield against Ireland – but they are also showing their class where it counts, on the field.
“These are the types of opportunities that the Gold Cup platform is creating for our ordinary club players, and long may it continue.”
Adams, who scored 10 tries in just five matches in the Gold Cup, has crossed the whitewash a further seven times in just six matches since making his Selkirk debut, while the versatile 23-year-old Oosthuizen (usually found in the number two hooker jersey) has been outstanding in the unfamiliar position of openside flanker.
As part of the exchange, both players are currently training twice a week with the Edinburgh Rugby professional franchise, until they return home in April.
Selkirk chairman and legendary Scotland flyhalf John Rutherford said his club was honoured to be involved with the exchange programme.
“We take our role as hosts extremely seriously and our aim is to ensure that our guests from South Africa have a great experience both on and off the pitch,” said Rutherford, capped 42 times by Scotland between 1979 and 1987 and part of the 1983 Lions Test side that toured New Zealand.
“On the pitch Ian and Tythan have played well and bonded with the local lads, while they are also extremely popular with all our supporters.
“Between now and the end of the season they have been invited to train with Edinburgh and I am sure this will add to their experience of rugby and life in Scotland.”
