There’s no stopping Marno on the rugby field
Marno Desmond Crathorne has a bright future ahead of him and his focus and determination to excel has laid a strong and sturdy foundation for the road ahead.
MARNO Desmond Crathorne has a bright future ahead of him and his focus and determination to excel has laid a strong and sturdy foundation for the road ahead.
Add to this, the unwavering support of his proud father, Desmond, and you have a winning recipe for success.
At only 17-years-old, this young rugby phenom has a string of accolades to his name. Starting from 2010, when he was named most valuable u/10 player at Lucas Meyer Primary School, Marno has tackled his way through a slew of rugby achievements that would make any parent, or rugby fan in general, proud.
In 2012, he made the NKZN u/12A squad and, in 2013, went on to captain the Lucas Meyer u/13 side, as well as the NKZN u/13A side and was named most valuable u/13 player in NKZN.
In 2014, Marno captained the Pionier u/14A team and was selected for the Natal u/14 Bokkie team, as well as being selected for the South African Bokkie team and u/14 Duiker team, an achievement which saw him travel with the team to Georgia, a country at the intersection of Europe and Asia, to represent South Africa, which he did brilliantly, being recognised in the second match of the tour as player of the match, as well as backline player of the tour. He was also awarded a trophy for being Pionier’s most valuable u/14 player of 2014.
2015 saw the young superstar go on to captain both the Pionier u/15A side and the Pionier u/15 Sevens side, a team which went on to win the Seven’s Plate Final in Middelburg that year. He once again made the South African Bokkie Squad and travelled with the side to Georgia again, where he was recognised as player of the match in the second match of the tour, as well as backline player of the tour. Marno was named Pionier’s most valuable u/15 player of 2015.
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Marno went on to captain the u/16A Pionier squad, as well as the NKZN u/16A team in 2016. He was selected for the SA Bokkie team again, but finances did not allow for him to accompany the team to Russia that year. However, this setback did not put a damper on Marno’s determination and spirit and he continued to shine on the rugby field.
He made the Natal u/16 Bokkie team, the Pionier Sevens First team, the u/17 ‘High Performance’ Seven’s team and was part of the winning team in the Plate Final against Hilton College in Durban.
With history repeating itself, Marno once more received the Pionier trophy for the most valuable u/16 player of 2016.
Showing no signs of slowing down in 2017, Marno has already added several achievements to his already impressive Rugby CV. He was named man of the match for Pionier against a touring English team from Cambridge, chosen for the Rhino team that will tour England and Scotland in 2017, selected for the NKZN u/19 team in Potchefstroom, named player of the match against the Arende XV team in Potchefstroom and chosen for the Natal u/19 Bokkie team.
It comes as no surprise that Marno’s exemplary talent has once again resulted in him being chosen to represent South Africa, being selected for the u/17 SA Bokkie squad that will travel to Germany in the October holidays.
Desmond Crathorne, Marno’s father, who is no stranger to the rugby field himself, has been a pillar of strength for his son, supporting him all the way and ensuring that Marno maintains a healthy balance between sports and academics. Marno excels in both.
Pionier’s popular rugby coach, Buks Scheepers, describes Marno as absolutely fearless on the rugby field.
“What can I say about Marno Crathorne?” he says, with a sense of pride in his voice. “If you look at the size of that kid, you can see the size of his heart. He is always smiling and having fun and on the rugby field, he fears no one. He is an exceptionally talented player and I’m very proud of him. He is down to earth, polite and humble,” he adds, “and is dedicated to everything he does, whether it’s sports or academics, he really works hard.”
Last Friday, Desmond visited the Helping Hand/Solidarity/AfriForum Community Centre in High Street, to collect a donation towards Marno’s tour to Germany, bringing the Crathorne father and son team a little closer to their financial goal of ensuring that Marno is able to represent South Africa the way he knows best, by dazzling the world with a rugby ball in his hand.
If you would like to assist in making Marno’s tour to Germany a possibility, please contact Desmond Crathorne on 083 375 2647.
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