Rugby star in Ballito

Former Sharks player Riaan Viljoen is back from Japan and he is now enjoying life with his family in Ballito’s Seaward Estate.

He is currently not signed by any team but would not say no to the Sharks if they offered him a contract.

“Sharks is the most professional team I have ever belonged to. You get treated well by them, as a player,” said Viljoen.

In 2009 he had been part of the Springboks touring team to France, Italy, Ireland and England, which had been a great experience. Viljoen said that his second favourite sport, after rugby, is golf and he has played the many different courses around the North Coast.

“I like golf. When you play golf, you cannot get angry with anyone besides yourself,” said Viljoen.

In Japan he played in the top rugby league, for NTT Docomo Red Hurricanes and he said although it was tough, it was not as professional as here in South Africa. Besides the experience of his rugby career, he also found Japan to be one of the safest countries to live in. Given a chance and if his family would allow him, he would happily move to Japan permanently.

“People there respect each other. There is no such thing as I am better than you,” said Viljoen.

He plans to do a coaching course to empower him to pass his knowledge to the young stars one day.

“My advice to the young stars is that they must keep on playing and train hard,” said Viljoen.