Cauwen to Cravenweek
The tall young man stands proudly in his Hoërskool Generaal Hertzog school uniform and smiles brightly.
Cauwen Mashaba has recently been chosen as one of the players (only u/18 player from eMalahleni) to represent the Mpumalanga Rugby Union during the 2014 Coca-Cola Cravenweek and couldn’t be happier.
Having been chosen for the Pumas Cravenweek u.17 team last year, Cauwen was thrilled to hear that he will again be part of the team this year. He smiles an easy smile as he talks about one of his greatest achievements thus far.
Born and raised in Nelspruit, Cauwen only moved to eMalahleni in 2010 when he started school at Hoërskool Generaal Hertzog.
“I love it here,” Cauwen spoke earnestly about his school. “They have become like a family to me and I could never have picked any other school.”
Cauwen started playing rugby since his first day in primary school and continued right through to high school where he realised he had a knack for this sport.
This athlete and rugby player set his mind on being the best on the sports field and combines both strength and speed to deliver results.
Cauwen as a utility player specialises in three positions in rugby namely: Prop, Flanker and Hooker. He was chosen as Prop for this year’s Puma team.
“Making the team this year is a big step up for me. I really hope to get my name out there…” Cauwen said. “It really is just such a great honour and privilege to again represent my province and also my school during the Pumas Cravenweek.”
Cauwen was previously also part of the selected rugby players chosen for the South African u/16 High Performance Squad in 2012 and attended the High Performance Camp in Cape Town, where he has learned more techniques which he means to make full use of and implement during the Cravenweek.
Cauwen has big dreams for a future career in playing professional rugby. “In two years time I’d like to join the Baby Boks and then move on to the High Levels to play Super Rugby.”
Cauwen sees himself following in the footsteps of JP Pietersen, also a former student at HGH, and one day being part of the Springbok team.
The Coca-Cola Cravenweek will take place this year in Middelburg from July 13 to 19. For more information click here.
