Enjoying the company of senior players in Super Rugby

“IT is one of my big dreams to play Springbok rugby,” said the young and enthusiastic Cyle Brink, who resides in Brackendowns.

He has already made his mark as one of the top young players in South African rugby when he was included in the u.20 Junior Springbok squad for the 2014 International Rugby Board World Rugby u.20 Championship which was played in New Zealand.

Currently Brink plays in the number seven jersey for the Emirates Lions in their 2016 Vodacom Super Rugby campaign.

He has made wonderful strides towards his dreams since taking up the code of rugby. The 22-year-old played his school rugby at King Edwards VII School when he was called up to represent the Golden Lions u.18 in 2012 at the Craven Week tournament. Subsequently he went on to play 10 matches for the u.19 Golden Lions side during their u.19 Provincial tournament in 2013.

Brink has performed well for his province and, being eyed by the u.21 side, he made his debut for them in September 2013, getting the nod for the starting side on four occasions.

The culmination of his efforts was then rewarded when he was selected for the Junior Springboks at the 2014 IRB Junior World Championship.

“I had a very difficult year in 2015 which kept me out of rugby and performing to my best abilities, struggling with injuries,” said Brink, “but I never lost sight of my goal and that was to play for the Springboks.”

The young bold player from Alberton did indeed receive his golden opportunity to further his career when he was included in the Emirates Lions Super Rugby squad at the beginning of the year by head coach Johan Ackermann. He made his first appearance for them against the Jaguares in January.

Having a lot of well-groomed senior players in the same position as him makes Brink only train harder and always perform to the best of his abilities. “I know I had a lot of injuries, but I have worked hard to overcome that and get the right opportunity as a young player. I learn quite a lot from the senior players in my position, but I want to become the first choice at number 7 for the Lions and then for the national team.”

“I enjoy playing in the Super Rugby; you learn a lot and there are many opportunities for a player. You must just go out and with every match you must perform and work hard. At this stage I play from the bench, but I want to get those chances of being selected for the starting line-up.”

“We are a good young squad with the senior players who gained a lot of experience over the past few years. I enjoy the style of play at the Lions and hopefully I will become their first-choice player in future.”

But Brink has set his sights high as he would like to one day in the near future be selected for the Springboks. “Because that is my dream – to play for South Africa,” he said.