Young Duikers leap into history books

TWENTY-NINE boys from the Hillcrest Villagers’ Juniors/Colts Rugby side, from U13 to U18, were chosen to play in the Duikers Squad. It is the U13 players who made history, for both their club and the DRSU.

Each year the club sends possible and probable candidates for trails for the KZN Duikers, an inter-provincial club rugby team. This year the U13 coaches sent 17 players from the U13 boys’ side to try out and 13 of them were selected.

“The selection process is a very fair one. The selectors are sent from the KZNRU and do not know any of the trial participants, parents or club staff,” said coach, mother, committee member, medic and rugby lover, Natascha Kretzel-Adler.

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“They work by number, not name. The selectors do not know the boys, or where they come from at all. They do not know the club coaches and no person is allowed near the selectors balcony during the trial process, before or after.”

There were 180 boys trying out for the team on the day and only 22 are selected per age group from nine KZN rugby clubs which include, South Coast Warriors, Ballito Dolphins, Northwood Crusaders, Durban Collegians, PMB Collegians, Bluff Harlequins, Amanzimtoti, Hillcrest Villagers and Queensburgh.

“Of the 17 U13 boys we sent, 13 made it. Eleven are in the starting line up. Those stats are unheard of, both for the Union and our club. This is definitely something our community can be proud of. It is a huge achievement for the quality of rugby that is coming from our club and community sport.