Rugby Captain. In our popular series about sports captains, Schools That Rock today talks to Ethan Wimble. Ethan is the Rugby Captain of Curro Hillcrest High School in Durban, 1st Rugby team. He scores the fourth try in our series this year on Rugby Captains from high schools in South Africa and Namibia.
“My first game for Curro Hillcrests first team is my most memorable rugby game ever. I have played rugby since the age of 10 and have had so many incredible moments through the sport. In this particular game it was pouring with rain making it hard to play. The ball was knocked on multiple times throughout the game. As a grade 10 sitting on the bench, my adrenaline was through the roof with over five hundred people in attendance. Our opposition being hillcrest high who we had never managed to defeat before. The game went quickly and before I knew it, it was the second half and the coach called me over.
Never played fullback
I jogged up to my coach and he asked me if I knew how to play fullback? I know in my head that in six years of playing rugby I had never once played fullback. Without a doubt I responded with unerring confidence, “Yes sir.” Before I knew it I was on the field at full back in a game where our matric fullback, had struggled who due to the rain. Furthermore we trailed by a mere three points to a team we had never beaten.
My heart nearly jumped out of my chest as I stood in anticipation for the ball to go sailing into the rainy night sky. It came straight to me in front of all of those who were in attendance. I managed to do my job. In the closing minutes of the game my brother, the lock and captain of the first team rugby at the time, went over in the corner to score the winning points of the match.
It was only in the team huddle after that match that I realized the value that rugby held in my life and the power it has to unite. My brother delivered a match winning speech, gasping for air after every sentence through his broken nose. The feeling of joy I felt in that moment was incomparable. I was part of a team that, despite mental and physical challenges, managed to achieve something extraordinary. That is something I strive to recreate in all areas of my life.
Starting position
Two games later I won the starting position and played several games for the first side in 2022 before tearing my hip flexor. That ruled me out for the rest of the season. I was devastated. In 2023 I was extremely determined, working harder then I ever had in the past. This led to the coach making a bold decision and choosing me as rugby captain in grade 11. I had captained teams before but captaining the first team rugby in grade 11 was an entirely new challenge.
Currently I am in matric and in my second year of captaincy. I am at a stage now where I am taking in every moment, every warm up, every drill, every tackle, every run, every conversation, every practice and every game. I know that in 10 years’ time I am going to be looking back over this period in my life, reminiscing about my school boy rugby games. Talking about all my teammates, all the good games, all the blind refs and everything in between.
Rugby draws people together and that is why I love it so much. When I play, I play cause God has given me a gift. I play for the teammates that I can call my brothers besides me and I play for that feeling of elation after a win, that I know will not last forever.”
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