The club he plays for sports a zebra-striped kit. Now Cosmo Zymvragos hopes to play rugby in the stadium of zebra-striped seating.

The 18-year-old German arrived in Mbombela last Wednesday and will be spending six weeks with the Pumas. Zymvragos plays for TSV Victoria Linden in Hanover.

He is a prop. He is 1,9 metres tall and weighs 108 kilograms.

“I was a soccer player. One day I arrived late with my mother to a football game. I saw on my right boys standing in a circle, passing a rugby ball. I asked my mother what they were doing. The coach approached me and the rest is history. I was five years old,” Zymvragos told Lowvelder.

“Rugby is not as popular as football in Germany, but it is bigger than many know. In Hanover we have five clubs; it is a big rugby city. There are four divisions in Germany. Victoria Linden plays in the second league.

“Marius (van Rensburg, CEO of the Pumas) and Jimmy (Stonehouse, Pumas director of rugby) know my coach, Jens Himmer. Jens asked me if I wanted to go to South Africa. I immediately said yes.”

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Despite the Covid-19 pandemic, Zymvragos boarded a flight and headed for Mbombela. Victoria Linden was established in 1900 and is the most decorated club in Germany, dominating the national club championship in the 1950s, 1960s and 1980s.

The young German will initially train with the Pumas Rugby Institute, and if he proves himself, might get an opportunity to train with the NNC Pumas.

George Stainton, the commercial manager of the Pumas, said Zymvragos’ visit to the Pumas is just the start of much bigger plans the union has to cement relationships with overseas rugby clubs.

“We want to build (rugby) relationships with Japan and Germany to eventually do player transfers, coach management skills transfers and, potentially, source sponsors. It’s early days yet, but we have big ideas,” said Stainton.

“The Pumas are thinking out of the box. We are not sitting around waiting for South African handouts. We have a vision and will create opportunities. Watch this space.”

Zymvragos comes highly rated by his coach.

Himmer, the coach of Victoria Linden, is thrilled that his young charge is spending six weeks with the Pumas, and hopes it will lead to a strong relationship between his club and the provincial team.

“Cosmo has a great future; if he works hard, he will make it as a professional player,” the legendary German coach and former player said.

“He has good hands and is strong and very fast for a big man. He is positive and a team guy. He focuses at a high level and works hard.

“When he left, I told him to be a warrior, to work like a professional, and to do what the coaches asked and what the team needed.

“If all goes well, this is just the beginning of a strong relationship with the Pumas. I have other talented players who can do the same as Cosmo. Victoria Linden can also host Pumas players. It is an exciting future for both clubs,” said Himmer.