POLOKWANE – Free State Cheetahs player who hails from Polokwane, Arno van Staden is among 20 rugby players who were invited for the Blitzbokke Academy sevens trials to form a team that will go on tour to Rome and Geneva.
These players were selected from the Varsity Cup 15 men and sevens rugby teams during matches that were played in Cape Town last month.
The group will commence training in Stellenbosch this week and the final squad that will tour to Rome and Geneva will only be announced next week.
Van Staden said he was delighted and honoured to be among the group.
“The senior Blitzbokke Academy coach will coach the group during the trials and there is an opportunity to be invited to the senior Blitzbokke training squad,” he said.
He said he was grateful that out of the hundreds of rugby players, he had the honour to be invited to the national trials.
“God blessed me with a talent to run and play rugby and hopefully He (God) will use me in this rugby community to build His kingdom. It was not my choice to receive these talents, but the Lord blessed me and that is why I praise Him,” said Van Staden.
He further said he was grateful that the Lord’s favour and authority was upon his life and he would continue to shine His light through utilising his talent for rugby.
Van Staden thanked his brothers and father for always believing in him. He said his family pushed him to train hard over vacations and that was the foundation for his rugby career. “My other brother always says ‘train hard, play easy’ and he trains with me whenever we are together. I also want to thank my mother for the support and delicious food she prepares for me. She prays for me before every game for strength and perseverance and I am grateful for that,” added Van Staden.
He further said being invited to two various trials within one month is a blessing and he would continue to work hard to stay fit.
At the beginning of the month he was invited for the baby Boks trials but could not make it to the final squad.
Arno van Standen: Baby Boks await
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