Chioma Onuegbu, a Grade 11 learner from Sir John Adamson High School is a rugby player who has played in the National Youth Girls Rugby Week.
She played in the U18 category at the rugby week and is a part of the Sir John Adamson High School girls rugby team that plays in the Golden Lions Ladies League.
Onuegbu was selected for the Springbok ladies U18 provisional squad. She is the only player from the Golden Lions, out of 36 other players from around the country.
Onuegbu recalled how she started her development in rugby, which would earn her selection to a life-changing training camp.
“I started playing rugby in Grade Nine. I did not start earlier because of the Covid pandemic. I have grown so much in the sport that it has become a passion.
“When I was told that I was part of the 36 ladies from around South Africa selected to attend the inaugural Elite Player Development camp, I realised I was one step closer to my dream of playing professional rugby,” Onuegbu said.
She will attend one more training camp before the selection for the final team will take place.
“The next camp will be during August where they will announce the first team for the U18 Ladies Springbok team and I hope I am selected,” she continued.
Onuegbu’s coach Mickey Oosthuizen, also the coach at her school, has coached her since the beginning.
“I have taught her all the basics and her skills were fine-tuned over the years,” Oosthuizen said.
Onuegbu hopes to represent her country one day and her coach believes she can do it.
“When sport restarted after Covid, Onuegbu started playing rugby and I saw pure talent. Her strength and speed were her biggest assets. When she was selected for the U16 Golden Lions team in 2022, her focus remained on becoming better. This year she was the only Golden Lions player selected to attend the camp and I know she can make it to the final team and hopefully wear the green and gold,” Oosthuizen continued.
