Warner Beach learner has a ball at Rugby World Cup
Kellan Wild was chosen to take part in the Rugby World Cup because of his waste-recycling initiative.
WARNER Beach Preparatory Primary School learner Kellan Wild walked out of the tunnel with the Springbok squad, hand-in-hand with the captain, Siya Kolisi, before kick-off in the Rugby World Cup match between South Africa and Ireland, with the whole world watching.
Kellan (10) was in France between September 20 and 26 as part of the Defenders of Tomorrow Rugby World Cup Mascot Programme. The programme acknowledged and rewarded children who have a passion and a commitment to change the world for the better. He was selected by Land Rover South Africa on the strength of his environmental project which involves picking up waste for recycling.
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Kellan has mobilised his family, friends and other learners to join Team Up to Clean Up, a community-led recycling programme with the aim of preserving the planet for future generations. A passion for recycling has seen his appointment as a children’s ambassador for the recycling efforts at next Splashy Fen Family Festival, which takes place on a farm near Underberg.
Carmen Slade, marketing director for Jaguar Land Rover South Africa and Sub-Sahara Africa, said that among the dozens of entries received for the South Africa Defenders of Tomorrow Mascot Programme, Kellan’s was one of the two that stood out for embodying the ethos of this initiative.
He embarked on the all-expenses-paid trip to France with his mother, Claire.
“It was such a great experience, and I saw a lot of interesting places. I saw the Eiffel Tower, the Notre-Dame cathedral, and we also visited Disneyland Paris,” said Kellan.
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Before walking onto the field on match day, Kellan had earlier rehearsed the walk from the tunnel until he was confident enough. When the time came for the real walk-out, cameras caught a beaming Kellan walking with his head held high alongside the captain and the whole team. He was still standing with the team as the national anthems were sung.
“Siya Kolisi is a great guy. He asked me for my name and where I was from. We might not have won the Ireland game, but the Bokke played very well,” he said.
His mother, Claire, said it brings tears to her eyes when she thinks of the things her son has achieved.
“He makes me so proud; he is my Captain Planet. His motto is ‘Don’t forget to recycle because it’s the future, and we are the future’,” said Claire.
Besides his recycling projects and school, Kellan races motocross bikes in the 65cc class. In June, he participated in the KwaZulu-Natal Flat Water Canoe Marathon Championships, coming fifth in the U10 4km race.
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