Meet Dylan Alberts, Alberton Rugby Club’s rising star
The 19 year-old cut his teeth in the first team’s match against professional rugby team – the Valke, during a match held at the Alberton Rugby Club in February.
Meet Dylan Alberts (19), the Alberton Elande Rugby Club’s rising star.
Alberts is the club’s flanker, proudly wearing jersey number six. He spoke to the Alberton Record about his formative years in rugby.
“When I was younger, I went to Loftus with my parents to watch the Lions take on the Bulls. That moment sparked something in me. I turned to my parents and told them, ‘I want to go pro one day and play for the Lions’,” recalls Alberts.
“Soon after, they signed me up for Welpie rugby, and that is where my journey with the game began.”
The Alberton Rugby Club’s men’s and women’s teams train at their Elandsfontein stadium, located on Elandsfontein Drive, Verwoerdpark, in Alberton.
Alberts cut his teeth in the first team’s match against the professional rugby team, the Valke, during a friendly held at Alberton Rugby Club in February. The match was used to build a relationship between local rugby teams and professional clubs.
Commenting on his February senior team call-up, Alberts said: “I joined the senior team on 22 February and made my debut against the Valke. Being called up filled me with excitement and confidence. I had been working towards that moment ever since I joined the club in 2024.”
Alberts says he strikes a fine balance between work life and his love of playing the game.
“I want to keep playing rugby competitively while also pursuing a career and furthering my studies. Staying involved in the sport I love is important to me, and I am committed to continuously working on myself both on and off the field,” he said of his future goals.
Alberts says rugby makes him feel alive and at home; the adrenaline rush of playing and the intensity excite him.
He was looking forward to playing against Wits on 12 July. However, Wits withdrew from the Castle Lager Grand Challenge fixture, which included teams from three universities and six open clubs: Alberton, Pirates, Wanderers, Raiders, Randfontein, Diggers, UJ, Wits and NWU.
Elande was awarded five log points because of the withdrawal, putting them one step closer to making the play-offs.
