Springs Technical High School hosted a rugby capping ceremony on May 15 to honour senior players who proudly represented the school on the rugby field.

Nkosinathi Nkosi and Sanele Kananda, with 28 caps, are the school’s most capped learners. Nkosi told the Springs Advertiser that receiving recognition from his school means a lot to him as a player, but it is also a proud moment made possible by his teammates.

“If my team had never built me as a player, I would never have been recognised. I would like to thank them before I thank myself,” expressed Nkosi.

He shared that he first started playing rugby in Grade 7 but stopped in Grades 8 and 9 when rugby was not available at the school. He returned to the sport in Grade 10 after noticing its growth at the school.

“I saw that rugby at the school has been progressive and that I enjoyed playing for them,” he said.

Although he never imagined receiving such recognition, Nkosi, with 35 caps, said the support from his teammates played a major role in his journey. For Nkosi, wearing the school jersey carries a deep sense of belonging.

Balancing rugby, schoolwork and personal life has also been important for the matric learner.
He explained that rugby training usually takes place on Mondays and Wednesdays, allowing him to focus on academics during the rest of the week.

“School work before rugby,” he added.

Nkosi encouraged younger players to stay committed and work together as a team.

“Never give up. Never think for yourself. Be a team player because rugby is a team sport,” he advised.

Looking ahead, Nkosi hopes to continue growing in rugby after high school, with dreams of one day representing the South Africa national rugby union team and playing varsity rugby at the University of Johannesburg.

The first team coach, Xhadi Makalima, told the publication that the ceremony marks the beginning of greater things for sport at the school.

He said the event was not only important for rugby but also for sports development at the school.

“It means the start of good things, especially in terms of rugby, not rugby alone, but sports in general in our school,” he said.

Makalima highlighted the importance of recognising learners for their dedication and commitment, saying the sport opens doors for many young players.

“It’s very important because it takes them to places once they commit. They get exposed, they get scouted, they get bursaries, they play for bigger teams, and they get selected by bigger unions,” he explained.

According to Makalima, consistency and commitment are among the qualities that make players stand out. He praised some of the matric learners for their dedication despite the pressures of Grade 12.

“Their dedication, hard work and commitment are what keep them going, as well as their dreams,” he said.

When selecting players to represent the school, Makalima said discipline is one of the most important qualities coaches look for.

He shared that discipline goes a long way, not only in sport and rugby but also in classes, and they don’t select the skilled ones but select the most disciplined ones.

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He said discipline also helps shape learners outside of sport by encouraging respect for teachers and commitment to schoolwork. Coaches also stay in contact with teachers to monitor learners’ behaviour and academic progress.

Makalima said rugby at the school has grown steadily over the past three years, with more learners and parents becoming involved.

“The team is balanced now. We’ve got more juniors, more seniors and more parents involved in our sport, which is the growth that we always want,” he said.

Looking ahead, Makalima hopes rugby at the school will continue to expand, with enough players to form multiple teams in every age group.

He also dreams of seeing the school hostel fully functional and eventually scouting talented players from across the province.

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