Young rugby player joins WP rugby union
The community of Vryheid compares Heinrich to Springbok lock Eben Etzebeth
His peers call him ‘BFG’ (standing for ‘Big Friendly Giant’), but on the rugby field, 18-year-old Heinrich Grobler is anything but friendly. He towers over most players on the field in his size-15 boots and 2.04-metre posture. Recently, this ‘friendly giant’ signed a two-year contract with Western Province (WP) as a junior player and received a full bursary at the University of Stellenbosch. This is an exceptional honour to receive an offer from a rugby union at this young age.
Heinrich says that his mother always reminds him that since he was little, he played with a rugby ball, so it came naturally to him to continue his passion on a professional level as well. “Apparently, I could kick a ball even before I walked,” he laughs. Even though he will be playing for WP under 20s, he will also play for the university’s rugby team (Maties). Last year, Heinrich, together with four other under-18 players from Hoërskool Pionier, played for the Sharks Invitational Team. During a tournament in Reitz, several scouts saw this young man’s potential and offered him a variety of options. One of these options was a full bursary at the University of the North West, the Cheetahs Rugby Union, to name but one. Earlier this year, a French rugby club also offered him a three-year contract, but Heinrich’s heart is still set on the green-and-gold jersey first. “I want to play for a South African union first and try to make a name for myself on home ground, before I set my eyes on an overseas rugby club. I want to wear the Springbok jersey. My most immediate goal is to make the Junior Springbok Team.”
The community of Vryheid compares Heinrich to Springbok lock Eben Etzebeth, since the two play the same position and are the same height. Not only do they compare in terms of how tall they are, but Heinrich plays with the same ‘heart’ and passion as Eben. This year, Heinrich captained Hoërskool Pionier’s first rugby team. Even though the team had a difficult season with many injuries early on, they managed to still keep their heads up high. It was during one of the games that Heinrich was noticed in a video and offered the contract with WP and Maties. He will also lead the Northern Natal under 19 team onto the field from June 25 to June 30 at the VKB Rugby Week in Reitz. Heinrich says, “People are used to players who only get contracts when they are in ‘big schools’ like Durban High School, Michaelhouse or Hilton, but somehow I was noticed even though I live in the platteland and go to a school with only 422 learners. That is what I want every young player out there to realize; it doesn’t matter where you are in the world – if you have the passion, dedication and you work hard, you can make it. Don’t compare yourself to the players from those big schools; you just play your own game and play your best during each game.” He is also an ambassador for the Facebook and Instagram page ‘SkoleRugby’, as well as being vice-president of the school and head boy of sport. His future is bright and hopefully this young player will carry Vryheid and Pionier’s name into the international world of rugby. Vryheid is watching you, Heinrich!
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The news provided to you in this link comes to you from the editorial staff of the Vryheid Herald, a sold newspaper distributed in the Vryheid area.
