Tenacious Tristin rises against the odds
The young rugby player has defied the naysayers, and he's only 11 years old.
TRISTIN Parsons, 11, of Margate has proven that talent and skill are not the only qualities needed to succeed on the rugby field as a strong and determined mindset can help you overcome almost any challenge.
Tristin, who was born with a defect of the hand, was recently selected for the U13 KwaZulu-Natal Duikers team which won a bronze medal in an interprovincial rugby tournament in Kempton Park earlier this month.
He is delighted with his achievement, but it has not been an easy road for the young sportsman.
The Suid-Natal Primary pupil was born with symbrachydactyly – a congenital disorder of the hand; leaving him with some of his fingers missing from his left hand.
At the beginning of the season this year, Tristin was selected for the Southern KwaZulu-Natal U12 rugby team but was injured.
The young scrumhalf’s spirits were low and he was disappointed that his tour was dampened by his injury.
In July this year, in an attempt to cheer their son up, Tristin’s parents GJ and Lindie, sent him on the Investec International Rugby Academy’s Intermediate Course to learn from a number of South African rugby icons at St Charles College in Pietermaritzburg.
It was here that Tristin met and learnt from former Springboks Braam van Straaten, Ian MacDonald, Marius Hurter and Brent Russell, as well as former Bath rugby player Hentie Martens, provincial players Ryno Combrinck, Nico Breedt, Wayne Munn, and Greg Miller, and Sharks U19 head coach Paul Anthony.
His parents’ hopes were met and Tristin’s fighting spirit was back. He was invigorated by what he had learnt and had redeveloped his passion for the game.
Shortly after his time at the academy, Tristin was back in action trying out for the KZN Duikers team.
While many children of his age would allow this disorder to prevent them from playing sport it has been a source of motivation for Tristin.
His disorder is merely a challenge that he is driven to overcome and this mindset is what has led him to try numerous sports, including karate, cricket, soccer, athletics and swimming.
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