Rugby boys set for epic Sri Lankan tour
The Arbor Park Primary rugby team, comprising Olwethu, Ruandre and their teammates were unbeaten in the previous school rugby season.
Three local rugby boys could be jetting off to Sri Lanka towards the middle of 2019.
Olwethu Sikakhane and Ruandre van Heerden of Arbor Park Primary School and Huttenpark Primary School’s James Schnetler have been invited to tour the subcontinent as members of an Under-13 Sevens team. Without funding however, they might not even board the plane.
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Raymond van Niekerk, a school rugby coach who has since been selected as the touring team’s head coach, has embarked on a campaign to get his three young charges to Sri Lanka in June/July this year.
“The tour will cost almost R36 000 per person, which includes tickets, accommodation, a full kit and a practise session with a professional player before leaving South Africa.”
Van Niekerk made an impassioned appeal to Newcastillians on Facebook recently, urging them to support Olwethu, Ruandre and James in pursing this ‘adventure of a lifetime’.
He has received some donations already as a result of his plea.
“I hope for the support of the community because the other children going on tour are from wealthy schools and are represented by big provincial teams.”
Van Niekerk is hopeful the three local boys will be included in the South African squad, set to follow an eight-day tournament schedule to Mt Lavinia, Pinnawala, Kandi, Colombo and Kitulgala.
Van Niekerk explains Sri Lanka is the country with the most sevens rugby development teams in the world, and as such its tournaments are well-funded.
Having his boys there will be due rewards for their efforts.
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The Arbor Park Primary rugby team, comprising Olwethu, Ruandre and their teammates were unbeaten in the previous school rugby season.
“Olwethu and James played for the Sharks under-12 team and played for me at Northern KwaZulu-Natal level. We have come a long way together.”
Asked why it was critical for the boys to embark on the Sri Lanka tour, van Niekerk said this ‘opportunity of a lifetime’ could be once-off for them and was also an addition to their CV of achievements.
“They can play rugby and get to see the world; they can see the setup in Sri Lanka and sightsee. It’s motivation for them to keep working hard to earn these opportunities.”
If you are willing to contribute to the cost of the boys’ tour to Sri Lanka, contact Raymond van Niekerk on 082 889 3010 or through social media.
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