Bulls sign up 18-year-old Ballito rugby star Ali Thiam
Aside from his time with the DHS Horseflies, Thiam had his first involvement with the Dolphins this year too.
Ballito’s rising rugby star Ali Thiam has just signed for the Bulls and is a future bomb squad member in the making.
The 18-year-old plays as a tighthead prop for Durban High School (DHS) and donned the pink and blue of the Ballito Dolphins for the first time this year.
After impressing scouts, he will join the Pretoria outfit on a two-year junior contract in January and hopes to get a run in the Currie Cup should everything go to plan.
Originally from Kokstad, Thiam moved to Ballito with his family two years ago and joined the rugby programme at DHS.
“It’s always been rugby for me. When I was younger I mostly played as a number 8, but after about Grade 5 I got moved to the front row,” said Thiam.
He has continued to grow in the tighthead prop (number 3) role ever since, learning the tricks of the trade and some of the ‘dark art’ advantages for good scrummaging.
In rugby circles, the tighthead position is often regarded as one of the most important on the field given the impact a top player can have on the match.
If a number 3 can dominate their opposing loosehead prop, then the hooker will have much better access to the feed in the scrum.
“I love the scrums! I would say that is my biggest strength on the field and probably where I can give the most input. I am always working on the rest of my game but the focus is on winning scrums,” he said.
Aside from his time with the DHS Horseflies, Thiam had his first involvement with the Dolphins this year too.
“I went to watch one of the practices and had a conversation with coach Craig Dawson, who said I should come back with my boots. I played two games for the first team, both at the number 8 position because you cannot play front row in club rugby until you are 21.”
His performances against grown men have helped to build Thiam’s confidence and excitement for next year, where he will mostly face U19 and U20 competition.
“If I could earn a chance in the Currie Cup that would be great. After that, anything is possible.”
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