Babanango boy brings it home for the ‘Bokke

With hard work and determination spanning two decades, Ruan’s dream of playing for the Springboks was finally realised last Saturday when he made his sensational debut for the squad.

June 23, 2016

Elaine Rodway 2 minutes read

Ruan Combrinck surges across the tryline to score the try against Ireland that brought the Springboks back into the game and raised a nation off its seats and to its feet on Saturday when all seemed lost.

HOMEGROWN rugby phenom, Ruan Combrinck, certainly knows how to make a first impression.

In his debut appearance for the Springbok squad against Ireland last Saturday, the Emirates Lions Wing not only scored the try that turned the match around for the Springboks, he was also awarded Man of the Match for his stellar performance at his home ground, Ellis Park, as well as the biggest tackle in the match.

IMG-20160620-WA0002 — Ruan Combrinck, then and now. Even in primary school, Ruan was destined for greatness on the field.

Ruan was born to play rugby. His passion for the sport kicked in early, according to his proud mother, Debbie Combrinck. He started playing rugby in Grade 1 at Lucas Meyer Primary School, where he played for the first team throughout his primary school career, being named Player Of the Year for Grade 1 to 3, as well as Senior Player of the Year twice. Even then, it was clear that Ruan was going to be a big name in rugby.

“I’ve never missed a match,” recalls Cobus Combrinck, Ruan’s father, who is no stranger to the sport himself. “Throughout his school career, we recorded and analysed each match he played.”

Ruan continued to play first team rugby all the way up to matric and was selected for the SA u/19 squad in 2009. He was also chosen for the SA u/20 squad in 2010 and was the Lions u/21 Backline Player of the Year in 2011. More recently he was chosen as the Lions’ Super 15 Backline Player of the Year in 2015.

IMG-20160619-WA0019 — Ruan receives his cap for the Springboks.

With hard work and determination spanning two decades, Ruan’s dream of playing for the Springboks was finally realised last Saturday when he made his sensational debut for the squad.

Ruan with his deservedly proud parents, Cobus and Debbie Combrinck.

Mrs Combrinck recalls the wave of emotion as the National Anthem played at Ellis Park on Saturday and the immense sense of hope she felt that her son would get a chance to play for his cap. Hope became reality shortly after half time, when Ruan was sent on to replace Lwazi Mvovo and wasted no time proving his worth to the team, with a scintillating try that arguably ignited the spark that the team needed to make a comeback in a match that looked like it was going Ireland’s way up until that point.

Watch Supersport’s full post-match wrap of South Africa vs Ireland, 2nd Test match below…