Primrose’s Justin Adendorff is among the 12 Gauteng rugby players selected to compete in Mauritius.
Justin and his Western Wolves team mates will compete in the Afrasia Bank International Seven’s Tournament, from October 6 to 13.
Justin’s father, John, told the GCN that the selection follows trials that were held at his son’s school, Hoërskool Primrose High School.
“Trials were held towards the end of March, which Justin attended, and soon after he was told that he had made it into the Western Wolves team,” he said.
“This is a world tournament; there are teams coming from Europe, Australasia and Mozambique, to mention just a few.
“Due to South Africa being a big country, they are sending three u-18 teams and Western Wolves is one of them.
“Western Wolves is also a development team, which falls under SPIF Sport and is made up of players from schools in Gauteng.”
All three these teams fall under SPIF Sport and are also referred to as SPIF Sport’s invitational teams.
SPIF Sport will be taking their professional team and the three development teams to Mauritius.
Justin also plays rugby for his school.
“I play number seven flank in the school’s first team; I love rugby and enjoyed it from the beginning,” he said.
“I love sports in general and used to play different sports in primary school, but I must say rugby is my passion, even though I only started playing it in Grade Eight.”
The 17-year-old youngster, who will play number two hooker for Western Wolves, is also performing well academically.
“Justin has always been good and focused on his books, he has a grade average of 90 per cent and, if he drops, it usually only goes down to 80 per cent,” said his mother, Yolandie.
“He gives his all in everything he does, but I am most happy that he is able to balance the two, as education is also important.”
Justin told the GCN that if his dream of being a professional rugby player doesn’t materialise he would like to study medicine.
“If things don’t work out for me in rugby, I want to be an orthopaedic surgeon and help those with bone injuries; because most injuries in sports are bone-related I will still be linked to sport,” he joked.
John said the expenses for the trip to Mauritius are a challenge at the moment.
“The cost of the whole trip amounts to R22 000, and although SPIF SPORT is sponsoring a large proportion of that amount, the players have to come up with R8 000,” he explained.
“We are reaching out to the community and companies to help our children realise their dreams.
“If there is a company that wants to sponsor the team as a whole they are more than welcome to do so.
“The company’s branding will go on the team’s kit.
“If people want to sponsor Justin they can contact me on 072 915 8173, and if they want to sponsor the whole team they can contact the coach, Braam Pienaar, on 074 446 3055.
“We’d appreciate any amount, big or small.”
The Western Wolves are scheduled to go to Nelspruit from July 15 to 19, for a camp.
“We will be training and bonding as a team before we jet off to Mauritius,” said Justin.
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