schoolsthatrockRugby Captain. In our popular series about sports captains, Schools That Rock today talks to D’Morne du Plessis. D’Morne is the Rugby Captain of Curro HeronBridge College in Johannesburg, 1st Rugby team. He scores the fifth try in our series this year on Rugby Captains from high schools in South Africa and Namibia.
I started my rugby career off at the age of 4. The reason I like rugby is because rugby is such a complex game. It requires so many different skills to be applied in the heat of the moment. This is one of the many reasons I enjoy the game of rugby but it is also a way to express yourself. Well, initially my parents made me play the sport. The reason behind that is unknown to me but I play it now because it has become my life. It is what I live through. Being as young as what I was when I played my first rugby game, I can’t remember anything other than pure excitement.
The earliest memory I have of one of my rugby matches was me running through everyone and scoring a try. I remember being the captain of this team and wearing the number 7 jersey on my back.
First time rugby Captain
The first time I was elected Rugby Captain, I was 7 years old playing for my for my Primary School at the time, Newton Primary. I still remember the first time I jogged onto the field as Rugby Captain. At this time I knew there was a different kind of responsibility sitting on my shoulders. I felt empowered and supported no matter which direction I looked in.
Motivating my team during a game, even when things aren’t going well? What I do and say varies from person to person. Each player requires a different kind of pick me up. I have taken it upon myself to learn each players individual pick me up. For general conversation I tend to tell the boys to calm themselves and breathe so that we can all think and work on a solution. Afterwards I work on the individuals separately to make sure their heads are held high.
Most fun match
The game that was most fun for me as Rugby Captain was our first team game against Curro Haezeldean this year. That game showed me what trust in the person next to you looks like. It opened my eyes to the type of rugby that can be played if we trust one another. I haven’t even seen trust playing for bigger teams such as the Blue Torros and Rooikatte. From kickoff we backed ourselves and the system we worked on trying to perfect. But most importantly, we trusted each other for a strong 65 minutes and that led to one of the best performances our school has seen yet.
My only match of my grade 8 year against Trinity Randpark for Southdowns College was my worst game. I was tripped by my own player resulting in my falling backwards and dislocating my already weak right shoulder. We were slaughtered in this match and mentally it was the game that almost took me away from the sport entirely. Undoubtedly I always ask the Lord to help me during tough times.
Siya Kolisi
Should you ask me a few years ago who is my greatest rugby hero, I would have told you that it is Tendai Mtawarira. But now I have to say my greatest rugby hero is Siya Kolisi. Not only as a player but also as a leader. He has an incredible never give up attitude towards everything he does and that has truly inspired me to always keep my head up and to march onwards. Having created an ideal life from nothing isn’t an easy feat, but he has done all while being able to live as freely and happily as he does. He inspires me on the field and off the field to work for better.
My personal rugby goal/goals I would like to achieve this year is to be selected in a provincial team. I would also like to continue playing rugby after school, being selected in a provincial team, if possible.
Handling my responsibilities at rugby alongside social and academic responsibilities, I always make sure to focus on what’s in front of me and complete that one day at a time. If I am in class rugby doesn’t exist. The only thing that’s important in that moment is my work. When I’m at practice, school and my social life doesn’t exist. I am there for my rugby so that’s what I am focusing on. On the other hand, when I am with my friends, separately from school and practice, nothing exists but that moment, so I make sure to give my attention to them.
My biggest single highlight of my rugby career so far, is going on tour just to play some rugby. Immaterial of which team it was for.
The professional rugby player I would like to have coffee with is Sya Kolisi
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