Toti rugby player, Shane Dormehl was selected for the Afrikaner Volkseie Sport (AVS) SA president’s U16 team during the Bokkie Week that was held at Kroonstad in the July school holidays.
After his selection, he was in action for the team in Pretoria when they took on the invitational team and won 38-12.
“I felt proud to be selected for the AVS SA President’s rugby side. When it sunk in, I realised that it was quite an achievement as I’m only 15, but I am now playing in an U16 SA jersey,” said the Westville boys High School grade 9 pupil, who can play from number nine to 15, but was chosen at 12.
“It was a good feeling to win 38-12 against the invitational side, as it was a tough game in the beginning. However, when I made my first tackle, it felt like another day at the office.”
Shane was disappointed to not be able to score any of the tries, but enjoyed having two of his provincial teammates in the team with him.
He will be in action for the AVS President’s side again when they tour overseas in October.
His U15 A school team finished sixth overall at the Bokkie Week. “We won three games and only lost one, but we did not have enough points or bonus points to make the final.
This season we haven’t done as well as we hoped. It wasn’t too bad – we won a few and lost a few. I think we can build on that and try harder against the tougher teams next season.
I would like to play for SA or one of the top countries one day, but if that doesn’t work out or I get injured, I have a back-up plan.” Shane wants to become a mechanical engineer and design cars. He has a big passion for cars and is a top academic student.
I used to play various sports, but I gave them up to focus on rugby and basketball, with my main focus on rugby.”
His hard work and dedication has paid off with his selection to the Durban Coastal team this year, the KZN U14 team last year and the AVS U13 team in 2013.
He will be glued to the TV for the upcoming Rugby World Cup, where he believes the Boks are in with a good chance. “If you look at their past few games, they lost, but it was not a bad performance, rather stupid little errors. We have a good chance if we build on these past, close losses. We have done it before and they have the talent and skill to do it again.”
